This year, our annual Nicholson newsletter is updated for the 21st century. We've started a blog to keep everyone informed about our adventures. First off, we'll recap 2005, in excruciating detail. Then, as 2006 unfolds, we'll keep all of our far-flung friends and family up to date on Nicholson family accomplishments, big and small. So, without further ado, here are the highlights of another wonderful year...
January - A New Year, A New Nicholson
Jesse joined us in late 2004 and it's been great to get to know him. Notable accomplishments by Jesse in the early months of 2005: smiling, sleeping through the night, grabbing, laughing. Did I mention he slept through the night? Yea, Jesse!
February – A Valentine's Vacation
Mark managed to get away from work for a long weekend, so we packed up the clan and headed for the beach. Here we are enjoying the surf and the sand and the warm, sub-tropical waters. Sadly, the vacation was all too short, and everyone was disappointed to have to return to the “real world” so soon. On the upside: We didn't have time to get sunburned. See how we've all retained our normal, pale complexions? Short vacations are the ultimate SPF.
March – Tyler Turns Lucky Seven
This year, Tyler's birthday theme was “magic,” and according to the birthday boy himself, the party was “the best one ever.” Believe it or not, the requested decorations and favors were more Houdini than Harry Potter(!) and a dozen boys donned top hats, capes, and waved magic wands at unsuspecting pieces of birthday cake.
May - Melanie's Music Recital
As most of you know, Melanie has been studying piano and viola since the first grade (see photo - okay, so it's a ukelele). And while she sometimes practices with a book propped up in front of her sheet music (Thought we didn't notice, Mel?), she is an amazing musician. She sounded so wonderful at her latest recital. She did several chamber music pieces, including parts of a Mozart quartet and Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjez. Bravo, Melanie!
June – School's Out, Camp's In
Melanie and Tyler both attended Camp Winnetka this year. Activities included kayaking, getting poison ivy, performing in the camp Variety Show, day hikes, and forgetting to write home often enough. Melanie reports that camp life is “just like hanging out with friends here at home, but with more bugs.” Tyler is less blasé and called his first year at sleep-away camp, “scary at first," but also mentioned some positive impressions, saying, "Camp food isn't as bad as I thought it would be.”
August - Feral Cat Fiesta
Here is something most of you don't know: We Nicholsons have a dirty
secret. It's time to come clean. Mark is a crazy cat lady. He feeds the
wild cats in our backyard every morning, rain or shine. Sometimes I
wonder if all this surplus energy couldn't be channeled into indoor
projects, but then again, the feral cats are pretty cute. In August,
Mark's major project was trapping them and getting them “fixed.” That
means the outdoor cat population will be steady,which is a very good
thing. The only drawback is that there won't be any new feral kittens...
September - Collecting for Katrina
The entire Nicholson family was shocked and dismayed at the wreckage wrought by Katrina (and Rita) on the Gulf Coast. Thankfully, Mark's cousin, Ted, and his wife, Julia, who live in New Orleans, made it through the storm unhurt. Their house wasn't so fortunate, as water and wind caused severe flooding. We spoke to Ted and Julia from Fort Smith, Arkansas, where they are staying until their house is repaired, and both were thankful for the efforts that everyone made on their behalf. Those efforts included Melanie's and Tyler's classes raising over $2,000 for the victims of Katrina and similar natural disasters.
October - Jesse's First Birthday
Has it already been a year? It seems like just yesterday we brought little Jesse home from the hospital. (Of course, it seems like about two years' worth of diapers.) Recent accomplishments from the littlest Nicholson: crawling, pointing to things, saying “mama” and, less frequently, “papa,” and chewing on everything in the entire Nicholson household. Everything. If his early tendencies are any indicator, we suspect that Jesse will grow up to be a restaurant critic.
November - Thanks, Given
We had a lot to be grateful for in 2005. Not only did we have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, and three (3!) pumpkin pies, but we also got to share that meal with some of our closest friends, the Chos (Emily, Al, June, and Diana), who live just down the street, and Mark's coworker Anne. Everyone was asked what they were thankful for and here are the highlights... Mark: "Jesse." Emily: "Hybrid technology." Diana: "Four-day weekends." Melody: "Shopping on credit." Tyler: "Having a brother, so the boys outnumber the girls."
December -- Looking Forward
It's been a great year and we're looking ahead to an even better 2006. Hopefully, the world will be a calmer, more peaceful place in the coming year, but regardless of what's in store, we're certain that everything will be all right as long as we can share our lives with such wonderful family and friends.
Here's hoping your holidays are filled with peace, health and happiness!
Love,
Jessica, Mark, Melanie, Tyler, and Jesse
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