2012 in Review

Season’s Greetings from the Groscost Family -

We hope this letter finds you in the same place (financially) as you were 4 years ago.  The continual economic skid calls for disciplined spending, so we completed our 6^threfi in 10 years.  All have been under the guise of “the lowest interest rates you’ll ever see”, so totally justifiable.  This allowed us to free up some of that secure capital to be used irresponsibly.

Our Travels:

Our vacations and weekend trips were fraught with family chaos and emergencies despite the ill-advised spending.  The summer fun started with a ferry ride across the sound to the peninsula.  Lounging on the upper deck was cut short with an announcement from the Captain – “if you have a Honda Pilot with dogs in your car, they miss you.”  The annual trip to Chelan and teaching Ruth to waterski included a jaunt to the local hospital.  After a 90 minute evaluation from Chelan’s finest physicians, it was determined that Ruth was actually uninjured and she ended up back out on the water tube for the rest of the day. 

Ruth and Mari in Chelan

On a trip to Sequim, the dogs wanted out of the cabin during the night every 15 minutes.  After several trials of going out to “just sniff around” Curt drew the line and sent the dogs to bed for the balance of the night.  Next morning, Tracey arose to an alarming odor and a grizzly scene (picture The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with excrement instead of blood).  Si went to California with his friend’s family and stayed on a house boat on Lake Shasta (Curt’s dream vacation).  Si had fun. . . . and pretty much no idea what a luxury he stumbled onto.   

We took the kids to their first rock concert – a local cover group Spike and the Impalers.  Now Ruth has “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” in her iPod favorites.  We unexpectedly ran into Si’s teacher there.  It was a fair trade: 2^nd grader out ‘til 11 on a school night vs. gradeschool teacher with backstage pass to a rock concert.  No one felt the need to bring it up again.  The adults went to Vegas this fall.  Believe it or not, the main instigator of the gambling trip was Tracey.  Of course she had ulterior motives – Rod Stewart was playing.  We purchased flight tickets to Spain recently.  Since it wasn’t authorized by us we won’t be going unless the person that facilitated the transaction fesses up and lets us in on the details.  Notice how Detroit never seems to be a credit fraud destination? 

Ready, set, go

We got our redneck on with a “new” RV this year.  The old one did such a good job of shading part of the yard, we thought we’d get another.  Curt sold the old trailer on Craigslist.  It was so “competitively priced” a bidding war ensued until two of the world’s largest human beings stepped in to “rot test” the floor in a show of Mass vs. Math.  The half-price one-day sale preserved our marriage for the day.  We gas-hogged it over to Silverwood to confirm why Disneyland isn’t in Idaho.  Then, “camped” up at Lake Easton where all of us (including the dogs) experienced the Great Indoors.  Curt is plotting and planning a road trip this summer. Tracey is scheduling a doctor’s appointment before we go so she can get something stronger than a Corona Light to self-medicate for the trip.

Hiking up Dungeness Trail

We’d planned a camping trip to the Oregon Coast but the rain drove us east - to Sun Lakes Resort.  In typical eastern Washington fashion we fished, drank Rainier beer and let the kids shoot bb guns with their friends.  No injuries were reported but a lot of fun was had.  They had this “water balloon wars” area where you launch water balloons at the other team.  The kids – the “adult kids” – had a great time.  The real kids didn’t see the humor of being hit in the face with a water balloon.  Kids these days.  They did enjoy the fishing on the dock and the kayaking though. 

The Kids Are Growing Up!

The age of innocence has officially ended in our family.  The kids are not doing what they're told, talking back, and flatulence is no longer accidental.  Tyranny has expired – everything is up to debate and conditions regardless of how loud we holler.  The toughest part of parenting is figuring out all the tie-breakers because, by gosh, our Gen Z kids are going to be treated fairly.  

Gator training mishap

Since we encourage competitiveness and are keeping score out loud (as is encouraged in all the good parenting manuals), Si is finally catching up with Ruth in hurting the other's feelings.  This gave us a peek into Ruth’s well-camouflaged softer (and more dramatic) side.  She has a flair for acting but most episodes of pretending to be hurt aren’t long enough to outlast Si pretending to care.  The ole spell-a-word-so-they-won’t-know-what-you’re-talking-about trick is no longer effective on the kids, but now they use it on Copper and Olive.  “Can I give the dogs a T-R-E-A-T?”  The kids can spell all swear words so inadvertent phonetic cursing has caught on.  It’s still hard to get used to a 7 year old girl calling her 9 year old brother “dude” or seeing her fist pump like Tiger Woods (though it’s debatable whether the reason is ever cause to justify it).  Homework is currently overwhelming.  It’s probably just first, second and third grade and will be much easier from now on.  It’s no accident that most of it takes place between 25 and 70 MPH, as we are a family on the move.  Fortunately, thanks to the internet, parents aren’t sought for their wisdom or as a knowledge resource any more – Uncle Google and Aunt Wikipedia are doing all the heavy lifting from here on out.

Veggie heaven

Discipline these days often results in lectures.  It may be working for the wrong reason.  Any measure to avoid Dad’s Droning Diatribes seems to be the kid’s philosophy now.  Curt’s rigid nutrition principles have backfired.  Both our kids have drifted down below the 15^th percentile in height and weight.  It seems like that booster seat law is increasing faster than the kids are growing now, so at this rate the kids won’t be out of booster seats until they graduate.  In school they are known as “the kids with the weird food in their lunch”.  Si would rather be admonished for not eating his vegetables than risk being caught throwing them away.  Ruth, on the other hand...

We went from iPods to iPad this year.  The kids time-share one they received for their birthdays….. and it only encourages cooperation because there’s an app for that.  Harvesting boxtops continues to be a primary source of entertainment, just to give you an idea of how interesting life can really be here.  It brings money to the schools, but certainly doesn’t encourage good eating habits.  You don’t find those things on fresh produce or organic meat.

Si is no stranger to getting his attitude on.  He has bouts of ungratefulness which are welcomed with parental care and consideration (what font do you use for sarcasm?).  Usually, happens when he’s tired, so we’ve granted partial credit for being a human being.  Si went to his first overnight camp this summer – 7 days at the YMCA’s Camp Orkila on Orcas Island - and came back with the RESPECT Award, so one week must not be enough time for an accurate assessment. 

 Si enjoyed soccer, skiing, baseball and swimming this year.  He tested out lacrosse and may give that a whirl (=pain tolerance test) this year.  He had great soccer and baseball coaches this year and we feel very fortunate to have such dedicated folks making  such a positive influence on our kids (since we don’t make the time for it). 

Ruth at a kid's triathlon

Ruth started and ended a “lying phase” (at least until she turns 13 when she will begin doing it maliciously, full time). She told multiple people that when she and her dad were catching fish in Rattlesnake Lake, she saw a shark jump out of the water and eat a seal.  While that’s mostly believable, her Uncle Mitch saw through it because he knows Curt never catches any fish.  Ruth is enrolled in gymnastics and we pay for all the training, attire and Booster fees.  Her attendance does not reflect the investment.   She is a lot like her mom and complains that it is “too hard” and “I’m tired”.  She’ll have some gymnastic meets this spring – it should be interesting.  We’d love to see her continue it because she is freakishly strong, but she may retire.  We told her she had to do some sport and considering her personality Roller Derby would be fitting.  Ruth is showing some strong tendencies.  She draws on everything with her new found unfocused artistic expression – Maybe ITT will sponsor a career in graffiti.  She still retains some Daddy’s girl as she has started spitting out the car window. 

The Homestead:

The brick driveway is officially finished. View the completed project at divorceproject.com.

Tracey got a new car.  The first car she picked was met by Curt with “do you know that’s a luxury car?!” (probably just an error on Tracey’s part).  We ended up with a Lexus but had to get a 2009 order to afford the appearance that we are luxury people.  Tracey is happy and Curt is not unhappy that Tracey is happy.  Next challenge – sell a Volvo wagon with a quarter million miles on it.  Tracey’s brother Jim moved to Thailand.  He has sent pictures and videos which make life there seem very easy.  Will it seem disingenuous when we visit him more now than when he was a few zip codes away?

Dogs drew the short straw on timing.  Before or after kids is when pets get spoiled.  Though they have it good, they are subject to actual training.  Fortunately for them, we lack the time and discipline for the optional enforcement part.  

Barely crossing the line

Rule follower

We have been able to uphold No Dogs in the Kitchen though (see blue line in pictures).  Copper somewhat parallels the Wikipedia description of his name...  “high electrical conductivity” running through the house...  “tensile strength” when he pounces on Olive... “corrosion resistance” explains his impeccable coat, although his slobber may well be... “creep resistance” is clear in his training (or lack of).  He’s a joy for the family but needs time to adjust to guests – so high maintenance but duty bound and protective.  He’s three now, so we probably have another eight years of this.  Olive (if her coat was brown) could not be any more like the dog in The Grinch That Stole Christmas.  Typical lab(ish) – apologizes for everything and wags her tail even when she’s barfing.  Both are great family pets.

As each month goes by in our lives, we genuinely realize how blessed we really are.  Great families, wonderful friends, good jobs, great health....  We are thankful and work to appreciate what we have.  We hope to see most of you some time in 2013 and enjoy a laugh or two.  Time flies by - that is for sure.  May 2013 bring you great joy and peace and best wishes to you and your loved ones.

The Groscosts - 

Curt, Tracey, Si, Ruthie, Olive and Copper