Thanks 2010, I Laughed So Hard My Face Hurts

We have literally had "Toad's Wild Ride" of a year this year. So many land marks of growth and change have happened seemingly all at once. Everything from witnessing the very moment Adessa left her "baby years" behind during kindergarten round up and registration, watching her graduate from training wheels to tween bicycle during the course of about one week, hearing her consistently, and correctly use words like: "eventually", "practically", "ideally", "conversationally speaking", "continuous cycle", "logically irrational", "highly improbable", "real estate prospect", "guesstimate" and the list goes on and on. Jexten never lets my heart rate fall below just short of a heart attack, as he daringly grabs whatever scrap 2x4 that we seem to always have lying around, and shreds the slide in the backyard swing set. He turned 3, and potty trained during a weekend visit to Rexburg, (Matthew Coates is a great potty trainer, he's so personable, and really seems to know just how to get through to a person). Jexten graduated from radio flyer trike to full on bike, training wheels and everything. He also became the ultimate superhero, born to defend and protect anyone in need; his one weakness: angry eyes. Jexten never lets us down with his broad sense of humor, and no one can resist his contagious laughter. As Grandpa Gordon can vouch for, he will catch you in a compromising moment and make a joke about it at the dinner table EVERY TIME. If you really make friends with him he will lovingly name his poop after you. :) Both Jexten and Adessa have incredible memories, and an even better theatrical presence and love to act out their favorite TV shows, or videos.......at about the most awkward times possible. I have often joked about striking a deal with every: grocery store or warehouse, discount store, department store, courthouse, and post office in the northern Utah area to pay us performance royalties every time we grace one with our presence. We really should charge admission!
Kurt and I would be lying if we said we haven't changed a bit from last year to this. We got to drop the kids off at Joan and Gordon's (thanks) one night, just so we could dress up and go out to a harshly lit restaurant only to point out each other's laugh lines, and laugh some more about what old fogies we never thought we would become. Then, in true menopause style we began to cry in the dark car ride home at the old fogies we never thought we would become. Turn up "Islands in the Stream", will ya?....ya, we have mood swings, but at least we are on the same swing :) The last year of our 20's will go out with a bang, I can just feel it. But then again, I can't really remember a year that hasn't. So, it is with deepest gratitude and greatest pleasure, 2010, we bid you farewell; we'll be seeing you in the funny papers, and finally: Thank You 2010, I laughed so hard my face hurts!