Fillmores: December 2013

Summary of 2013: If we can do this, we can do anything.

It is increasingly difficult to condense the events of the year into a digestible quantity.

Foremost, our number equals 10 now. Gabriel Ty was born October 3^rd at home. He was in a desperate hurry to get here; in fact, he couldn’t wait for the midwife, so I had the unexpected opportunity to deliver our last baby. For the record, I’m not accepting any new patients.

I paused when claiming our family was up to ten, as we are one short of a full complement. Max touched down in Mexico City in mid-October, so technically, we never had 10 under the roof.

Oldest and Youngest got to meet briefly at the airport.

Still, we are a crowd. We take the full center pew at church. We don’t all fit in one car. We bring a cacophony of noise on the infrequent occasions we go somewhere. Copious quantities of bread, milk and cereal disappear down the children’s throats. I get gaping stares at the grocery store when cereal goes on sale, as the cart is piled high with 40 bags. Every time I show up at Costco, people think I’m shopping for a ward party. When the checker gets clever, I pretend not to speak English.

Sometimes it’s helpful to have so many people around. When Tami ran for City Council this year, there were lots of extra hands to move signs around, pass out fliers and door hangers, and count mailers into stacks of 50. By October, we were all counting down the days, holding our breath for it to be over, regardless of the outcome. After finishing third in the primary, Tami rallied and was the top vote getter in the general election. The only downside to winning? She is now on the City Council. Her main regret is leaving her position on the Planning Commission. If you ever want to spend 20 minutes listening, ask her about mixed-use developments and complete streets. Joking aside, though, she is a marvel. Keeping all of us on track is beyond a full-time job and more. Somehow she excels rather than just managing, and excels at managing.

Jack is 2 now, and it’s hard to believe there ever was a more engaging child. Last night I had him pinned for a little tickling. He started quoting Princess Bride. “(Hey! Hey!) My name is Inigo Montoya. You kill my father. Prepare to die! (Please stop!)” I hopped right off. Over the summer, Grace assumed mothering duties, and carefully taught him to use a nice voice, with manners. Anything you do for him is rewarded with a “Thank you SOOO much!”
He is a bit addicted to Wallace and Gromit, mimicking the expressions and actions, and quoting the lines… “We forgot the CHHEEESE, Gromit!”

“Dad, I’d like to play with my blocks” leads to towers, letter, color, and number practice, not to mention the inevitable Barney Clean-up song at the end. I hate it when he’s asleep; I love it when he’s asleep.

One week old

Gabriel doesn’t do much. He’s a breast/binky/bottle fiend. Seat, swing, and being held are his good, better, best. He’s saving his smiles for when Grandma and Grandpa come home from Australia. Meanwhile, we coo, gurgle, peekaboo, and croon over him. He’s an advanced sleeper and a quiet crier. Occasionally he has a fussy day or wakeful night, to remind us what a good boy he is. I watch the brother pairs at church for clues of my future with these two little boys; it makes me smile.

Jens, 9th grade CJH Student of the Year

City Youth Council

Won the Pati racket!

Jens is enjoying the joys of sophomore year. His first date was with a college girl. He has to buy corsages now. His simple pleasures include expensive socks and a new pair of slippers. He mows lawns like a pro, and wields a mighty snow shovel. He is the safest kid driver in the family, so far. Knowing the future of mankind may depend on him, he works diligently to understand the principles of the periodic table and orbital structures of elements. Each day that passes brings him one day closer to that magical time of year known as tennis season. A varsity doubles position awaits, along with a team State Title to defend.

Nena rules on high as a mighty senior. Though thwarted in her campaign for class president, she makes up for it by being on every council and committee known to mankind. By the power of Greyskull, she is a good student, despite missing lots of school. In October, she was bounced from the State Tennis tournament by a Honda Accord. She stopped short at a light, and got hit from behind, addling her brain for a couple weeks. Luckily, she fared better than the car she was driving.

Somehow, Nena does it all. She is a purveyor of baked goods, piano master, copier and laminator of primary lessons, amazing big sister and friend. At the end of most days, she’s good company for a nightcap of Law and Order. Her departure in a few months is vaguely troubling.

Grace resides on the top rung of the junior high ladder this year. Ill-advised changes to the curriculum force her to high school every other day to get math instruction. She really likes going to school with Jens and Nena. We really like when she remembers her carpool. I already alluded to Grace’s prowess in child-care. To say she is in demand as a babysitter is a gross understatement. Between attending all the junior high sporting events due to being a student body officer and her babysitting, we see a lot less of her than we’d like. When she is home, she typically has a book in one hand and a bag of pretzels in the other. She is working hard at piano and tennis, and recently finished her YW Recognition award. We are considering upsetting the apple cart and celebrating that award at Jens’ Eagle Court of Honor.

Max getting his call to Mexico City South Mission

Max toils in the barrio in Mexico City. We are spoiled with lengthy, informative e-mails from him every Monday. Here are several Fun Facts About Mexico he has shared:

§ Everybody has mustaches. Well, almost everybody.

§ The police are an absolute joke. They drive around all day with their lights on, sirens occasionally blaring, doing absolutely nothing.

§ You know the nasty end pieces of bread that no one likes? Here they're called "suegras", which is mother in law. Cause no one wants them. HAHAHAHA

§ Translating is still fun. For all you Cafe Rio lovers out there, pico de gallo literally translates to "Rooster Beak". So enjoy your rooster beak and pork.

§ I saw a dead animal on the sidewalk this week that someone had dumped detergent on to kill the smell. Viva Mexico.

§ Curly hair here is called "pelo Chino". Which makes absolutely NO sense because every Chinese person in the whole world has straight hair.

Besides being a cultural ambassador, Max is working diligently. We are really proud of him, and appreciate his fortitude and example.

Ashlei started 4^th grade. She is the master of the plank in our house, beating all challengers without breaking a sweat. Once on a dare she did a 7-minute plank.

Ash keeps me company on many runs, trailing along on her new bike. Her maximum distance was 15 miles; ‘twas a memorable July morning featuring thunder and rainbows. She is a ghost in the house during the early morning hours. Even in the dead of winter, she wakes on her own in the 5’s, and cherishes the alone time watching TV with impunity, or Minecrafting on a purloined iPad. If I were forced to describe Ashlei in one word, it’s companionable. She’s easy going, mostly willing, and amenable to nearly any suggestion, even absurdly long bike rides and random hikes up the side of the mountain.

Anna does everything in her power to keep up with Ashlei. She has a mindset and determination that are formidable. Tami and I blame each other for her stubborn streak. When we get her pointed in a good direction, she is very impressive and capable. One morning she decided she was going to do the dishes. A half hour later, the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher, the large pots were hand washed, and the counters were wiped clean. If only I could get siblings twice her age to do such a complete job. I’m frequently vexed by this small girl, whose manner is such that I often forget she is closer to five than fifteen.

Though Anna and Ashlei have their own paragraphs, it’s practically impossible to separate this pair. In spite of a 2-year gap, they are fast friends, only occasionally devolving into frenemies. This is a two-edged sword, and we endure our fair share of childish arguments and girly-girl fisticuffs. Fortunately, these interludes are the exception rather than the rule. This year they ran 2 5k’s together, participated in the school play, walked to and from school, colored, painted, played, invented and imagined their way through thousands of hours. (Yeah, they watched plenty of Arthur, Word Girl, and Wild Kratts, too.) They are good companions…I hope it lasts.

My year was a lot like the third Hunger Games book…born of necessity and obligation, rushed, and poorly done. As usual, my New Year’s resolution was to watch more TV than ever before; I finally succeeded. Hubris increases as capacity diminishes. Icing on the cake was running my slowest marathon in 4 years despite logging more miles than ever before. Hair that once grew on my forehead now sprouts from my ears and shoulders. I had no idea the decline would come so early, and hit so hard. I’ll be nearly 60 years old when baby Gaby graduates high school. How did that happen?

So there you have it. Sorry about last skipping last year’s letter. I just couldn’t make myself do it. I hope this edition will assuage any lingering disappointment.

Signing off,

The Fillmores