How did it get to be 2009 already?

Before I knew it it became 2009.... How did that happen? I thought I just graduated college... & got married... Nope, those were 1996 & 1998 respectively. All I know is that the only thing that's constant is change. So here we are at the beginning of another year & I've realized that: 1. I'm getting older (& not necessarily better) & 2. My kids are too

Believe it or not, 1/16/09 marked Cooper & Lucy's 2nd (yes, SECOND) birthday... Due to the crazy holidays we just got quasi-surprised that their birthday followed a scant two weeks later. Sooooo, because they don't really KNOW what day their birthday is (or what a birthday really is just yet) we decided to not rush with invitations/planning and instead plan a Valentine's birthday brunch! Before that happened, however, we had one other big event... JULIE RETIRED!

Maybe "switched careers" or "switched tracks" fits better but we finally arrived at a point where we could no longer sustain the "Granny and PaPaw-as-nanny" situation... (incidentally, as much as they love Cooper & Lucy we're certain that Granny & PaPaw are relieved to regain their life in Waco). So, after working-out a 6-8 week notice & transitioning her work Julie enjoyed a farewell lunch and embarked on her new "full-time" role in February...

We talked about her expectations of me (D) and mine of her in advance and concluded that she may have days where she needs me home early (due to emotionaly-draining days) and there might be days that I need to stay at Chick-fil-A late (to attend to pressing matters that might arise)... With that mutual understanding in mind we embarked confidently on our new journey as a family... Monday, 2/2/2009... The first day... The phone rang at 2:00... 'do you remember when we said there might be those days? today's one such day!'

Well, it turns-out that two ear infections, traveling across 3 cities over the past 8 weeks and having a range of 6 caretakers all impacted our new journey... Suffice it to say that God gave us that day so that all later days might be deemed easier in comparison. In hindsight we laugh at that day, but I confess that we both thought - "what on earth did we just decide to do?!" Since that time Julie and the kids have settled into a very nice routine and we're fortunate that the Chick-fil-A continues to grow. I'm able to relieve Julie 1 morning a week for "free time" and I get to love on Cooper & Lucy without any distractions... We really feel sooooooo fortunate to be in this situation...

So back to the birthday party we go - Saturday, 2/14 was as good a day as any to celebrate the kids' birthdays... We invited some of our supper club friends over & encouraged the kids to wear their PJs for a Valentines brunch replete with Chick-fil-A minis, coffee, monkey bread, a fritatta, and OJ. We had a blast decorating cookies & making door hangers for each of the kids. Cooper & Lucy loved the party as did their guests (Hunter Nokes cried when she had to go)... If the kids are up for this we may just make it an annual birthday tradition so that it's a little further away from Christmas... The only down-side... Lucy ate so many sugar cookies that she had an upset tummy that night... Bummer - but it may have been worth it if you ask me...

The day after the big birthday party Julie and I boarded a plane for Chick-fil-A seminar in Long Beach, CA. We had a great time and were the beneficiaries of another Chick-fil-A Symbol of Success car (a Ford Edge which Jules will drive)... Jules got to see Lisa Bay and got a little "vacation" from her new job - all expenses paid! You might argue that's not a bad gig... I know, I know... it is still the hardest (however most rewarding) job that ever was...

OMG! I almost forgot to mention... Perhaps this is even more evidence that I'm getting older! The day after we returned from Seminar I had the most special opportunity... I had my first date - WITH LUCY! Lucy and I got dressed-up and went to a "father-daughter" dance at the Lakeway Church with Vinnie and Mia. We had a BALL... Lucy loved twirling in circles on the dance-floor and sliding under my legs (on her bottom) like the big girls. We got home past curfew (845 pm) and she simply didn't want the date to end... It was such a ball and she just looked beautiful. She's not going to get married until she's 40!

Until next time...