Year in Review: 1999

Foreward- in order for me to locate this entry with greater ease- I am changing the publication date to match the date that I have summarized. In truth- this post was written 6/7/2024 as part of my ongoing efforts to switch to a digital format for story telling.  

 RIGHT NOW

I'm listening to a little voice that says "you have got to get back to THE project."  Oh come on, don't play dumb- you know exactly which project I am talking about- grumbled the voice with more irritation.  You know- that project- the one where you commit to reducing the volume of scrapbooks and transfer some of the photos and stories to a digital format.   

No more excuses- it is time to grab the next album in the queue, dust off the scanner and let's get it done.  The creative juices will start to flow- because ladies and gentlemen it is time that we 

PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999

We'd start the year with a little secret...

Oh dear what could it possibly be?

Nope it wasn't that this shaggy Thing 

would be tortured with his first haircut in January..

Ooo..I think I know shouted our only Thing..

I get to see Auntie Kelly..

and Cousin Greg and Auntie Laura..

Why yes- that was true- 

As we would head to Wisconsin in the spring to visit family

especially Great Uncle Royal...

he could probably use a hug from this Thing

 as his mom had just died

There would be more  cuddles and art lessons from Uncle Obie

and some giggle time with "the girls in the Falls"

There would be some old fashioned fun with 

Grandpa and Tom Kohl

as we all reminisced of the good old days...

As we waited (sometimes impatiently) for the Secret to arrive- 

There would be company to host

Well, Hello Bantas..

We'd take them out to see some Red Rocks..

which offered plenty of space for this active toddler to burn off some steam

Papa George would prove to be a very good guest..

as he shared stories

and tried to steal snacks..

from this not very amused Thing

We'd go for a pony ride...

and maybe go for a car ride

with the favorite (ok, only) cousin..

There would be bubbles to blow..

and bones to heal 

As we rolled into August 

Is it time- yet

pouted this Toddler Thing

Patience my son- it's almost time..

for this family trio

to become a party of four...

And while I  would quickly  discover I had my hands plenty full..

I was young enough to keep  the party going strong all the way

 through to the final countdown of 1999...

We'd baptize the newest Thing..

and take a trip on a train..

which was so much fun..

it lulled both Things to sleep..

We'd summit Pikes Peak..

and make a pass at Loveland..

Thing 1 would find ways to escape the stress of being

the helpful older brother..

who am I kidding- very little actual help was offered, and instead..

he perfected what has become  his lifelong skill

as a master nester.

Moving into the holiday season...it would soon be time to introduce the new kid

to Great Aunt Sue..

along with the rest of the crew..

and what better way to wrap up this exciting year..

than a Lish-inspired Theme party..

hosted by the Power Couple of Parkview- E & J

and their darling daughters...A& V

We'd dance like no one was watching..

and hope for the best...

as we turned the page to a new year!

Until next time...

just keep plugging away at the task at hand!

Year in Review: 1998

 RIGHT NOW

Foreward- in order for me to locate this entry with greater ease- I am changing the publication date to match the date that I have summarized. In truth- this post was written 6/2024 as part of my ongoing efforts to switch to a digital format for story telling.  

I'm thinking yikes- how do I get over my writer's block? 

I am indeed motivated to break down the last remaining albums for this project, and I found a good book to listen to while I scan the pictures.  

 But then comes the hard part- putting a narrative to the photos that I've deemed worthy of scanning.    I don't want it too wordy (this is after all a project aimed at reducing the clutter, simplifying the process).   But I also want to say something about the year and celebrate the high points.  

It then struck me- hold on, I write a family Christmas letter that is often times a yearly summary.  What if I just copy that?   Not perfect- but easier than sitting here, staring at the keyboard- and well, giving up.

In 1998- the theme I went with was a  Top 10 list.  These were all the rage with comedians like David Letterman. Sidebar- writing in this style is not as easy as it appears.   Anyways, for our letter- we focused on 10 things that Thing 1 figured out in 1998.  Given he was only 6 months at the start of year- well let's just say he had a lot of learning to do!  

Top 10 Things that Thing 1 figured out this year.

10.  How to get around.  

There's crawling

and  walking 

But of course the best...is to hitch-hike either with Dad

or maybe even mom?

9.  How to meet new people...

that was super easy- ya just smile and look cute...

Seattle Feb 1998- meeting Martha's godmother, UK

while we officially met the Lishes at the end of 1997-

this friendship would take root and start to bloom in 1998

8.  How to eat solids

Because if you can't eat solids-

you don't get to savor one of Great Grandma Irene's homemade cookies!

7.  What to do with gadgets

Be it a keyboard or a remote

in no time he discovered the magic

 that happens at the push of a button!

6.  What fun it is to play in the water...

there's the fountain at Grandpa's..

and the local swimming pool..

where Dom risked the skin-irritation of the pool to take Thing 1 for a spin..

and even the local reservoir...

Yep- he's a summer baby- pretty content to be poolside!

5.  How much fun having a cat can be

4.  How to skip the car ride and still visit cool places

You can take a train..

and end up in Paris..

where you are still small enough to be launched from the canon?!

Or sometimes the train just wanders through the trees

But that can be fun too..

You can take a plane...

and get to meet your auntie in CA

or your cousin in WI

and of course the best is spending time amusing one's grandparents..

3.   Holidays are for dressing up..

there's St. Patrick's day...where we are all a little Irish

and Easter- where treats come in baskets

that afterwards make for a perfect way to hide from more pictures?

even on one's birthday-you get a special hat and outfit

and of course, Halloween where even the big kids get dressed up?!

2.  There are all kinds of parks

from the national ones

to the local ones...

and even one's filled with History...

1.  I am the center of my family's world..

at least for now...

Until next time...

Give yourself a  round of applause..

as that's a wrap on the year in review-1998 edition!