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Merry Christmas
In an effort to share more pictures, reduce paper use, and spend more time with “my precious” (Victoria’s pet name for our new Mac) we’re trying a new format this year (don’t worry, the sassy news stories are on page 2). We wish you a merry Christmas & best for the new year!
A YEAR OF PLENTY
The First Day of School
Alexander began kindergarten this year. Ella misses him dearly for the two and a half hours that he’s gone, but keeps busy with mom’s g roup, pre-school, shopping (also known as getting a cookie at the grocery store), and playing with Mommy. Alex took three weeks off from Kindergarten to travel to the UK, but continued his education. At breakfast, in front of all the students he asked, “Daddy how does the seed get to the egg in the mommy’s belly?”
Other Firsts
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2008 has seen many joys and some sorrow. We are continually blessed with great friends and family, we’ve had another year of amazing experiences, we are all healthy and when everyone’s had a nap, we’re all pretty happy. Victoria’s mother, Marilyn Nicacio, passed away on July 10, 2008, after battling cancer since Alex’s birth in 2003. We love our jobs, our community, our family, and most of the changes that we’ve experienced (clipping nose hair isn’t all that great). Since writing this last week, Patrick lost his job, a snowstorm hit knocking out the power and forcing us to cannibalize our neighbors and we’ve all contracted the plague. Just kidding, Merry Christmas.
• Ella sleeps in a big girl bed • Alex sleeps in big girl bed Here are some other firsts with Ella because she is that took place this year. scared (every night) • Patrick went whitewater • Alex rides a 2-wheel bike rafting on the Lochsaw • Ella goes potty • Alex played soccer with • Ella breaks her ankle “Soccertots”
• Patrick was neutered • Patrick became Political Science Department Chair (gets sat on more) • Victoria started work for Ascend (1 hour a month)
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idspeak: (words you’ll likely hear at the Van Inwegens’): hot chocolick, esposed (you are esposed to do what Mommy tells you), icetream, palm (for poem...I read a palm at school today), and prayers end with “forty, forty, forty spirit.” Nature - Nurture Debate Settled Gabriella has definitively resolved the nature-nurture debate. Though she has been raised in almost the same way as Alexander, she still delights in posing in front of the mirror admiring her hair, choosing her own matching outfits each morning, and making sure all of Alex’s dinosaurs are matched up as mommies and babies. Gabriella also proved that she has some of Patrick’s genes, however when she gagged and threw up after getting a hair in her mouth, when she got a bloody nose from ‘dry air,’ when she snores while napping and enjoys toots.
Girls Gone Wild: Olympia Victoria & her college room mates met again this summer for a weekend of washing each other’s feet and having strangers rub them. Patrick & the kids got friendly with the animals at Point Defiance Zoo, watched boats and looked for fish in the locks at Lake Union, and made a robot play tic-tactoe at the Pacific Science Center. Diaper Liberation Ella broke the chains of slavery that kept her pants clean but her bon-bons oversized. She traded her hand-me-down cloth diapers for Care Bear underpants early this fall. After seeing a Care Bear movie, Patrick doesn’t mind when Ella occasionally pees on the Care Bears. Her recently liberated bedonk-a-donk has been seen running naked much more and even shaking from side to side while Ella chants “Shake your booty!” watching herself in the mirror. Child Bride Patrick’s heart broke when Ella came up to the breakfast table and asked him if she could get married this summer. What she meant was she wanted to wear a pretty dress. The dress is fine, but please, I need a little more time before marriage.
Awkward Conversation While Patrick was having his vasectomy this summer, the doctor realized he teaches at Whitworth, a school the doctor’s daughter is looking at. The doctor, Baby Einstein Alexander shocked his while snipping away, wanted Patrick to family by teaching himself to read this tell him all about the study abroad year. Alex had often “read” books that opportunities. Victoria thought the we’d read him (he’d memorized). But surgery was just an excuse to not help Victoria grew suspicious that something with the neighborhood garage sale that more was afoot when he was able to weekend. read a very complex story recently checked out from the library. Victoria A Tribute Marilyn Nicacio passed away tested him by turning to random pages 4 days after entering Hospice House, 13 and having him read the pages out of days after stopping chemo, 15 days after context. Later, in the car driving home serving on a Community Board for the from the library, she was sure that he newspaper, 3 days before her 40th might be able to read when he opened a anniversary party (which was turned new book and started reading to Ella. into an informal wake), surrounded by Patrick has put the new skill to good her family. She is in heaven watching use by having Alex grade his papers. over her 7 precious grandchildren.
Highlights of a Spectacular year
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Vancouver, B.C.
Patrick “led” a group of 8 students who became known as our Model Family to a Model United Nations conference in British Colombia in early January while the rest of the family explored Granville Island.
Boise, ID I’m not sure what we did in Boise this year, but distinctly remember a lot of swimming, Grandma spoiling the kids & Patrick classifying himself as a kid.
Pasco, WA Victoria led the Vans through a rough summer in Pasco. Patrick usually played with the kids while Victoria helped her mom & dad.
McCall, ID The Vans spent several weeks in McCall escaping the summer heat as well as skiing after Christmas.
England & Ireland Patrick led a group of 26 students as part of the Britain & Ireland Study Program for three weeks in London, Dublin, Galway & Belfast. Victoria & the kids came too, but took a break from the tour to visit Victoria’s brother who lives near Oxford, UK.
Boston, MA Undeterred by children, costs or faulty memories, Patrick & Victoria have continued to spend their anniversary in a new state (this was 12). Patrick went to the Political Science conference during the day & the two enjoyed Boston’s sights after hours.
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BRITAIN & IRELAND
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Whitworth’s Britain & Ireland Study Program
Aran Islands, Ireland
Ireland Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Carrickfergus Rope Bridge
River Thames Cruise
Belfast Wheel, Northern Ireland
Patrick’s “Class” at St. ublin Cathedral, D