The good, the bad and the ugly

2012 was an interesting year with its share of the good, the bad and the ugly.

The good:

In January L performed in her first school band concert since beginning flute lessons.

Andy stepped down in January after serving as the church's moderator for two year and I began a term as church clerk.

E traveled to Springfield with her Girl Scout troop in April to lay bones for a national genocide project.

B was confirmed after a year of classes.

Aunt Cindy and Grandma Bentrup visited in May and took E to see “Jersey Boys” in Chicago.

B received a medal and certificate at his middle school’s Tribute to Excellence program for being on a team of students that earned a second place national finish for a computer project about bullying. He surprised me by volunteering to stand up, speak into the microphone and tell about the project.

E received an award for “Outstanding Freshman in Physical Education” from her high school for her “leadership, scholarship, sportsmanship, cooperation, love of play, enthusiasm, exceptional ability and fitness through class participation.”

We added another teenager to the house as B turned 13!

E spent a very hot week at a golf camp at University of Illinois-Urbana.

In July we took a short family vacation to Door County, Wis., then headed to Florida for a week at Disney World.

B's friend L, who moved to Ohio in 2011, was able to come back three times to visit this year.

L celebrated her 10th birthday with a weeklong stay on Grandma Bentrup’s farm. She went to a water park, saw a drive-in movie and visited Meramac Caverns with grandma and Aunt Cindy.

After years of talking about it, we rescued two kittens from a local shelter in August. We named them August and Muffles.

We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary with a no-kids dinner in Chicago at Rick Bayless' restaurant and I actually saw Bayless when he popped out of the kitchen.

Andy volunteered to work at a the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Medinah Country Club. He was fortunate enough to work in the air-conditioned merchandising tent.

As a sophomore, E ends her high school golf season playing mostly on the varsity team and earns her varsity letters and Most Improved Player Award.

L started taking vocal lessons this year and performed in her first recital in November. She had some microphone problems, but I give her credit for being on stage and giving it her all.

E received her driver’s permit in anticipation of starting driver’s ed next semester.

Andy and I spent a relaxing week on the beach in Negril, Jamaica, while Aunt Allison watches the kids.

The bad:

B had oral surgery in January to remove two teeth from the roof of his mouth. He did like that the doctor told him to stay home from school for three days, though.

We had our oven "fixed" in January and on Valentine's Day is quit for good. We ordered a a pizza for dinner and were surprised that it was heart-shaped.

I took the girls to our church's annual women's retreat in February and not only was it freezing outside, it was freezing inside because the heat was never turned on.

Our microwave starts sparking and has to be replaced.

In June L had to leave a weeklong church camp (which she was loving) early because of a illness that overcame a lot of the campers.

We replaced the garage door in May and had it break again in October and November. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays fixed!

And the ugly:

I accidentally broke a glass in my hand that required surgery to fix the nerve and tendon. That was followed by months of doctor visits and physical therapy.