Happy Blue Moon New Year, Part II

June

Summer was off to a busy start with a trip to Arlington to attend GASC and to bring Gregory for a week of Camp Invention. Grandpa and Pauline came to Galveston to bring him back, so that led to a FND with Bert & Holly. Joseph started the Junior Lifeguard program. Then the Hugger family met up again for Sr. Mary V's jubilee.

July

In July, Eddie and I celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary. I continued with improvements to the Houston house, slowly but surely. Joseph competed in Beach Fest as part of Junior Lifeguard and placed in two of his three events. But the big event of the month was Eddie's 30th high school Reunion with his friends from O'Connell.

August

Most of August was consumed with the ramp-up of Joseph's new school. Because it's a new program, a full week of orientation was held so all students were ready to hit the ground running on the first day of school. I was at the school every day to help any way I could and ended up serving the year as PTO president.

September

The Paws Gala was so much fun! Canceled last year because (duh) of Hurricane Ike, the main fundraiser for the Galveston Island Humane Society was held on the first anniversary of the storm. In true Island style, the anniversary was commemorated with a big party! Eddie and I made it to Austin for a fraternity mini reunion and to watch the UT/Tech game with Ted.

October

Eddie was guest cook at the re-dedication of the Shultz kitchen and wowed everyone with his paella. My sister, Jennifer, and her three kids came to visit and among other things enjoyed a day of fishing with the guidance of our friend, Arthur. We hosted the 30th Anniversary Oenophiles Wine Dinner, this year at 901 Post Office, where they served the pink champagne on ice. Then it was my turn to celebrate a high school reunion. And - finally - my house went on the market!

November

Well, November surely has the fewest photos. There are the obligatory FND photos (this one taken outside), which I've surprised myself with my consistency. I think there are few event photos because the house was in minor turmoil while a new floor was installed in the kitchen and sun room and Eddie got a new tv and sound system. We've been in the house for a year-and-a-half, and we're still moving things around! Speaking of: I soon get a contract to lease my Houston house! Now the real work begins: moving!

December

Joseph became a member of Boy Scout Troop 123 this fall, and every December the Troop goes to the Texas City Gun Range for a day of shooting. Joseph and Eddie had a great time of gun safety, good aim, and male bonding. Joseph hit his first round of skeet and impressed everyone by hitting the first pull! For the first time in my life, I spent Christmas away from my Hugger family. This year we stayed in Galveston and celebrated Christmas at home. Christmas Day was spent with Eddie's family now that parents are back in their home. And the year ended with a final move-out from my Houston house. Hooray!

Happy Blue Moon New Year!

It's been a hectic few weeks, but I'm taking some time to reflect on 2009. Not much of a year, especially compared to 2008, which included a wedding, a move and a hurricane. But, here it goes: highlights by month:

January

I'm starting off with this photo, taken early in the year and printed and posted in two prominent places: in the key holder and on my monitor. It set the tone for a new year, new family, new life.

After creating the site for Joseph's school, I held a training for the teachers and started another site called Galveston Now Open. It was a photo gallery displaying photos of signs businesses were posting around the Island to announce they had reopened after Hurricane Ike. By the time I posted 100 photos, life was almost back to normal. I said almost. Trucks continued to transport loads of sand up and down the Seawall to replenish the beaches in time for turtle nesting season.

February

Early in the month, a lady flipped her Lincoln into our nextdoor neighbor's yard. I was the first responder. We hear she's OK. There was Mardi Gras, of course. One of our favorite eateries, Sonny's, reopened. But the most life-changing event of the month was that Eddie and I got iPhones!

March

Grandpa came to visit and helped me with some improvements to the Houston house, which I've slowly updated, purged, cleaned and painted most of 2009. Grandpa also got to partake in a Friday Night Dinner (FND) and play with Joseph. Eddie celebrated the reopening of El Jardin!

April

Joseph and his 5th grade class went to Camp Kappe, and I went to CKC (my first) in Houston. The Grand Kids Festival was another sign of the Strand returning to normal. And of course, April is birthday month, so we did it fun at Schlitterbaun.

May

Rudy & Paco's finally opens! We don't go right away, but I've always thought that the reopening of Rudy & Paco's signaled the return of "normal". May wrapped up the school year with lots of end-of-school activities like May Crowning and Field Day. Also, I helped the 5th grade make cards to sell at the GCS Art Walk. Oh, and we hosted the May wine tasting. Not everyone is back in their homes.

(ok, enough for now. I'll recap the rest of the year tomorrow!)

25 years ago...

...I graduated from high school. The reunion featured the classes of 1980-1985, so even my brother showed for the festivities. I was voted most changed (again) and Andy was voted least changed (again). Eddie took loads of photos. Here are 50 or so.

Happy Birthday, Lillian Grace!

My best friend's "baby" is one year old today! Here's a recent layout to prove that I have been scrapping. Can you believe that all these photos were taken on my iPhone, indoors, without a flash?

July flew by without a single blog post. Bad blogger! If anyone is interested, I've been doing lots of little things: painting the old scrap room, organizing the new one; gardening, which really equates to watering the dying plants; learning what I can about SEO (search engine optimization), sepecially since the release of Bing and the whole scary Microsoft/Yahoo thang; pouting that I didn't get to go to CHA but pumped that Noell & Izzy are doing such a great job capturing the show; seeing positive effects of yoga and twice-weekly muscle power; oh, and becoming one with QuickBooks and customizing reports.

School starts soon, so Joseph is trying to enjoy what's left of summer. He's in the water at every chance and earned two first place ribbons at BeachFest. Apparently, he's quite the runner. Basketball Camp was this week, and next week he's at Camp Thurman. Then it's orientation week at his new school. Uh, there goes summer!