The Curtis Clan - Fall 2006

Fall Equinox to Winter Solstice

5 Year Anniversary

The Fall started with lots of activities and our October was packed with something nearly every day. It started with Bethany and Randy taking a one-night “vacation” in town for their 5 Year Wedding Anniversary (or 6 years of living together, or the 244th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation). At a trivia night silent auction a few years back, we bid on a package that included a free night at SLUH’s Water Tower Inn (a converted hospital on the med school campus). So we talked Nana into spending the night, and left for an afternoon, evening and morning of fun with no children. We went to the movies twice, ate at several restaurants with table clothes and no crayons and did a couple massage class. It was our nicest anniversary yet, even if we didn’t have Imo’s.

Randy and Bethany mark their 5th Wedding Anniversary by a visit to the garden

at the Hawkin House where they were married

2006_09_22 RnB at Hawkin House garden.jpg

Enjoining The Fall Weather

Bethany began helping her Dad out by learning how to operate some of the stitching machines at his EmbroideMe stores on the weekends. It wasn't totally altruistic as she learned while crafting presents for various friends to mark birthdays, babies, etc. Finding it more comfortable to have a task while watching the girls, Randy took them to Tilles Park.

Cate fearlessly feeding the ducks and geese at Tilles Park

(Jane is a SAFE distance away)

2006_09_24 Cate with ducks at Tillies Park.jpg

Jane and Cate playing on a jungle gym at Tilles Park

2006_09_24 Jane and Cate at Tillies Park.jpg

At the end of September, the girls went with their playgroup to go apple picking at Eckert's Orchards. The weather was terrific and they had a wonderful outing with Cate being quite smitten with eating raw apples and Jane being much less so (no surprise there).

Jane and Cate on tractor at Echert's for apple picking

2006_09_27 Jane and Cate on tractor Apple picking.jpg

Annual Neighborhood Camping Trip

The last weekend in September, we made our annual trek to Meramec Springs to join former neighbor/Uncle Charlie at his fall gathering at the camp sites along the river. The group included many of our neighbors and other regulars on the trip. It was very comfortable as the weather was terrific and the girls have grown very found and use to Missouri car camping. It gets easier each time we take them.

Jane and Cate all snuggled in their sleeping bags inside our tent

Jane, Bethany and Cate walking to the bridge at Maramec Springs

2006_09_30 JBC at Maramec Springs camping.jpg

October

Bethany’s Aunt Katie and Uncle Don came to St. Louis for a few days in early October. Randy took a few days off and we monopolized much of their time here, as they’re some of our favorite people. Since they were staying with Amy and Alvan, there weren’t any 2 AM BS secessions but there was still time for general discourse about life, politics and coping with a psychopathic boss.

Group picture of family with Aunt Katie, Uncle Don and Gramy

Memphis Road Trip

After a birthday party for a playgroup pal at the Museum of Transportation, we packed up the gang for a 4-hour ride down I-55 to Memphis, TN. Our impetus for the trip was a Marriott hotel free night coupon that was due to expire and since Bethany has never stopped and seen the sights in great Mississippi Delta metropolis to the south, a plan was hatched.

Our main destination was Graceland, which as Paul Simon noted 20 years ago, we wanted to see “…for reasons I can not explain.” It’s a interesting place to visit even if you not an Elvis fan from an American cultural literacy viewpoint. It’s probably the only home that will be preserved forever in 1970s kitsch. Even if you’re not a fan (who is?), Graceland will forever serve as a reminder that this need never happen again. The Jungle Room, the basement Pool and TV rooms in particular are etched in my memory. It’s also interesting from the hero worship and pop star phenomenon perspective. It also serves as a clear indication at the growing prosperity of the upper-middle class America over the last 50 years, as many McMansions of recent construct are far more elaborate (though don’t include the acreage). A hint on the parking if you go: save yourself $6 and park at the souvenir shop across the street for free. It’s actually a shorter walk too.

Cate, Randy and Jane killing time in front of a Pepsi Truck refreshment stand

while waiting to take the shuttle bus across the street to Graceland

2006_10_08 CRJ at Graceland Pepsi truck.jpg

Randy, Cate, Bethany and Jane standing outside of Graceland

So the favorite family story that came out of our trip to Graceland, was at the end of the tour, after we’d gone through the Mansion, the outer ancillary buildings and were on the sidewalk of the pool deck leading to the memorial fountain and family tombstones. As we passed the graves and there was a reverent hush to the crowd, Jane asked what we were looking at. When we told her, she shrieks in horror: ELVIS IS DEAD? We quickly scooped the girls up, as the disturbed believers started in dismay at the disruption of the hallowed ground. In the car afterwards, the curious preschoolers wanted to know how he died. We decided to skip the reality that he fell off the toilet onto the floor, where he lay in a pool of his vomit from overdosing on a mixture of Codeine, sleeping pills, Quaaludes, and barbiturates. Instead we explained that Elvis died because he took medicines that his parents hadn’t told him were OK. For years afterwards, Elvis remained a cautionary tale about ALWAYS checking with your parents before taking any pills. It really resonated with them and one of our most inspired parenting moments.

After a lunch at Denny’s (where Cate invented the Cheese Goldfish Cheese pizza, which is much better than it sounds), we went to the lobby of the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks swimming in the fountain. We than spent an hour waiting to see the ducks leave the fountain via a red carpet to the elevator to ascend to their “duck palace” on the roof. With much pomp and circumstance, its quite an amusing show and the red coated Duck Master gave both girls an official duck pin. If we needed any further validation about our sightseeing choices, Oprah visited both on her road trip across the US; the Memphis leg airing the day after we got back.

Our room at the Residence Inn had a lovely view of downtown, as did the roof hot tub. The trolley stopped right outside our hotel but it was closed, apparently as a result of security fencing blocking the route along a couple major fires that occurred a couple days earlier. It was nice, so we hiked around including across the monorail bridge to Mudd Island, which included the scale model of the lower Mississippi River. The girls didn’t appreciate it as much as their dad did.

What they did really like was the desk chair in the hotel, spinning each other around until they were nearly senseless. It was difficult to watch and not get dizzy. However, we did not interfere with their exertions in hopes of having two very sleeping girls for the car ride home.

Jane and Cate Update

The girls began taking an interest in playing games on the computer courtesy of the PBS KIDS Jakers! Website (Randy - Jakers is the BEST kids program on TV, and since it won an Emmy last year, that’s not just my opinion). It was great to see how excited they (mostly Jane) were to navigate through the site to get it to read stories to them and create cards.

“I Cate” - Woe be the soul who tries and call our youngest any variation of her name such as Cattie or Cat. She will firmly respond “I Cate”. This said, she is the only one that gets to refer to her sister as Janie, which she does all the time. Cate has also grown very found of saying “I want you” to express her desire for attention. Its not surprising how effective this is as who can resist such a request.

Cate and Jane in their dresses

in preparation of Jane's picture day at school

At the end of October, Randy took off a few days from work and began tiling our back balcony. This is the last of the major house addition projects that were deferred during the original 2003 construction because Randy was going to knock them out on a couple weekends in the spring of 2004 (famous last words / man plans- God laughs). Our neighbor Britt came over and helped a couple days to mortar and screw in the second layer of cement board and cut and lay the first portion of tiles. Both agreed that it was far more enjoyable to help/receive help from a neighbor than a spouse. The original plan was to only lay the tiles, as grouting required a five days in a row above freezing, which didn't seem likely or possible at this time of year but the weather cooperated nicely, and we were able to grout before the elections in November.

Randy tiling the back balcony

(note the use of his clothes as a rag)

Block Party

Bethany and our neighbor Lisa organized a Chili Cook-Off Block Party on Sunday the 22nd for our portion of Tuxedo Blvd. Given the weather, it might have been more appropriately been called a Chilly Block Party (temperatures were in high 30s-low 40s). Despite the cold, there were nine crocks of chili that Randy got to help judge (it’s good to know people in power). A good time was had by all but there wasn’t any lingering in the streets afterwards as has occurred in the past.

Cate and Jane (and Adeline) bundle up

under a blanket at the Tuxedo Blvd. Block Party

2006_10_22 JnC bundle up at block party.jpg

On the next Saturday in October, the Hammonds invited us to their A-frame out in Innsbruck for their 10th annual garlic and wine feast for the Devil Dogs. Since more of us have kids, the wine portion of the festivities are much less of a focus anymore. The girls had a grand time going out on the kayaks and paddle boats on the adjacent lake.

Bethany and Cate kayaking at Innsbruck

Halloween

Despite months of presenting other options, Jane was a Princess for Halloween. Given a nice hand-me-down "Beauty and the Beast" Belle costume, that she immediately loved, there was little chance of changing her mind. Fortunately, she still young enough to not know better than to be happy when she saw here friend Noel wearing the same costume to her school’s fall festival costume party. Cate gladly made use of our bunny costume (her 2nd time and our 4th time over all - that won't happen again). It was fun to ask them the question, what do you want to be when you grow up in the months before Halloween, as their answers mirrored their costume choices. Hopefully, Cate’s choice won’t be some ironic for shadowing of a job with Playboy. We’re not too worried that Jane will find an opening for Princess.

Jane and Cate having fun with their pumpkins on the side porch

Jane used her same joke that her mother taught her last year: How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it. Cate's joke was pretending to nosh on a plastic carrot and saying "What's up Doc? (although it came out sound more like What's up duck?).

The Curtis women dressed for Halloween

Daily Grind
Mid-November saw some shifts in the Curtis family daily grind as Bethany started two part time jobs the same week: one as an instructor at the Webster YMCA and as a helper at her father’s EmbroidMe store in Des Peres. At the Y, Bethany assists in a toddler gymnastics / tumbling class that meets once a week for an hour and half. Taking the job was solely motivated by the complimentary membership included after 3 months on the clock. Her instructing partner runs a less “structured” environment than Bethany would prefer but things will hopefully work out better with the next round of classes in January.

The EmbroidMe gig was on Thursdays and Saturdays was to help with the added store traffic before Christmas and to learn enough of the business to fill in when other employees want to take time off. An ulterior motive was to learn how to operate the machines to makes gifts for family and friends (don’t be surprise if any gifts from us in the near future are monogrammed).

Home Improvement

Although October, was pretty chilly, November proved significantly warmer than average (almost as if the 2 months were switched). With the fortuitous Indian summer and no deadlines looming at work, Randy took off work half the month of November (7 days of use-or-lose leave, in addition to 2 holidays and 2 regular Friday off). With all the time off, he was able to make significant headway on a number of projects around the house. We finished tiling, grouting, trimming and caulking the balcony. This completed the lingering projects from the scope of the house addition 3 years earlier. YEAH! This means everything is done, right? Oh no, no, no, no. It just means that the other improvement projects were not part of the 2003 addition. There are lots of other fairly major items we want do; first up is to finish off half the basement as a children’s playroom and family area.

On the 12th of November, our very generous and kind neighbor John Liss (a concrete carpenter foreman in real life) spent his one-day off for the week using a concrete saw to lengthen 3 basement windows openings to maximize lights in the basement area to be refinished. Randy and John spent about 7 hours cutting the 10-inch walls from both inside and outside; whacking at it with a 20-pound sledgehammer (Randy felt very emasculated with his girly-man 10-pound sledge by comparison) and than closing it up the holes with plywood. The saw kicked up an enormous amount of fine dust, particularly with the window under the kitchen. Dust blanked the kitchen cabinets and their contents as it came up through the studs in the wall and through the closed windows. Bethany spent 2 days washing everything in the cabinets. Dust curtains in the basement, concentrated the worst of it down there but there is a layer over much of the stored items.

John with concrete saw

Fortunately, the custom windows only took 2 weeks to make instead of three, and they came in during a 70-degree snap in the weather. Taking another day off, Randy installed, foamed, caulked and trimmed out them all out in one day. We can’t recommend caulking and nailing trim by flashlight but it beats doing it in the cold.

Randy installing a basement window

Thanksgiving

Some major street repairs limiting access to Aunt Rhonda’s served as the impetus for having the Curtis family portion of the holiday at our house. Bethany cooked her first turkey and all the fixings with great aplomb.

Curtis Family Thanksgiving

On Friday night, it was the Sage Tribe gathering of 21 folks for dinner. There are only 19 faces in the picture though as Randy inadvertently cut off cousin Erin and most importantly the hostess Gramy in the panorama shots (sorry!). After dinner, the younger cousins entertained (?) everyone with their skills at karaoking, which was greatly hampered by the fact that only one of them has started to read.

Sage Clan Thanksgiving

Randy missed out, as he attended his 25th Year High School reunion that night. It was nice seeing a lot of folks he has lost touch with (particularly Boyer) but as he noted after the 10-Year reunion, the experience is somewhat unsatisfying. Except for the people you remained tight with, you can’t help seeing people through the lens of memories. You only touch the personal changes, experiences and growth in the most cursory way (who gained weight/looks the same, what job they have, etc.). You really don’t know them any better, or they you. Than again, high school is a particularly superficial time of life anyway so perhaps this is fitting.

December 1st - Snow Day!

On the last Wednesday of November, it was 74 degrees and we were wearing shorts to install the windows. On Thursday, the temperature dropped 50 degrees and the area was hit by a killer ice storm, knocking out power to ½ million customers in the greater St. Louis area due to ice covered tree limbs knocking down utility lines. Fortunately, our power stayed on and we had no significant tree damage, though our 35-foot pin oak was drooping over the driveway like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. So Friday, December 1st became a snow day in the carefree childhood sense of the phrase. Bethany’s Y class was canceled and Randy decided it was an excellent opportunity to telecommute for the few hours of tasks that he had to get done before 2 weeks on the travel. We had a fun morning with the girls on our "snow day". First we had a tea party with ALL of our Raggedy Ann dolls (Jane has one, Cate has two, Bethany has two old ones of her own and they all shared with Randy.) It was quite a hopping party as we used the Raggedy Ann real china tea set that went with the theme.

Bethany and the girls at our snow day Raggedy Ann Tea Party

Next, we bundled the girls up in snow bibs and winter coats for some sledding and playing in the yard. Cate and Jane both delighted in squealing "SNOWBALL FIGHT" as they tossed fistfuls of loose snow into the air, with most of it landing in their own face -- HILARIOUS! After 40 minutes or so, we came in for some hot chocolate by the fire. After warming back up, we watched "White Christmas" with a lunch of popcorn.

Randy giving the girls a sled ride around the front yard

2006_12_01 Snow Day Randy Jane and Cate.jpg

Cate and Jane appearing to have the sisterly affection thing down

Cate with her first Snowman

(made from chunks of ice and acorn eyes)

The first week of December, Bethany began decorating the house for Christmas, which pleased the girls to no end. While eating off our snowman china at dinner for the first time, Cate remarked “It so exciting!” They are at a great age for the holidays and have both enjoyed watching the “standards” of the Holiday TV specials we grew up with.

For the second full week in December, the Bethany and the girls joined Randy for a road trip to Huntsville, AL for a conference. We stopped in Nashville in route and stayed in a nice Marriott overlooking the Vanderbilt football stadium. It may have spoiled Jane a bit though, for when she walked into the 2-year old Residence Inn in Huntsville, she remarked “This isn’t a NICE hotel”. We guess she managed as both girls enjoyed the change of pace, hotel room, sleeping on the sofa bed together and eating out very much. Jane got to have her idealized breakfast most days: bacon, Fruit Loops and more bacon (for a picky eater she has no problem with meat). Cate got a stomach flu bug and spent a night throwing up. Fortunately, she didn’t have any problems during the 6 ½ hours in a car riding home.

Jane, Bethany and Cate playing around in the Parthenon park in Nashville

Curtis Family Holiday Card Photo Shoot

Although we decided to go with a collage photo card this year, we still wanted to do a family photo shoot. Instead of asking someone to help by taking the actual picture, we used the timer and a tripod with the expected results that after dozens of shots, most were not what we were looking for. Here are some of the ones that didn’t make the cut as well as the selected one (can you pick which one?).

The Curtis Family 2006 Christmas Card collage

Oh Tannenbaum

Because we were out of town for a week, we decided to postpone purchasing a tree until we got back. Unfortunately, by that point all the charity stands and other live tree outlets were sold out of the medium sized trees, leaving only a handful of $100+ ten footers or $10 three footers if they had any at all. As we were driving around in desperation, we considered fabricating a tree from the mounds of evergreen limbs stacked up on the side of the road from the ice storm. It would have been "unique" to say the least. Fortunately, Bethany found a passable tree at the sixth place we visited. It's kind of short, skinny and lopsided but it least it was holding onto its needles (and was half off as they were looking to close shop at Lowe's).

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