The Top 12 of 2012

As life marches on, so does our tradition of reflecting on the previous year.  Despite the highlights you're about to read, I can assure you that 2012 presented its fair share of challenges and heartbreaks.  We faced setbacks and trials like never before, both personally and professionally.  Trying as the year was, we were still blessed with an abundance of love, the indefatigable encouragment of family and friends, and many happy memories.  Here are a few of our favorites, in no particular order:


1. Merlin (aka Puppy la Pooch, The Boy, Merlinpean, Regal Pup, Moy-lin)
When we rescued Merlin in September, he brought a ray of sunshine into our lives and filled a hole in our hearts that we didn't even know existed.  He was a bit timid at first.  Actually, I take that back.  He was an absolute emotional wreck at first, surely the residual effects of his abusive childhood.  He wouldn't eat, take walks, or relieve himself.  He was terrified of us, the outdoors, the indoors, and perhaps most of all, the cute little girls that live in our neighborhood.  Every day when I would get home from work and drag him out the front door to do his business, the cute little gang of pink- and glitter-clad girlies would come running over, begging to pet him in their high-pitched voices.  It may as well have been nails on a chalkboard for poor little Merlin.  He tucked his tail between his legs and dragged himself to the front door on his belly, hoping I would rescue him from his enemies.

Merlin is a very different dog today.  He loves the outdoors, romping through the leaves and woods behind our house, and exploring his new world.  He eats with regularity and poops outside and with great frequency.  Perhaps more than anything, though, Merlin loves to cuddle with his mom and dad, eat their slippers when they're not looking, and lick their hands when they're not paying him enough attention.

2. Escape to Bald Head Island

In the spring of this year, Celeste and I were thrilled to welcome my sister Holly and her family to the east coast.  They moved to Connecticut for a new job opportunity, and we were glad to have them within driving distance.  Over Memorial Day weekend, she and her family, along with my sister Kristen and her family who happened to be visiting the east coast for several weeks, and my cousin Daniel who lives and works in New York City, all came down to the North Carolina coast for an unforgettable weekend at Bald Head Island.  Bald Head is a small island about a mile off the coast of Wilmington, NC.  You can only get there by ferry, and once you arrive, you'll find that the only means of transportation are walking, biking, or golf carting.  It was a magical weekend full of ocean swimming, games, jellyfishes, barbecues, nostalgia, salty air and sunsets.

3. The Traveling Man
As part of my graduate program at N.C. State, I had the opportunity to attend some wonderful education conferences.  The first was to Montana, where I spent three days learning about the plight of Native American education and the long history of exploitation and abuse perpetrated by the United States government.  The next was to Washington, D.C., where I visited the Department of Education and Capitol Hill and took meetings with some of the leading minds in education and policy.  The last was to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where I attended and presented some of my research at the Education Law Association's annual conference.

4. Virginia is for Lovers
Celeste's sister Bonnie and her husband Matt moved to the Virginia suburbs of D.C. this summer to sell pest control.  Shortly after the school year ended, we headed up for a visit.  Despite being pregnant, Bonnie was still game for a wild weekend.  We went to the new Batman movie, went antique shopping in historic Manassas, toured the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial, and went to a Washington Nationals game.  It was amazing.  My Momie Homie Bryce Harper had an incredible game and led the Nats to a big win against division rival Atlanta.  Holla!

5. House Full of Visitors
We played host to some of our favorite people this year.  Celeste's sister Bonnie came first over the summer at 8 months pregnant, then my brother Clay and his wife, Jen, and their new baby, Navy.  Then Papa Britt came in October and graced us with his presence for a full week.  Last but not least, my sister Josie and her husband Rick spent a few days with us just a week before Christmas.  We love having visitors...(hint, hint)

At the North Carolina State Fair

Josie loves dogs, can't you tell?

6. Celeste, Surprises, and the West
Over the summer, Celeste made a trip to visit her sister, Sarah, in Arizona.  Sarah and her husband had recently had their second child, and Celeste just couldn't wait to meet the little guy.  To her surprise, after a day of being in Arizona, she was awoken in the middle of the night to find that her entire family had driven down from Utah to say hello and spend some quality time.  Talk about surprised!

And the surprises didn't end there.  On Christmas morning, Celeste and I opened up all the presents under the tree.  The last one was a little flat and filled with paper.  What was it, you ask?  Oh, just a plane ticket to Utah for that very day.  Celeste didn't know about it, and neither did her family.  She spent Christmas morning in North Carolina, then made it to Utah in time to have Christmas dinner with her parents and siblings.  Papa Britt was so elated, so overcome with joy at her unexpected arrival, he declared: "This is one of the highlights of my life!"

7. A Homemade Thanksgiving

L-R: Ellen, Gabe, Celeste, and new friends Angelique and John

Thanksgiving this year was awesome.  Gabe and Ellen Bush, longtime friends and hipster enthusiasts, drove down from Washington, D.C. to spend the holiday with us.  We had a great time showing them the South, playing games, preparing and eating food, and playing and watching football.  Mostly I'm just glad that my buddy Gabe found such a wonderful companion.  He's short and unattractive, so we weren't sure it would ever happen for him.  Congratulations, buddy.

8. East Coast Road Trip

Celeste and I hit the road in early July to see friends and family, experience a few new cities, and take in the majesty of America.  We climbed into our little Honda Fit, loaded up on treats and goodies, and visited Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Washington.  We saw my old friend Marcus Anderson and his wife, Gabe and Ellen Bush, my sister Holly and her family, and my brother-in-law Marshall on the way home.  Go America!

9. A Cozy Christmas
Most young couples never get to experience a Christmas alone.  While our bank account required it, it was a surprisingly worthwhile experience.  Instead of dealing with the chaos of traveling and trying to see every last friend and relative, our Christmas break was quiet, relaxed, and carefree.  We started new traditions (like making, creating, or building a gift for each other that we exchanged on Christmas Eve) while honoring old ones (like gingerbread houses and the Alastair Sim "Christmas Carol").  We went to shows, went ice skating and basked in the holiday spirit without all the stress.  We also got to focus more on us, and on the Savior.  We probably won't ever do it again, but it was a beautiful experience nonetheless.

Ice skating in downtown Raleigh

Christmas Eve Ultimate Frisbee with Friends

Can you find a ham of a pup?

10. Mormon Democrat Aggies, Unite!
While I wouldn't consider Senator Harry Reid a hero of mine, he's certainly a man I have great respect for, and I considered it an honor to have personally met him at a national gathering of Mormon Democrats on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.  Senator Reid is the highest ranking Mormon politician in history, and we share a lot of common interests besides religion and politics.  We both dabbled in boxing, and we both graduated from the Lord's school, Utah State University.

11. Josie and Rick Tie the Knot

My baby sister Josie became the last of the Olsens to get married this spring.  She married a great guy in Rick Kelly, and the two of them are living happily (and coldly) in Rexburg, Idaho.  It was a very special and bittersweet moment for me.  I was always such a good brother to Josie.  I mean, REALLY good, especially during her most vulnerable years.  I was even good enough to put a black widow on her pillow to help her overcome her fear of deadly spiders.  I was a kind, compassionate, and patient with her as she blossomed into a beautiful woman.  You're welcome, Josie.

12. Cooper River Bridge Run
I hate jogging (or yogging.  It might be a soft "J" I'm not sure), but I love Charleston, and am always looking for an excuse to return to the Holy City.  Every year the city hosts a 10K run across the magnificent Cooper River Bridge, finishing in historic downtown Charleston.  Celeste and I trained and ran the race, and still had plenty of time to see some sights, catch up with old friends, and sample the local cuisine.  And I even finished the race without collapsing twice.

Honorable Mentions:

The Teacher and the Principal
Celeste had a great year teaching, and had the highest 5th grade science test scores in the entire school district, making her the best (and hottest) teacher in the county.  Meanwhile, I have been relishing my role as a school administrator.  It's a beautiful thing to wake up in the morning and not dread going to work.

New Babies
2012 brought with it a slew of new nieces and nephews (and announcements of more to come).  The first to arrive was Cooper Lee, then Navy Lynn, followed by Daisy Mae.  We are now the proud aunt and uncle to fourteen nieces and nephews with two more due in 2013.

Danielle and James' Wedding
Celeste got to attend her cousin's wedding in New York in August.  Danielle was a beautiful bride, and we're crazy about her husband James, who cleans up pretty good himself.

We've swapped haircuts since 2004

Eddie's Bar Mitzvah
When I was doing my freshman year of college in New York City, I babysat (or "mannied") a little boy named Eddie Hock.  Well, Eddie is no longer a little boy.  He is a man, and he had the Bar Mitzvah to prove it.  It was my first Bar Mitzvah, and I was honored to be an "Ark Opener" as part of the service.  It was great to see Eddie all grown up and his brother Joseph, and my dear friends, Jon and Lynn Hock.

Spring Break in Myrtle Beach
Good friends, mopeds on Ocean Boulevard, epic mini-golf (putt putt for you east coasters), and soaking in good literature to the sound of crashing waves.  Not too shabby.

Utah State Football

I never thought I would see it in my lifetime, but it actually happened.  Utah State was ranked in the top 25...in FOOTBALL!  We also broke the record for wins in a season, won our conference outright for the first time since 1936, and punished the University of Toledo in our bowl game.

Finally.

A Turkey Day for the Ages

Ever since moving to North Carolina, Jackson and I have enjoyed Thanksgiving in the comfort of a Southern home. Our first year out here we enjoyed an elegant meal with practical strangers in the beautiful coastal city of Wilmington. After that we spent a magical break in Florida with wonderful family and 80 degree weather. Last year we were lucky enough to enjoy some truly southern cuisine with the Crews family. This year, for the first time ever, we hosted Thankgiving in our very own Southern home!

Our first Thanksgiving with the pup!

We were fortunate to spend the day in great company. Gabe and Ellen Bush came down from DC to spend the weekend with us. (Disclaimer, most of the pictures on this post are stolen from their blog... thanks, Ellen!) And some new friends - Angelique and John Paul joined us as well.

The boys enjoyed a Turkey Bowl, while us ladies enjoyed a wonderful walk and baked some goods in the kitchen. The end result was pleasantly asthetic and delicious!

The turkey was moist, the pies were divine and the sides were amazing. Ellen made delicious rolls, mashed potatoes and lemon merengue pie. Angelique and Paul made amazing sweet potatoes and cute cranberry sauce. I was pretty impressed that the turkey was deliciously moist and the place settings were so cute!

 What a manly man!

 

Cute dinner table!

I'm not going to brag (ok, I am...), but I have the best husband ever. He really made sure things were organized, delegated and prepared and made the day relatively stress-free for us all! And he sure carved the heck out of our turkey!

We spent the rest of the weekend showing the Bush's around the Triangle. We took them to Duke and Durham and we spend a day around Wake Forest and enjoyed the driving range! We even took them up to good ol' Henderson so that they could get a taste of where we work. A good time was had by all!!

Duke Chapel with the Bush's

Enjoying Wake Forest and the driving range

 

Only special visitors are taken to this gem of a landmark in Henderson... Keep it classy!

 

I am thankful this break was so wonderful! We had a great time with great friends and great food! We absolutely love that Gabe and Ellen are close enough for these long-weekend visits, and we hope to see them again soon!!

Middle School: Welcome to the Jungle

While I'll readily admit that most days I wake up grateful to have liberated myself from the jungle of Middle School, sometimes I find myself pondering on the positive moments I had there.  Heck, sometimes I just plain miss it.  What is that, jungle remorse?

Middle school is often considered the most challenging era in a student’s academic lifespan.  There are a number of contributing factors that make this true: while academic rigor is increasing, so are the expectations for personal responsibility.  Mom or dad may not be signing a homework folder anymore like they did at elementary school.  Some students are ill prepared for these first lessons in self-sufficiency and independence.

Add onto that the fact that students at this stage are developing physically, emotionally, and sexually.  Their hormones begin to activate like corn kernels on a hot stove.  And while they’re busy considering the big questions about life and sex, they self-organize – sometimes unwillingly – into camps or cliques.  This great organization provides the social orders that dictate middle school society, and can have life-long implications.  A micro-caste system is established and followed with fidelity.  For some it means a wealth of friends, the warmth of the spotlight, and the comfort of popularity.  For others, it means physical and emotional isolation, victimization, and depression.  In a nutshell, middle school is the great science lab for the experiments in self-identity and social interaction.

This experiment has lasers.

Middle schoolers are primarily concerned with fitting in or belonging to the “in” crowd.  They navigate the changes of their physical maturation, coupled with their dress and appearance, to present themselves before the “imaginary audience”.  This stems from an egocentric frame of mind that everyone in the room is looking at – and judging – them.  Students will go to great lengths to avoid being judged as “different,” which in turn affects every other aspect of their lives and can be the deciding factor in whether or not to wear a certain pair of shoes, whether or not to turn in homework, or where to sit in the cafeteria.  All other decisions are subservient to the greater question in a middle schooler’s mind: what will this do to my social standing?

Perhaps the most volatile of challenges a student faces during this time is a direct result of the social systems governing middle schools today.  Bullying is, has been, and will likely continue to be a paramount issue in our public schools, especially with students at this age.  The caste system that reigns in middle school lends itself to a natural process of bullying and social degradation.

Not only is a student’s sensitivity to popularity (or lack thereof) heightened at this age, but so is their access to electronic devices through which they can proliferate slander, abuse, and insults.  Facebook has become a sharp tool in the bully’s toolbox, and trends are indicating that Twitter is becoming increasingly popular with this age group.  With the cloak of anonymity, or the luxury physical distance, students today are growing increasingly bold when it comes to bullying and cyberbullying.

To safely navigate the social caste system that governs middle schools with an iron fist (that may or may not be manicured), students must strike a delicate balance between becoming independent, taking on new personal responsibilities, keeping up with new academic demands, coming to terms with their changing physical image, and creating positive relationships with their peers.  This challenge is compounded by the fact that many students at this age are still desperately grappling with the simple questions: Who am I? and Do you like my friend?  Check the box 'yes' or 'no'.

Thanks, Mike.  You're not so bad yourself.

House Full of Visitors

In the last 10 days, Celeste and I have played host to three different parties of old friends/family.  The first was an old professor and a invaluable mentor, Mike Sweeney.  Mike was the guy who convinced me to pursue a degree in journalism at Utah State.  He's the guy that wrote my law school and TFA recommendations.  Most of all, he's the guy that taught me to love writing, and he done tought me to right reel good, to.

Merlin was strangely comfortable around Clay.  That hasn't happened with any other strangers.

Little Navy Lynn, giving Merlin some love.

My brother, Clay, in the process of dropping his child.

Then came my brother, Clay.  Clay and his wife, Jen, came to North Carolina last week for a design show of some kind in High Point.  While they only got to spend one night with us here in Wake Forest, we had a great time.  They got to play with our puppy Merlin, and we got to play with their baby Navy.  And heck, sometimes Merlin and Navy got to play with each other! (although Merlin was slightly terrified of her.  But we expected that.  He's scared of everything but couches and bacon.)

Brooks and favorite daughter Celeste at the North Carolina State Fair

Celeste and favorite husband Jackson at the Fair

Last, but certainly not least, was the arrival of Celeste's dad, Brooks.  Brooks is a straight-up dinosaur hunter, and he came to town for some kind of paleontology conference regarding that kind of stuff.  He stayed for over a week, during which he was able to teach Celeste's 5th grade class, go on a geological dig, visit the North Carolina State Fair, eat pickled pork, and above all, bask in the radiant glow of his lovely daughter.

Brooks teaching Celeste's 5th grade class about dinosaurs.  Although according to leading scholar Ariel Britt of Orem, Utah, dinosaurs didn't even exist.

Grandpa and grandpup taking a nap after a long day of playing.

Look out, world.  Those are some wool socks comin' right at you.

While he was here, we also got to play racquetball, visit a warehouse full of classic cars, take Merlin on lots of walks, and eat good ole fashioned hushpuppies.  It was a great trip, and we were sad to see him go.  Especially because he was a one-man maintenance department for our house.  Leaky toilets, worn down wiper blades...you name it, this guy fixed it.

This van was delicious.  Reminded me of the old days...

Why did I ever sell this thing? 2006-2008, best years of my life.

Celeste and Brooks chattin' it up over an original Delorean, one of  9,000 ever made.

Aww...

AWWWWWWW.....

THANKS FOR VISITING!

Y'ALL COME BACK NOW, Y'HEAR?

Meet Merlin

We woke up on the morning of Saturday, September 29th with no intention of getting a dog.

Let me qualify that: since the tragic passing of my beloved dog, Emily, 4 years ago, I've woken up every morning hoping to get a dog; a loyal companion who could fetch a tennis ball and share my bed, and nudge me with his little wet nose when he wanted to go for a walk.  Unfortunately for me, there just never seemed to be a good time.  We've either lived in a small apartment or a house without a yard.  Add that to the fact that Celeste and I both work 12+ hours a day, and getting a dog just didn't make much sense.

Sense, shmense.

Okay, so the day before Saturday, September 29th, I ran into one of my colleagues in the hallway at Zeb Vance Elementary School.  Her name was Mary, and I knew that she worked a part-time job after school at PetSmart, just down the road from our house.  Desperate for some non-awkward, casual chit-chat, I asked her if she was working that weekend.  She said she was.  I told her we might stop by to see and play with the puppies the local Humane Society is always trying to adopt away.  Then we got to talking, and before I knew it, I was committed to a visit.  Not to a dog, now.  Just a visit.

The next morning, after cleaning the house and mowing the lawn, Celeste and I decided to go to the temple.  I had forgotten all about Mary.  Then, as we're walking out the door, it hit me.

"Shoot."  I said.

"What?" asked Celeste.

"We gotta' go by PetSmart real quick.  I told my colleague we'd stop by and say hello.  It'll take 5 minutes."

So we went to PetSmart.  Once inside, we instinctively followed the sound of barking and whining coming from the front corner of the store.  Mary was nowhere in sight, so we kept on to the puppy pen.  That's when we first saw him.  The chocolate coat.  The amber eyes.  The inexplicable, cosmic connection.

It was Merlin.

While the other pups were pacing and jumping and barking like an undisciplined circus act, Merlin lay curled up in the corner of the pen, staring forlornly up at us with the pain of the world in his expression.  While the other dogs pined for our attention, Celeste and I couldn't take our eyes off the pup with the caramel coat.  I looked at Celeste, and she looked back at me.  I could tell we were in trouble.

We picked him up and put him on our laps, just for fun.  We walked him around the store and sat on a bench with him in our arms and cooed and cawed like a couple of rookie parents.  He didn't bite or bark.  He really didn't do anything.  He just stared up at us and let us love him.  I guess that's all he wanted.  I guess that's all we needed.

Getting to know Merlin at PetSmart

What surprised me the most is that Celeste was the one most resistant to leave the store without him.  She talked about him like he was already part of the family.  I think it's partly because we've wanted something like this for so long, and actually getting a taste for it - just tasting it - had a profound emotional effect on us both.  In the end, Celeste wanted the dog.  With tears of joy running down her cheeks, I happily obliged.

So now that you know the story of how Merlin came to be an Olsen, let me give you some quick facts about the little guy:

1. He is terrified of everything.

Okay, I guess that about sums it up.  Seriously though, Merlin is a sensitive, fragile soul.  He's a rescue pup who was on "death row" before the Humane Society picked him up.  We don't know the exact details of his first 7 months on earth, but they must have been painful.  Unlike most puppies, Merlin doesn't like the outdoors.  He doesn't like walks.  He doesn't like to be around other people or other dogs.  (I took him to the dog park the other day, and he just hid under the picnic table while all the dogs played around him).  His favorite place in the house is in his crate.  He's got a few "plumbing" issues, and even when he does take care of business outside, he's actually ashamed of himself.  He puts his head down and sticks his tail between his legs.  It makes me want to say: "Who did this to you, Merlin, and where can I find the rotten SOB?!"

When we brought Merlin home, his first order of business was to find the most distant, dark corner of the house.  We found him in our bedroom closet...

...then we left him there.

That said, li'l Merlin has made great strides in the 8 days that we've had him.  He's on a pretty regular bathroom routine with minimal accidents.  He's now cuddling and playing with us (inside the house), and has gotten into the habit of letting us rub his belly, whereas for the first few days with us, he adamantly protected it.  He no longer walks around with his tail constantly stuck between his legs, and sometimes will even wag it when he sees us in the morning or after school.

Bottom line: Merlin is a special little guy who was deprived of love and a stable home.  We're here to change all that and fill the hole in the poor pup's heart.  And whether he knows it or not, he's here to fill a hole in ours.

Hangin' out with the O'Sheas

Doin' what puppies do.

Make no mistake: Merlin loves his mamma.

No one's sure what breed Merlin is.  We know he's a mutt, and as far we can tell from his coat and ears, he's probably a mix of a basset hound and a vizsla.

As I said, Merlin doesn't like walks...yet.  On this one, he pulled me toward some brush, dove into it, then refused to come out.  Poor guy.

Merlin loves nap time, the lazy cuss.

I dont' know where he gets it.

The end.