The year in review.(or why I don't send Christmas letters)

What a fine year at Chez Bean, and a busy one too!

The Christmas season last year was capped by DH's family coming to Christmas dinner in what Deb now refers to as the Bugs Life Holiday meal (you remember ... they come, they eat, they leave). Yes a fine occasion featuring at least 2 1/2 hours of companionship in reward for a whole days worth of cooking. Luckily Deb had the forsight to take off work the day after Christmas so the munchkin could play with the new toys and she could actually relax.

The festivities were followed closely by New Years where Mike awarded his annual "Mikey's" for his pick of the feature film litter. Deb sensing another year of bad taste (best picture Battlefield Earth ?!) went to bed early. Other winter highlights featured munchkin being suspended from daycare -- followed by their recommendation that he not attend their kindergarden and perhaps should be evaluated for other issues.

February's highlights include the gift of a fabulous cake pan with a lid from Mike to Deb for valentines (so that the cakes Deb bakes for Mike don't have their icing stick to the foil). Deb vows never to bake a cake again.

Spring was a fun filled rush of special education evaluations for the munchkin capped by the home visit and developmental pediatrician. On the plus side we got a diagnosis of Apsberger's syndrome. On the negative we're not sure they would have come up with it if we hadn't mentioned that his cousin has it.

Summer brought Mike's neice to Debs work for a very lucretive summer job that only partially drove Deb nuts. Mikes longtime friend Alan and his wife (the couple that introduced us) were feted at a farewell party as they moved to Las Cruces NM. Unfortunately the wife was too busy to attend her party. Munchkin attended the developmental pre-school at his neighborhood school to get a jump on the transition process.

July brought a family trip to Las Vegas and the realization that Las Vegas is not a family destination. It also drove home just how hot the desert is in the middle of summer. Deb barely had time to lose a hundred dollars, what with watching the munchkin. Mike manages to walk past a slot machine, insert one quarter and grab 80 bucks.

August saw the transitioning of the munchkin out of the Daycare. Also a little routine cancer removal for Deb, followed by a week at grandma & pop-pops house at the beach. Immediately upon our return was Munchkin's first day of school! Immediately followed by Deb stressing about his impending birthday party.

On September 11 the world stood still. Life carried on after and munchkins party, while nearly giving Deb a heart attack due to the late moon bounce, was a success.

In October Deb made the pilgrimage to visit her best babe! An excellent time was had by both! Mike feted Deb's 40th birthday with a lovely greeting card. The munchkin broke his arm in mid-month filling the rest of the fall with a variety of doctors visits.

November featured the command performance trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. Followed by more doctor visits including the highly exciting sleep study and enuresis clean out. It is unknown if we will solve the munchkins "issues" but it won't be for lack of torture!

Now again Christmas is hard upon us! Where has the year gone? Who knows what adventures the next year will bring!

Happy Holidays.

Deb