We started 2013 with the moto "A Year That's Fair and Bright." The year exceeded our hopes with the birth of Paul, settling into Stillwater, great opportunities, and in general good times. We chose that moto probably because 2012 was anything but fair and bright. We both agree that 2013 was the fastest and most fulfilling year that either of us has lived.
Paul's birth kicked our year into overdrive right out of the chute. He was a perfect new born and exceptionally healthy. He smiled and made eye contact early, and little did we know, he was starting his training process of us. One thing is for sure, Paul is a bright guy. We love him and we are so thankful for him. If only he liked to take naps...
My proposals consumed most of the spring. During that time, I taught a class that had never been taught before at OSU, submitted over $5 MM in proposals (that didn't get funded), and tried to keep up with my family. The boys had fun with mom, and they really enjoyed Paul. I started coming home at lunch more, so we got more time together as a family. Time really flew by until the end of the spring semester.
Summer brought needed "normal" working hours and more time together. Our Colorado trip was the best to date complete with all of the necessary road trip occurrences like vomit and flying luggage. Colorado 2013 brought us all really close together, and we really needed it at that point in the year.
Before we know it, Colorado was over, and we were getting ready to take Sawyer to school. This year was a big deal because he would be going to "real" school at Westwood. We decided that I would take him on MWF, Melanie on TR. Sawyer loved school, and he is an exceptional student. He has a lot of great friends, and he is a great learner. We love watching his curious mind grow. He continues to ask us questions all the time, most of which address fundamental issues to man like "what did the first humans look like?"
Football season was soon upon us, and we went to several games, thanks primarily to our very generous friends. 2013 OSU football was impressive, but we came up short in a couple key games. I will never forget "Ice Bowl 2013" with Jason Walker.
The fall semester was the most stressful I have been through. Our department head left early in the semester, so I was asked to teach senior design with Josh Ramsey in addition to the process simulation class. I also submitted several proposals, wrote papers, and mentored graduate students. It took me a solid week to de-compress and return to something that resembled normal. Through it all, Melanie had the harder job. Melanie was with our three boys non-stop the entire year. Teaching, changing diapers, cleaning up vomit, and entertaining 3 minions 24/7. Melanie is the best mom that boys could ever dream of having. She lets them roll around in the dirt, climb trees, craft, play outside, and be boys. She keeps us all alive, literally. The fall semester was made more bearable by a September trip to New Orleans.
The best news of 2013 came at the end of 2013. Melanie does not have the BRCA 1 mutation that her mom has. This great news means that we won't have to aggressively pursue preventative surgeries and procedures to protect her from breast and ovarian cancer. Thank God!
We face 2014 with "Carpe Diem" as our moto.
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