Matt's an Adult

I have the greatest intentions when it comes to blogging.  I really do.  Then I get busy. . . or distracted. . . or lazy, and I just don't keep this updated like I want to.  Every time I think of my parents and parents-in-law so far away in Bulgaria and Mexico, I feel a twinge of guilt that I'm not blogging every day.  I'm going to try to do better in 2011.  (I inevitably fail at resolutions, so I've never been big on setting them.  But I'm gonna try. . . really.)

Matt turned 18 in early December.  Wow!  Now I'm the mother of three adults and one teenager.  I remember seasoned parents telling me when I started having children that my kids' growing up years would go fast.  Well, those "old people" were right.  The years have just flown by.  It truly doesn't seem very long ago that we brought Baby K home from the hospital.  Now I have three full-fledged adults.  Did I blink or something?  

I'm sure Matt would have loved to throw a rockin' party--he is our most social offspring--, but we kept it pretty low-key.  He went to a high school basketball game with some friends, then had a bunch of people over for cake and ice cream.  Some stayed to watch a movie and socialize afterwards.  For the most part, I'm impressed with Matt's friends.  He has a lot of them, so I'm amazed that he's been able to find the cream of the crop to associate with.  (We did have a few issues letting Matt's friend, Faruk, enter our home with such an ugly shirt on--Carolina fan, oh dear--but since he is about 6'5", we couldn't really stop him.  Adam did make sure he showed him his Duke room, however.)  Anyway, good for Matt for associating with good people.

As far as gifts go, Matt must truly be entering the adult years.  He did get some clothes, but his main gifts were a digital camera (small enough to be taken to college and on his mission) and a set of nice luggage.  Welcome to adulthood, Matt!  I think you'll manage to find some fun along the way, even if you're not a kid any more.

Ceramic Christmas

As I mentioned in the last post, I enjoyed my pottery painting in Spokane so much that I made the WHOLE family go with me for a post-Christmas activity.  Mike and the other males were a little reluctant, but you know what?  They had a great time.  Seriously, I was surprised by how much everyone enjoyed it.

Here are the pictures to prove it:



Karen and Andrew painted a pitcher. . . together.  They must still be in that sickly sweet newlywed phase.




Matt painted a cereal bowl.  He was super focused.





Rachel painted her own mug, then helped Adam finish up his Boise State mug.  She is one artistic girl.  No, Adam is not stoned.  He was just tired and hungry.



Mike and I painted a square serving bowl. . . together.  We're not in the newlywed phase any more.  We're in the "Mike's too scared to paint on his own but smart enough to know that he needs to participate to keep his wife happy" phase.



See how much fun I'm having, honey?



In short, a good time was had by all.  Tomorrow (or Sunday) I will post pictures of the finished projects.  I may also get going on preserving the Christmas memories.  We had an AMAZING time with everyone home.  I seriously can't remember a Christmas I've enjoyed more.  Fun, fun times!