Happy Holidays!

What? No pictures?
Can you believe it? I did not take one single Christmas picture this year. What the heck is wrong with me?
I think now that the kids are getting older and we're all getting busier that digging out the camera didn't seem important.
Now that we have teenagers that like to stay up until the wee hours of the morning, Christmas morning doesn't start near as early as it did in years gone by. The kids didn't get up until 9:00 on Christmas morning. They opened their stockings and presents and then we just hung out during the day. I pulled out the china and the good silverware for Christmas dinner and we ate in the dining room. These are things that rarely happen in our house, so it is truly a special event when this occurs.
The kids got most of their Christmas wishes and have cash to go buy the things they didn't get. There will be very little returning this year...a very good thing!
Based on the Christmas gifts I received from my friends, I've deducted that they all think I've been really stressed out....or.... I need to bathe more often! I'm going to go with the first option, just to make myself feel better! I got lots of lovely home spa goodies. I think I can take a different scented bubble bath every day of the week without repeating a scent. I'm not complaining...I think its really sweet that all of my friends think I need to pamper myself a little more and were trying to get that through my very thick head. I even received a gift certificate to my favorite spa in Tacoma, which will be used with great pleasure!
Tim and I have no special plans for New Years Eve this year and the kids are at their other parents'. Timmy has a really bad cold and isn't feeling too hot. I have tons of studying to do before my last exam next Friday. I think we'll just hang out and maybe go out for dinner. Our activity level will be determined by how Tim is feeling by then. You know he's sick when he cancels his Friday morning "breakfast with the boys", which he did this morning. Other than the wedding we are attending tomorrow, most of my weekend will be spent with the books and practice tests. Sounds fun, doesn't it? We really know how to party-in the New Year! Whoo Hoo!
I hope Santa brought you everything you were wishing for and that the New Year brings you nothing but joy and good health!
I won't be sorry to put 2007 to rest. It has been a year of varying challenges in my work and personal life. I'm looking forward to a much more peaceful and joyful 2008!
Happy Holidays!

It snowed!

Today is my Family Christmas party with all the aunts, uncles and cousins. Its a tradition that dates back long before I was even born. This year it's our turn to host the party and in about an hour, 40 people will show up on my door step. In the Christmas spirit, this morning it snowed! I took this opportunity to make the kids pose for our annual Christmas photo (our personal photographer was a little busy this year planning for her wedding, so I had to take the shot myself - pity!). Anyway, this isn't the photo we are using for the Christmas cards, but it was really cute, so I blogged it. The kids are so grown up!
Watch your mailbox for the "real" Lewis/Babbitt children Christmas picture.

I Passed!!!!!

This morning I passed my Series 9 Securities Licensing (Supervisory Options) exam! Whoo Hoo! (The photo is my celebration cocktail!)

That's 3 exams down and only one left to go! I can see the light at the end of this long tunnel, but it is still very faint. The Series 10 is the exam I have left, which is a 4-hour supervisory-level exam. Once that test is successfully completed, I will have met all of the hurdles for my new manager job at Merrill. It's been a long busy year, with lots of life changes.

I haven't blogged much lately. I've been really busy dealing with my Dad's estate, the year-end workload at the office, and studying for these exams. Last week I spent a few days in San Francisco taking a crash-course for these exams. The weather was a beautiful and sunny 60 degrees. I came back to all the nasty rain and wind here in Washington.

What else is new in the Babbitt/Lewis household?
Both Rose and Kaitlyn are finishing up Driver's Ed this week. Rose has been driving with her permit since last summer, but needed to complete Driver's Ed before she could get her license. I imagine that will be just around the corner. Kaitlyn started Driver's Ed and driving at the beginning of November. It is definitely a test of my patience (I fail that test frequently!) but she is doing pretty well considering the short amount of time. Unfortunately, she can't drive at her Dad's house as they only have stick-shift vehicles, so she's limited to the times she can actually get behind the wheel.

This weekend kicks off the Holiday Party season. Tim and I are going to a party on Friday night, Saturday night, and hosting my family Christmas party on Sunday afternoon. It will be a whirl-wind weekend. Next weekend is the Merrill Lynch office parties and hopefully we'll have some time to get together with our friends during the Season!

Tim is busy working and doing training. He spent part of last week in Yakima teaching a class for one of their customers. This week he's teaching a class in Kent.

We are busy little beavers, as is everyone else this time of year. I will try and be better about blogging and include photos in the future. Our kids are growing up so fast and look so different from last year's Christmas photo. I have to find time to sneak in a group shot for this year's cards. I'll just add that to the every growing list of to-do's!

ALOHA!!!

What an amazing gift.....8 days and 7 nights in Paradise! Thank you Tim for my relaxing birthday present! We just returned late last night from our vacation to Hawaii. It was sunny and 85 each and every day we were there. It was tough to take! We were at the beach every morning by 9:00 and spent a few hours playing in the water (or trying to surf if you were Tim) then we'd just spend the afternoon walking around, shopping, driving around the island, snorkeling, whatever seemed to be enjoyable at the time. Not having to be anywhere or do anything for an entire week, was a much needed break from reality! I don't remember the last time I could just sit and do nothing and not be freaked out by that - it was so un-type A of me!

I climbed a tree one day, mostly just to prove to Tim that I could. We took a sunset catamaran cruise one night - all the free drinks you could handle....some could handle them more than others! We also did a snorkel cruise one afternoon. I don't like fishies swimming around where they can touch me, it kind of freaks me out, but Tim enjoys it. I did get in the water for one quick picture and then out again. I enjoyed just lying in the sun on the boat. Thank goodness for SPF 30! No repeats of my last trip to Maui with 2nd degree burns. Whew!

It's back to work tomorrow after a day of grocery shopping, laundry, and the dentist today. I think my batteries were recharged this week to make it through the end of the year, the holidays and two more securities exams - at least one can hope.

Surprise Party

Last night Tim & Dani, with help from Terri and Chris, executed my 40th birthday surprise party at The Parkway in Tacoma. The "red room" was filled with my friends and family to help me celebrate.

Dani & Chris created this amazing scrapbook of photos from the last 40 years. These photos were also playing on a big screen TV throughout the night.
A BIG Thank You to everyone who braved the bad weather (and some long drives) to join in the fun.
Tim & Dani - Thank you for all your hard work and for making me feel like a princess...even if I am an OLD one!

Aimee, Lisa & Per

Larry & Brian (with Tim in the background)

Lisa & Darren

Triple Threat (Dani, Kris & Chris)

Gayle, Karen, Mom & Joni

John, Pam & Terri

John & Celeste

Me & My Hubby

Homecoming 2007

40?

1967 to 2007....no matter how many times I do the calculation, whether I use new math or old math, I can't come up with any answer other than 40.


Math doesn't lie....today has to be my 40th Birthday. How the heck did I get to be 40?

My day started off with a bang when my alarm didn't go off and I woke up at 6:47 (I need to leave at 7:00). Tim's wish to me this morning was "Happy 40th - Only 10 years to 50!". Gee, thanks honey!

I got to my office to find it decorated in black streamers, with big 40's on my windows, two birthday cakes (one chocolate and one white with lemon filling), and lots of birthday cards. About 1/2 hour later, I get a delivery of a dozen roses....not just any roses....BLACK roses. The management team at work is a little over the top! Not only did they send me black roses, but my boss even climbed on my desk and unscrewed the lights so that it would be dim in my office. He thought that at my age the bright light would bother my eyes. Most of the office wore black today, in my honor. Nice!

My friend Aimee took me to a yummy mexican lunch and when we got back I found a beautiful bouquet of pretty pink flowers on my desk from my friend Dani.

When I got home this evening, I found black streamers hanging from the doorway and black balloons all over the kitchen. Tim even bought me black jelly beans (my favorite flavor ever!).

Is anyone sensing the theme for today.....black maybe?!

Tonight it's off to dinner with Kaitlyn and Tim. We're headed to Red Robin for my free birthday burger!

Thank you to everyone who made today so memorable and my leap into this decade bearable!

~Rest In Peace Aunt Norma~

A BIG Day

Thursday, September 27, 2007 - A BIG day in the life of little Miss Katie Sue!

Kaitlyn finished 13th in the cross country meet today with a personal best time of less than 24 minutes. She's not real good with the whole stop-watch thing yet, so exact time to be determined by the "official" clock for the meet, but we do know it was 23-something.

Big News -
Kaitlyn was asked to Homecoming today.....by a boy!

I am SO not ready for this phase of parenting yet! All I know is that his name is Charlie, well its really Gregory, but he goes by Charlie. It's really hard to follow 15 year old girl giberish.

Anyway, we are now in the whole....dress.....shoes.....hair.....make-up panic. And the best part is....Homecoming is next Friday - I have a whole 8 days!

Happy Anniversary

Can you believe its been 6 years since Tim and I got married on the beach in Maui?
Honestly, it seems like a lot longer than 6 years. Is that a good sign?

When Tim and I got married we commtted to 50 years together. Well Honey, we've got 6 down and only 44 more to go!

Happy Anniversary Sir Timothy. I love you!

Puyallup Fair

We took 5 teenagers to the fair...and survived! We had our 3 kids, Rose's boyfriend Jordan, and Kaitlyn's best friend Mackenna. We even picked up another one at the fair, Kaitlyn's friend Rochelle.
Saturday we spent 5+ hours at the fair in the morning and afternoon, came home for a few hours to get a break and then headed back about 7:30 to "do the Puyallup" even more. Tim and I pretty much ate our way through the fair with Krusty Pups, Corn on the Cob, Scones, Onion Burgers....yes, it was that sickening. Our favorite surprise of the fair was the Beer & Wine Garden. Yes - its a purely adult attraction. Saturday night when we went back to the fair so the kids could go on the rides in the dark (apparently that's more fun!) Tim and I hung out with a very expensive beer ($9) and a decent glass of wine.

She made VARSITY!

Kaitlyn has run track the last few years, but this is the first year she has gone out for the cross-country team. She's typically a sprinter, but has been preparing all summer by running 2 or 3 miles every other day with Tim.
Yesterday at cross-country practice, the girls had a time-trial to find out who would run on the Varsity team and who would be running on the JV team. When I picked Kaitlyn up her cheeks were red and I could tell she'd been running hard. When I asked her how it went, her first comment was "Mom, only 5 girls were able to finish the run". Trying to be supportive but not too pushy, I asked if she was one of those 5. A big smile swept across her beautiful face and she joyfully told me she finished 3rd, completing the 5k run with a time just over 24 minutes.

Congratulations Kaitlyn on making the Varsity Cross Country team!

Good luck at your first meet on Thursday in Orting. Run like the wind - but have fun too!

Rest In Peace Daddy!

Today we laid my Dad to rest next to his beloved wife, Darlene, at his family gravesite in Shelton.

The weather was beautiful, ordered up especially for Dad. The service was a perfect fit for my Dad, a man of simple tastes, and included some memories provided by each of the 5 kids (mine is below). He was a very loved man!

The service ended with Vince Gill's rendition of Go Rest High on that Mountain, followed by the Military presentation of the United States Flag. It was extremely emotional to be presented with a flag from our nation with their gratitude for his service to our country.

I have shed lots of tears over the last week and am so thankful for the time that I got to spend with my Dad. He will be greatly missed!

Dad's former bosses, Arne Vemo and Rodney Broome, from The Vemo Company, were at the service today, along with Dad's nurse, Virginia, from Dr. Kleeman's office at St. Francis. I know Dad would have appreciated their presence, just as I did.

Thank you to all my family and friends that attended the service today. It is an incredibly long drive, especially considering some of you had never met him. I truly appreciate your taking the time out of your busy schedules to help support me. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am loved! It was evident by all of the caring faces in the crowd this afternoon. It was your love and support that enabled me to make it through today.

Only time moves on to the next scene;

memories remain part of the heart forever.

Dad, you will be in my heart forever. I will look forward to our next Wednesday night dinner, when I join you in Heaven one day!

***********

I remember my Dad as a very strong man; not only his physical strength, but also his strength of character. I always felt safe when I was with him.
Dad and Darlene used to love to dance. When my sister and I were little, we would go to these big ballroom dances held at the Seattle Center. We’d sit and watch them dance for awhile, and then it would be my turn. Since I was young and didn’t know the steps, Dad would pick me up and set me on top of his own feet. He’d do the dancing and I’d go along for the ride. I remember feeling very grown-up, but also very safe and secure.
My Dad could build almost anything and he could fix almost anything. If he couldn’t fix it, he could certainly jimmy-rig it to make it work. The man was a master with a roll of duct tape.
The one thing he couldn’t fix was his broken heart after Darlene died. Although his passing has left a huge void in my life, I take comfort knowing that he is finally happy again, and dancing in Heaven with the love of his life.

In Loving Memory

Oscar W. Lundberg

May 23, 1929

to

August 19, 2007

It's been a really tough week with the passing of my Dad or as I referred to him so often "Daddy". A simple graveside service is being held next Tuesday in Shelton where most of his family and beloved wife are buried.

It's been a really sucky week with lots to do. My friends and family have been great. You really know who you can count on in times like this, and I have an AMAZING network of people in my corner! I have the love and support of a wonderful husband who is helping me as much as he can. My Merrill family has been extremely generous and supportive allowing me to grieve and plan without worrying about work. I have some of the world's most incredible friends who just want to make sure I'm OK and are willing to help out in any way possible. Although I'm going through a really hard phase of life right now, I realize how fortunate I am to have these people in my life.

Last night was Wednesday, and as anyone who has been around me for the last year knows, Wednesday was "dinner with Dad night". In the year since his wife passed away, we've had dinner every week. We probably only missed 6 weeks total all year due to illness or my travel schedule. Having the opportunity this last year to spend quality time with my Dad has been an amazing gift - memories that I will cherish forever.

A note to my Dad (I doubt they have blogs in Heaven, but I'm sure he can see into my heart.)
I loved you Daddy very much and know that you are in a better place, back with Darlene, and finally out of pain. May God keep you in His care and may you eternally rest in peace!

Welcome Lorelai

There's a sucker born every minute and I had my moment today. It's hard to be strong when your two teenage daughters gang up on you to adopt this stray cat.
I wasn't feeling well today and my Dad called and said he wasn't feeling well. We went to his house to check things out. While I was taking care of my dad, the girls were making friends with the stray cat that started hanging around his house about a week ago. Kaitlyn, little miss resourceful, called the two telephone numbers on the cat's tags. After some detective work, she got the name and address of the owner. We drove to their house and Kaitlyn let them know we had found their cat. They didn't seem all that heartbroken that she was missing and offered to let Kaitlyn keep the cat. I said no - twice! I even made her take the cat back to their house. It was so sad. The cat clearly did not like that environment and immediately ran out of the house. We drove off, and Rose and Kaitlyn did not let up and I was weak! Needless to say, we turned around and went back for the cat. Loralei is now living in our laundry room and trying to figure out who we all are and what the heck that little furry barking thing is that we keep calling Bailey. So far, the two have not seen eye-to-eye, but hopefully they will become fast friends, without too much fur flying!
BTW, Tim is not thrilled about this at all!