It's a long cold entry

Good People,
First, let me wish everyone a belated happy holiday season. Ours was wonderful. Although nothing profound happened, I had 2 weeks off of work and that alone was enough to put me in a constant unnaturally euphoric state. We spent much time together and with family and friends which is exactly how I think one should spend the holidays. We are enjoying the new home and the tiny bit of furniture we've managed to acquire. An update on the shorties...

Paige is 5 months now and we've come to know and LOVE the personality she's developed. She is a quiet, observant and patient little girl. She is sweet beyond measure. Those of you that are close to me know that I'm very emotional - which can be good and bad as I've been called "dramatic" at times - but when Jen and the kids get home and I give my kisses and coos to Paige, she will return them with a heart melting smile and a genuine excitement that makes her arms and legs flail. It almost brings tears to my eyes (and is a perfect example of why I don't mind being "emotional"). In fact, Paige nearly always reacts this way when we take a moment away from the cacophony of the Stratton household to acknowledge her. Now, for those of you that know Jen AND me, you may be saying to yourself: "she's patient?! Curt and Jen's child? Somethings awry...". Yes, patience is not a trait I hold in vast abundance, and I'm a yellow ribbon on the Hoffa Oak tree compared to Jen. (Sorry, Dear.) We're hoping not to spoil her too soon.

Sophie on the other hand... well, we spend about a half hour before bed filing the horns from her temples because we just don't think society is ready for that kind of physical anomaly yet. Yes, the "terrible 2s" are real and began at around 19 mos and unlike Paige, there is no question that this apple did not fall far from the trees. Now, this is obviously said in a slight manner of jest. I see Sophie growing up to be a very independent and steel-willed child, which means that when she is a teenager she is solely Jen's responsibility since those are traits Jen gave her. In fact the only thing I believe she got from me is an unhealthy love of the Packers (which hasn't actually shown itself yet, but I'm convinced is there) and a rare ability to dance to indie rock music. Already at this young age she seems to be at a crossroads - trying to determine a moral direction to follow. For example, one of her favorite activities is to walk up to a person, hit them, wait until they react in some way, then comfort them. I am hoping she decides she enjoys comforting more than hitting...

Ryan is SO good with the girls. At 5 years old, he is more of a help than he really has any reason or right to be. He will comfort the girls when they are upset. He will hold Paige when Mom and Dad have their hands full. He even took Sophie downstairs, helped her into her chair and fed her breakfast one morning!! At this rate, I will be paying him an allowance much sooner than I planned. He truly enjoys having the girls around and much like everyone else, he can't walk by Paige without playing with her. Do you recall the Peanuts cartoons where Snoopy goes into character as a vulture, peering out, cold and unblinking from the top of his doghouse? I envision Ryan holding this same watch over Paige when she gets to an age that (gulp) boys become something of a curiosity to her. Now, this of course means that he will have to put off college until she is 21 which is the age I will allow her to start dating. It also means that I'll have to find a way to put a mean bone in his body. And no, I haven't forgotten about Sophie; but no worries, she will eat boys for lunch.

Something of a Tangent
The only significant stress in our lives right now is this *bleeping* economy. Never before have I actually been personally affected by the workings and state of the macro economy; maybe due to living in the Midwest, maybe to my profession, maybe to the fact that the economy was strong for 10+ years straight after I joined the work force. But, even though we are successfully, if not uneasily, doing the double mortgage thing, a significant organizational shake-up currently transpiring at Thomson Reuters has left us feeling a little queasy about the future. Now, I realize we've made the decisions that have placed us where we are and we are not living hand-to-fist. We've actually planned very well and are still saving and still have an emergency fund and still planning for the kids, etc. It's just a tentative feeling in the air that I know everyone else is realizing as well; a fear of the unknown that has Jen and I talking much more about financial contingencies should situations occur that once - quite recently - would have seemed improbable if not completely implausible. I did not vote for Obama and I don't claim to be enough of a political or economic academic to comment on his policies, but I do wish him the highest success in turning this economy around. I included this paragraph because if you have spent any time thinking about some of these same things, doesn't it feel good to know you are not alone?

Mazel, Mazel. Good Things.

...some pics. Click to enlarge.