Clean underwear

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers to your and your family.

I voted by absentee ballot, but wanted to wait until today to turn it in at my voting place to get my sticker (it'll look nice next to my Obama button in a scrapbook :D). I ended up turning it in last Saturday when my youngest sister came home from college to do early voting (her ballot got lost in the mail). 30 minutes in the pouring rain wasn't so bad and I still got my sticker. :) It was exhilarating to feel the excitement of all the voters who were waiting there with us. There was even a little elderly woman who approached the line with a walker. Everyone in front of her wanted to let her go first so she could get out of the rain, but she said, "No, no. I'll wait in line just like everyone else." She said that she had just gotten out of the hospital and wanted to do early voting. All I can think was WOW. Here's someone who gets the importance of an election.

I voted by absentee ballot, but wanted to wait until today to turn it in at my voting place to get my sticker (it'll look nice next to my Obama button in a scrapbook :D). I ended up turning it in last Saturday when my youngest sister came home from college to do early voting (her ballot got lost in the mail). 30 minutes in the pouring rain wasn't so bad and I still got my sticker. :) It was exhilarating to feel the excitement of all the voters who were waiting there with us. There was even a little elderly woman who approached the line with a walker. Everyone in front of her wanted to let her go first so she could get out of the rain, but she said, "No, no. I'll wait in line just like everyone else." She said that she had just gotten out of the hospital and wanted to do early voting. All I can think was WOW. Here's someone who gets the importance of an election.

Get better soon! A comic-reading binge with Anne would be a very nice way to spend Valentine's Day. :)

Get better soon! A comic-reading binge with Anne would be a very nice way to spend Valentine's Day. :)

Happy Belated Birthday, Nolan! Hope you had an awesome day!

Happy Belated Birthday, Nolan! Hope you had an awesome day!

My baby sister started college last year and all I was able to think of while moving her into her dorm was that line from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" spoken by Henry Jones, Sr. "You left just when you were becoming interesting." As wonderful as cell phones and emails are for bringing everyone closer, do try to send something by post. The R.A.'s at my baby sister's college encouraged parents to send more things by post because it's always nice to get something from home. The school even had a program during final exams that put together study food (coffee, raisins, cookies, etc.) for parents to order and have sent to their kids. All the parents had to do was write in the provided card to wish their student good luck on their exams. It's a cute idea that you might want to do. :) Also, try to keep Ryan's the room looking about the same as he left it. My older sister said there was nothing more disorienting than feeling like you don't have a place at home during breaks from college. *Hugs to you and Anne and Nolan* Good luck in college, Ryan!

My baby sister started college last year and all I was able to think of while moving her into her dorm was that line from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" spoken by Henry Jones, Sr. "You left just when you were becoming interesting." As wonderful as cell phones and emails are for bringing everyone closer, do try to send something by post. The R.A.'s at my baby sister's college encouraged parents to send more things by post because it's always nice to get something from home. The school even had a program during final exams that put together study food (coffee, raisins, cookies, etc.) for parents to order and have sent to their kids. All the parents had to do was write in the provided card to wish their student good luck on their exams. It's a cute idea that you might want to do. :) Also, try to keep Ryan's the room looking about the same as he left it. My older sister said there was nothing more disorienting than feeling like you don't have a place at home during breaks from college. *Hugs to you and Anne and Nolan* Good luck in college, Ryan!

Wishing the wonderful Mrs. Wheaton a fantastic (belated) birthday!

Wishing the wonderful Mrs. Wheaton a fantastic (belated) birthday!

Happy Birthday Ryan! Your parents are so cool to take you to Disneyland for your birthday!

Happy Birthday Ryan! Your parents are so cool to take you to Disneyland for your birthday!

Happy Birthday, Wil!

Happy Birthday, Wil!

Congratulations to Ryan on graduating! And congratulations to Wil and Anne for raising an adult successfully! Ryan, if you're interested, check with your high school's offices to see if and when you can pick up your permanent record. My high school's policy was to hold the permanent record for five years after the student's graduation before shredding them. Pick up day was on graduation day of the fifth year. The records has all the comments that teachers wrote since kindergarten, school pictures, and some proficiency tests. It's also got inoculation records (good to have a copy around). It was fun flipping through mine. My boyfriend found out that he was almost held back in the kindergarten and my best friend knew if his parents saw the file he'd get in trouble (even at the age of 23 at the time!). Anyways, many congratulations to your family! :D

Congratulations to Ryan on graduating! And congratulations to Wil and Anne for raising an adult successfully! Ryan, if you're interested, check with your high school's offices to see if and when you can pick up your permanent record. My high school's policy was to hold the permanent record for five years after the student's graduation before shredding them. Pick up day was on graduation day of the fifth year. The records has all the comments that teachers wrote since kindergarten, school pictures, and some proficiency tests. It's also got inoculation records (good to have a copy around). It was fun flipping through mine. My boyfriend found out that he was almost held back in the kindergarten and my best friend knew if his parents saw the file he'd get in trouble (even at the age of 23 at the time!). Anyways, many congratulations to your family! :D

Wil, awesome story! Everything you've ever written about your kids is the closest thing to "the cool way to raise kids" guide I'll ever find!

Wil, awesome story! Everything you've ever written about your kids is the closest thing to "the cool way to raise kids" guide I'll ever find!

I would be lucky if my future kids joked around with my future husband like that.

I would be lucky if my future kids joked around with my future husband like that.

Just yesterday I read an article in the university newspaper that they opened up a free meditation center on campus. Wil, I'm going to take your post as a sign for me to pay that center a visit soon. Thank you. :)

Just yesterday I read an article in the university newspaper that they opened up a free meditation center on campus. Wil, I'm going to take your post as a sign for me to pay that center a visit soon. Thank you. :)

Can you two *be* any more perfect for each other? :)