Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas! After nine holiday seasons here with no snow, one would think I’d get used to it and could find the spirit of the season some other way. Alas, no! It just doesn’t feel like Christmas!!! A snow trip is in order, don't cha think? Those of you in snowy climes need to build a snowman just for me! And while you do that, I'll jot down some highlights of our year!

Our house no longer has any believers—at least not in the secular sense of the word! I think that means I’m old? Yet, even though I have two old enough to drive, neither one of them does. Luckily, their friends do, and, equally lucky, I only drop off/pick up at two schools this year instead of four. It’s so liberating!!! After getting my children to school, I head to their former elementary school where I’m the librarian. It’s just 20 hours a week this year, for 1000 students, but it’s still a job I love. While Christmas shopping for the first time yesterday, I ran into three of “my” little ones. The adulation is so sweet!!! Likely, everything else that keeps me busy is the same sort of activities and tasks that keep you dashing.

Greg loves his dog and his job—not a lot of new there. Via Liesl, he and the boys have discovered Dr. Who episodes this year, though. That’s new. And he’s had a couple "promotions" (with no raises :( ) this past year which means a lot more travel. He did get to go to some new places, such as scenic Amarillo, TX, and he has more opportunities to learn about different parts of the nuclear weapon complex. He also got to go to Germany this year. Without me, naturally. No fair! When he first told me he was going, I was excited for him. When he mentioned it again, I said, "Now, you're just taunting." One of his trips necessitated Rhiannon playing “father” to Ralph at back-to-school night since Ralph had familiar teachers and Hans didn’t. Just now, Greg walked Champ to the door to show him that no one was there and his baying was misplaced. Greg’s a very indulgent dog owner!

Liesl graduated!!! She’s now a student at a local, highly regarded community college while she decides what she really wants to be when she grows up. She doesn’t like her dad’s uptick in travel since that means a two-hour train+bus commute to school instead of a 30-minute ride with him plus a short bus leg. So she’s been practicing her driving skills in a local high school parking lot with us. Just gotta find the right incentive!!! The days she’s not at school, she nannies two adorable little boys. And she makes lots of money house-sitting. She and her best friend just attended the San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker” performance in the best non-box seats, followed by a fancy dinner in the city, and dressed to the 9s. They’ve been planning it for a year and had as much fun preparing as attending!

Rhiannon’s in the midst of that grueling junior year with two zero period classes, one seventh period class, plus four AP and French 3 classes in between. Luckily, choir is a highlight of each day! And while it has no official homework, there are so many performances!!! Since she wants to miss no part of the high school experience, she spends what spare time she has dating (finally 16!), attending sporting events, playing Powder Puff football, and hanging with friends. Plus, she still loves singing. She was Belle for her school’s Beauty and the Beast production and is part of the Modesto opera’s chorus. “He_ _ Week” for The Mikado is next month—which is also rehearsals for the school musical, two family birthdays, a trip to see West Side Story, and rehearsals and performance for honor choir—but that’s nothing compared to “he_ _ week” for Carmen which is during AP testing this May. Niiiiice. Not.

Ralph came in to read this and thought I’d misspelled “nice” in that last sentence. He’s the mathematician/scientist in the family and likes things just so in some regards. When one of his siblings was complaining about math, Ralph asked how anyone could hate it, how anyone could miss the beauty of always knowing when an answer was right! The rest of the time, he’s on cruise control. He is the stereotypical California beach kid (who only sees a beach once each summer) with his bright blond curls and his mad soccer skills. His team is ranked top 20 in Northern California and has climbed levels steadily over the years from bronze to silver to gold and now to premiere. It’s been fun watching these boys grow up together. Right now, he’s trying to decide which high school to attend next year. Older friends (and siblings) are, naturally, lobbying for their schools . . .

Hans is adjusting to the middle school better than I even hoped! The 6th grade GATE teacher beloved by Liesl, Rhiannon, and Ralph retired this summer, so the new teacher was a complete unknown. Since Hans is unencumbered by a need to please authority figures unless he really, really, really likes them, this was a huge concern. Thankfully, he loves his new teacher; gratefully, so do Greg and I. Hans is enjoying his new band teacher, too, and has actually learned to play his drum this year. And he’s started to like P.E. and Scouts as well. Better yet, he just signed up for the drama club, so his passionate side will get an appropriate venue. Leo and Ohotnik (“hunter” in Russian since he’s a Russian gray), our two new cats, are his constant companions.

Other highlights of the year? Touring three national parks this summer (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef), spending 24 hours on a working farm—complete with horseback riding—with a dear college roomie and her family, enjoying the Lion King in Vegas, celebrating another Carlson family reunion in Spanish Fork Canyon, visiting with family and friends while in SLC, and attending the last (sob, sniffle, sigh) Harry Potter midnight IMAX premiere with our California “family.” No glorious trips abroad, no shopping sprees, no honors or awards—just life in general. The lowlight? Greg’s losing almost all of my photos from the southern Utah portion of our trip. You know me. I cried. And cried.

Luckily, those were pretty much my only tears of the year, so my blessings have been duly noted and appreciated. You all—and our experiences together even now—are definitely on my thankful list. I hope you are happy—enough—and healthy—enough. If Facebook is any indication, you are. It’s such a treat to keep up throughout the year with many of you. Please come visit any time you’re in the San Francisco Bay area. That would be such a delightful treat! Until then, may your Christmas be merry and your New Year happy!!! With all my love to you and yours!

Christmas at the Archbolds!

Just thought I'd share some photos from our Christmas season! Click on the first photo to see more.

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas! My fondest wish is that this letter finds you happy and healthy, loved and laughing, peaceful and prosperous. Unfortunately, I can’t claim that those blissful states describe my family; fortunately, I can say there are glimpses of heaven. Admittedly, those times are rare, but they do occur. For those moments, I’m indeed grateful. And, I have to confess, although the unorthodox events in our family life can be painful and frustrating, they’re also—strangely—amusing and “character-building.”

As usual, we’ve enjoyed the together events like vacations home to Utah. The highlight was definitely Greg’s niece’s wedding, but other perks were our annual jaunt to the Kamas pool (that technology hasn’t yet made it to California) and the never-long-enough visits with family and friends. Other than that, our year really does revolve around the Harry Potter premier with our dearest Tracy friends who are practically family now. After July 2011, things are looking bleak!

Hans, nearly 11, is in his last year of elementary school. Gasp. My baby’s growing up! I was never one of those moms who cried (unless they were tears of joy) when her children went to Kindergarten. But I just might cry on Hans’ last day of fifth grade. Often prickly, sometimes charming, always creative, Hans is an enigma to me. His computer skills are phenomenal; honed by his daily fan-fiction writing—Sonic and Phineas & Ferb are faves. He has lots of followers and is currently writing a novel. Hans’ other passion is still Legos. Anytime he closets himself in his room for hours, Greg and I know we’ll soon be summoned to view a new diorama. Incredible! His color of choice is black, his length of hair is long, and his overall look is “emo.” Or so I’m told. Hans tolerates—with varying degrees of grace—the lesser of life’s activities: taking showers, going to school, playing drums, attending Scouts. Swimming, luckily, is still a bonding experience with his dad.

Ralph, almost 13, has yet to experience the awkwardness of middle school. Oddly enough, I’m hoping it appears soon. Better now than in high school, eh? With a golden boy demeanor, life is pretty smooth sailing for him. Teachers, leaders, girls, guys, parents, grandparents, team mates, classmates, and family friends alike seem to enjoy Ralph’s company. None of his competitors, though, on the soccer field do. We marvel that he’s never had a yellow card. He’s aggressive, but clean. School and trumpet and Scouting are fun, but soccer is a passion. Alarms were set at ungodly hours this summer so Ralph and Greg could wake for world cup soccer games—even while on vacation!!! When his beloved (because they’re orange like his team is orange) Dutch team lost, he was crushed. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth! At church, turning 12 meant he’d be able to pass the sacrament to our congregation. That he does so with such reverence is both humbling and thrilling to me.

Rhiannon, 15 and a sophomore, lives to sing. She turned down a position she earned at the rival high school to sing at Kimball and has never regretted it. This fall, she spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights rehearsing her role as Wendy in the school’s Peter Pan musical, Thursdays traveling to Modesto and singing with the Townsend Opera Players (as their youngest member), Fridays performing a few songs with her former P.E. teacher’s (from 4th and 5th grade) rock band, and Sundays practicing with the church choir. And this spring, she’ll perform—along with her chorus role in the Gallo Center’s Romeo and Juliet—as her high school’s only participant in the regional honor choir. At first glance, Rhiannon seems synonymous with sing, sing, sing. Except that she’s also obsessed with boys, boys, boys. Since she’s one day shy of 9 months too young to date, that whole boy thing is a frustration to us all. It’s also a source of great amusement. A couple weeks ago, she asked me if any of my friends had any “hot” sons. So if your sons fall into that category, let’s introduce them—in another decade!!!

Liesl, a 17-year-old senior, can hardly wait to enter the adult world of “after high school.” She has no idea what a culture shock that will be. She’s a brilliant young woman who doesn’t yet have any real inkling of what or who she wants to be—aside from Cutty (a hospital administrator) in Fox’s House series. She loves trivia, cool websites, friends, parties, cooking, friends, TV/computers, decorating, friends, clothes, movies, friends, swimming, music, and friends—especially guy friends since they come with no drama attached. So our house, on bio night (and many others), is filled with her bright male friends. A self-professed music geek and techno nerd, Liesl—in her role as choir TA—has impressed her school’s book keeper so much the book keeper is begging Liesl to let her write a letter of recommendation for her. Strong-willed, independent, social, highly organized, computer savvy, Liesl will be an asset to some company, somewhere, sometime.

Greg (as you can tell, we go in age order and my sweetie NEVER lets me forget that I’m “older”) is a happy man. He has his trusty sidekick, Champ; his USNA football wins over Notre Dame and Army; his cool job where he’s paid to blow things up; his 20-year-reunion trip to Annapolis; and his Wii online soccer. What more could he ask for (besides dinner on the table--ever)? Unfortunately, he’s had no overseas trips this year; fortunately (for me—I’m writing this!), he’s had no overseas trips this year. He did go “over 20” this year in his naval career and so is officially retired as a Commander. He’s also the Webelos leader in Scouts and teaches those same 10-year-old boys in Sunday School where he’s continually amused by Hans’ long locks/black shirt combo and the others’ missionary (#2 on top; #1 on sides) haircuts and white shirts. Believe you me, Greg instigates every havoc-wreaking episode during sharing time—like pulling all the popsicle sticks (used to fairly apportion turn-taking) and replacing them all with Hans’ and his classmates’ names. Sigh.

Me? I’m thrilled because a seed I planted at the local library last year paid off on Thursday. Even though I’m too busy with my family and school librarian position to substitute at the city library anymore, I asked my old boss to let me know when they were disposing of an encyclopedia set. The call came Tuesday and my school now gets to trade up 20 years (!) from a 1986 version to a 2006 one—for free!!! In my 3 years at an elementary school for 1000 K-5 students (90 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch), I’ve had a budget of zero. Free is SWEET! So are the hugs I get all over town from “my kids.” My other kids, the four at home, keep me busy doing what your kids keep you busy doing: driving, cleaning, chatting, lecturing, driving, chuckling, clothes-washing, paper-editing, driving, mentoring, loving, cheering, teeth-grinding, waiting, driving, praying, crying, laughing, driving. As you can imagine, the parenting break Greg and I relished in Annapolis was all-too-brief. Happily, it was a triple reunion and included get-togethers with our Annapolis church friends, Greg’s naval academy classmates and their wives (who I cherish), and our Pasadena (submarine) buddies. Sadly, there wasn’t time to include so many other friends. Next time . . .

Loving you, missing you, and wishing you the merriest of Christmases, the happiest of New Years. Tschüss!

Annual News for 2009!

Click on the photo above to view picture highlights of our 2009 year!

Nothing in our lives has been particularly wonderful or wicked this year, just wild. Our Christmas tree was lit and decorated Sunday, December 20. There were few if any other decorations. Presents were stuffed in gift bags--untagged and untissued--on Christmas Eve. I could nobly say this was intentional--a quest to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas; alas, that would be a lie. Each year, I’m more firmly convinced that twenty-four hours just don't go as far for me as they seem to for everyone else. Sigh.

Hans, almost 10, is fence-sitting fourth grade. Doesn’t love it, doesn’t hate it, but is, unfortunately, closer to the latter than the former. He chose to play viola, but now refuses, so will be re-selecting another instrument after the holidays. His every waking moment—-aside from those detestable ones spent doing homework, chores and bathing—-is spent creating with Legos. He designs and builds Star Wars fighters, then takes them to school and trades them for clones and what-not. His creations are highly coveted.

Ralph, 12 (and a deacon!!!) at the end of January, has loved the transition to middle school/sixth grade. In large measure, that’s due to P.E. being daily. Every day, I ask how his day was; every day, he says it was great. Inevitably, the highlight happened in P.E. But he also loves the rest of his day—-especially because his guy and gal pals in his core classes are all competitive soccer players, too. Trumpet has recently become important to him. Last year, he never practiced; this year, he practices almost daily because he has to be graded—-in front of EVERYONE in the band—-every week. He’s gone from 5th chair to 2nd, so is learning—-no surprise to any parent anywhere—-that practice makes perfect!

Rhiannon, 14 and a freshman at the brand-new (and not-completed) Kimball High, loves the idea of high school. She’d been hoping for a challenge and bemoans the fact that it’s easier than her 8th grade year, but she’s still enjoying the social aspects, the French class, the well-stocked library, the volleyball team (and, hopefully, softball) plus the award-winning choir director. For the winter concert, she performed a solo of “On My Own” from Les Miserables and brought the house down. It was SO exciting! Here's a video link. She also plays violin in the Central Valley Youth Symphony. In honor of that accomplishment, Santa brought her a certificate for a violin of her own which she redeemed in San Francisco today. Ecstatic would be too tame a word for how she feels right now!

Liesl, 16, is a junior across town at the old, established Tracy High in their performing arts program. She has great pals and has loved the freedom that comes with friends who have licenses. For a multitude of reasons—-spelled no time or money—-we haven't yet signed her up for driver’s ed. For Liesl, high school is all social. Although no one doubts her placement in IB, both her parents and teachers alike have given up on convincing her that grades matter. She’ll have to figure it out on her own! Until then, we enjoy her literary insights, her brilliant piano playing, and her awesome cooking skills. She continues to enjoy swim team practice but not competitions. Oh, and texting! That’d be an A+ if it were graded.

Greg spent November (from Halloween day to pre-Thanksgiving day) gallivanting about--oops! I mean working ferociously in England. He’s traveled elsewhere, I’m sure, this year, but my psyche is too scarred from this last trip to remember. Oh, and he’s discovered “Screaming Monkeys” on Woot and orders them whenever available. They rank right up there with Mountain Dew as his safe addiction of choice. For anything additional, read last year’s entry.

I could say the same thing about myself—-except I’d add that having 4 children at 4 schools is killing me! I’m still an elementary school librarian although that status will almost certainly change once a quarter of our school district’s budget is slashed (after another quarter cut in the last 7 years) in the coming months. Whatever bad news you read about California is unfortunately true. This year, I proposed a somewhat radical trial to provide library visits weekly to all 47 classes at my school--by combining classes. I figured I could as easily read to 50 or 60 students as to 25 or 30. It’s successful for them but stressful for me. Still, since next year they may not have library at all, it seemed imperative to frontload as much as possible.

Hope your holiday season was filled with peace and harmony and love. I miss all of you and eagerly anticipated, then enjoyed, hearing from you. Thanks for keeping in touch! Happy 2010!

Merry Christmas!

Click on this photo to see more holiday photos! Happy New Year!

School Year!

Yes, our school district loves my children so much it has forced all four to go to four different schools. It's a carpooling nightmare!!! Luckily, all are happily ensconced, so . . .

Liesl, a junior at Tracy High, has a heavy load with 3 IB courses. She loves what she loves (History and Science) and hates what she hates (Math). Her time is spent doing homework, texting friends, and sleeping. She's lobbying for permission to cook all our dinners (30-60 minutes a day) instead of doing her chores (10 minutes tops). I'm still contemplating. Is there some catch here?

Rhiannon, a freshman at Tracy's newest high school--Kimball, is finding high school easier academically than middle school. Eeek! She's on the volleyball team and plays violin in the Central Valley Youth Symphony. Last week, she and a friend sang--in gorgeous two-part harmony--the Canadian National Anthem at a football game between her high school and a visiting team from the North!

Ralph is a sixth-grader at Williams Middle School. He's the third of our children to have the beloved Wes Huffman as a core teacher (4 classes), plus he plays trumpet in the band and absolutely LIVES for P.E. His teacher must be in heaven! Ralph keeps busy with Scouts and his competitive soccer team, the Lyones.

Hans is a fourth-grader at South/West Park Elementary this year. His teacher, Cynthia Angell, has now taught ALL of my children and each of them loves her dearly. Hans is learning viola this year at school; at home, he designs Star Wars Lego pieces and reads Harry Potter. His favorite reading spot is our ratty living room couch. It is forever bedraggled!

Autumn Memories

Finally! It's only taken 10 months to update this blog--and all I've done is change the background. If all goes well, I'll be adding a few new photos and maybe even some video. Wish me luck!