The Willis Way

A "Wicked" Winter

2010-02-24T09:38:00.009-05:00

I know--it's been an eternity since we last blogged, and with the record snowfall this year you might think it an appropriate event and time of year to start anew. However, this is not that post.

The first week in January, Abby and I woke up way before the crack of dawn and met up with some friends on a Wednesday morning for the five hour drive to New York City. Surprisingly, the drive was uneventful and we were walking the streets of Midtown Manhattan soon after 10 am. I love New York City. I love it even more at Christmastime. Seeing Rockefeller Square with the decorated tree and the ice rink brought back memories of my youth, when my dad would take us into the city to work with him on days like Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Radio City Music Hall, FAO Schwartz, and The American Girl Place were all great, but there real reason we were there was to see...

Again. And we loved it, again! After the show we headed to dinner and to check out Times Square then to grab some cheesecake. Abby and I had seen Wicked in Chicago in the Spring of 2007. So now Abby had seen "Wicked" in two different cities. (Same leads though, the Chicago gals had made it to Broadway.)
This created some "feelings" in our family. We checked the Wicked touring company's website and found that the show was playing in Philadelphia, the city of Grant's youth. A week and a half later, Grant and Alex headed to Philly on a Saturday morning for some cheese steaks and and the show.

So you see, for us it has been a "Wicked" Winter!

And by the way, DC to NYC and back in a day--no problem. I am already planning to introduce my kids to the once-a-summer Wednesday matinee tradition my mom had with me and my siblings when we were young. If you are up for the adventure, you can come too.

Jakey's First Haircut

2010-01-13T11:33:00.000-05:00

My baby. My last "first haircut." Jacob's hair was too long. I didn't cut it earlier thinking he would look younger with baby hair when I got his picture taken. The picture hasn't happened yet, but here is the hair cut.

So handsome!

The End of an Era?

2009-07-19T10:45:00.010-04:00

Abby turned nine last month. For the first time since she received a Bitty Baby for Christmas of 2003 she did not request anything from the American Girl catalogue. Instead she requested a locket and a scrapbooking kit. Wow, I thought, is this the end of little girlhood and the beginning of the 'tween years? I asked her if she thought maybe she was getting to old for her American Girl dolls (Felicity and Elizabeth). She assured me she was not, she just wanted something else this time. She also confided that she knew Grandma Willis and Aunt Coco had gifts for her from AG. She is growing right up. It is hard to believe how quickly it has gone. She is turning into a beautiful and loving young lady and a wonderful and helpful sister and daughter. Rest assured, the era is not over, she already has some ideas for her Christmas List from American Girl. Thank goodness.

It's SNOOOOW!

2009-01-27T10:59:00.015-05:00

Alex

Pete and Abby

Shoveling the driveway for mom.

As the rest of the country has been blanketed and sometimes downright pounded with the fluffy white stuff this winter, we here in the Washington Metro area have had nothing. Okay, there have been flurries a couple of times, but never enough to play in, (unless you live in Olney). But today that changes! School has been cancelled, the kids are outside, and the hot chocolate is on the stove. Winter has finally arrived for the Willises. Of course it waited until: Jen is finally trying to get to the gym on a regular basis (she officially began training yesterday for the Charlottesville,VA half-marathon), Grant is going back to work on crutches after missing a week and a half for ACL repair surgery, and the kids already have a shortened week because of the end of the marking period, but, we'll take it!

Hot chocolate waiting inside. Ben skipped the cold but participated in the hot chocolate.

Jacob's on the Move

2009-01-19T15:04:00.015-05:00

Jacob, apparently unsatisfied with life on his back, has decided to make a move. He rolled! The first time we discovered him on his belly we wondered if it was a fluke, but over the last few days, each time he was placed on his back he would end up on his tummy. At 2 1/2 months, he has achieved this milestone earlier than any of his siblings who were each between three and four months.

Because the bassinet does not provide enough space to safely complete a roll, this event has also led to a move of another sort: the one from the bassinet next to our bed to a crib in his own room.

Baby Jacob is a joy in our lives. We love his sweet smiles and his growing interest in all of the hustle and bustle around him. We are treasuring each moment he is small, for we know how fast babies grow.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-31T08:10:00.001-05:00

Christmas 2008 has come and gone. The tree was in the living room this year (and so too, therefore, were the presents), there was a new child in the mix, and the other kids got a bit bigger, but other than that it was much the same as Christmases past: little sleep, uber-excitement, moderate chaos, lots of family time, and an all-round great day.

Oh yeah, and a Wii. (No doubt more on that later.)

Abby Joins the Emergency Room Club; Pete One-Ups Her

2008-12-20T19:36:00.000-05:00

December saw the Willis family mark some medical treatment milestones.

After a pair of scissors that Abby had used at a church activity somehow found their way into her knee, she got to experience her first trip to the emergency room and her first set of stitches. This is especially significant because Abby, to that point, had been the only Willis child (exempting Jacob) entirely unfamiliar with ER life. We even wrote about it in a previous entry. Luckily, Jen was with her when the event transpired, no doubt mitigating the trauma (at least a little) and she is now no worse for the wear (well, except for the scar).

Not to be outdone, Pete this month became the first Willis child to stay overnight at the ER. He came down with a case of croup on a Friday night, rested most of the day on Saturday, but experienced difficulty breathing after waking up from a late afternoon nap. Although his breathing quickly improved once he received a nebulizer steroid treatment at the hospital, the doctors wanted to keep him overnight for monitoring. This was no inconvenience for Pete. Jen and I switched shifts (she had taken him to the ER -- I don't deal with that kind of thing very well) and Pete and I spent the night in a nice big room within the pediatric ER wing (a nice facility) watching movies and cartoons late into the evening and being waited upon by a conscientious medical staff. After he checked out fine in the morning, he still didn't want to leave. Why would he?

To all of you doctors and nurses out there, Thanks.

Abby's Knee -- post-scissor attack

Pete in his "alien mask" that the nurses let him bring home.

The Name and the Blessing

2008-12-04T14:49:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, Baby Jake was blessed. As with all such events, it was very special. We even took a few pictures after-the-fact.

(The blessing also marked the first Melchizedek Priesthood ordinance participated in by my youngest brother Peter, who received that priesthood just two days before, from our father. This will be significant for anybody who knows Peter.)

Uncle Peter and Baby Jake

If a Tree Falls in the Woods...

2008-12-01T15:30:00.002-05:00

Yes, it makes a sound. That sound was heard by our neighbor a couple of weekends ago as one of our trees succumbed to mother nature's not-so-gentle breezes and fell, in part, in our neighbor's yard and on one of his trees. I thought the resulting pictures were kind of neat (although I should have taken some before we started cutting).

My neighbor, surveying the aftermath

Unleashing the Dormant Spirit

2008-11-24T14:38:00.009-05:00

I'm not big on motivational speakers, books, posters, or the like. I don't have any framed art in my office featuring sweeping scenes of misty mountain tops and titles such as "Vision" or "Fortitude." I haven't read "The Purpose Driven Life" (although I'm pretty sure I've read "Seven Habits" -- at least the first seven). I had difficulty in my college days sitting through sales meetings in which managers offered impassioned pleas about the apparently trascendent importance of selling more security systems, more cell phones, more extended warranties.

I don't mean to suggest there is anything wrong with these things. But for whatever reason (pride, probably) I've tended to be somewhat dismissive of their ability to really change my life.

So, why the disclaimer? Because a few months ago I came across a YouTube clip from a talk presented by LDS General Authority Elder F. Enzio Busche to students at BYU in 1996 -- and notwithstanding its blatant motivational-tool format, I was deeply moved. The talk itself, entitled "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit," is even better. One gem, from the many:

"In my understanding, maybe the most important principle that came to light in the message of the Restoration is the revelation that man is not a slave, not a victim of circumstances--that he is an agent for himself. When we have learned to understand this principle, we also may become aware of the somewhat frightening understanding of the consequences of this responsibility in our lives. We are no longer able to hide in ignorance or to blame circumstances or other factors that may have influenced us. Through Christ's spirit we are liberated. Understanding this principle is a very important element for our own conversion. Seeing ourselves in our full responsibility means also seeing ourselves in our weaknesses, in our lost opportunities, and in our failures--which makes us humble and meek. We see the necessity to enter into a covenant with the author of life, to activate the atoning blood of Christ to wash us clean, and to embrace, gratefully, the gracious gift of the Holy Ghost for our essential empowerment. Many times in our life it happens that these gifts of the Spirit rest dormant in us."

Plus, what a great title. Take a minute (or six) to watch.

(Note: You will have to pause the streaming blog music at the bottom of the page -- unless of course you want Elder Busche's words to be mixed with the selection of the day.)

Bilirubin Blues

2008-11-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

So, Jacob has thus far presented as a generally healthy baby -- albeit a bit yellow.

Due to bilirubin levels [considerably] higher than our pediatrician wanted to see, Baby Jake spent the better part of 5 days after he came home from the hospital wrapped in a "bili-blanket"and endured having his poor heels pricked for blood tests so many times that even the people in the lab were starting to feel bad for the little guy. Although the blanket was a bit of an inconvenience, we are grateful we were able to treat him at home (the doctor was very close to admitting him) and are even more grateful that his count appears to have dropped into safe territory. The experience also afforded us the opportunity, for several days, to sleep with a big blue glow-worm curled-up in our arms. How many people can say that?

And just so you know that he is looking and doing great...

Foggy Fall Dawn (From the Backyard)

2008-11-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

Halloween Haiku 2008

2008-11-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Halloween again.

Customes, candy, kid-parades.

Photographs below.

The End of Soccer ... for Now

2008-11-06T15:54:00.000-05:00

When I was in Brazil, I tried to convince people that a huge percentage of American kids grow up playing soccer. Most of my Brazilian friends met the claim with laughter. (American soccer, at the time, was considered something of a joke -- kind of like non-American basketball.) But it was true then, and it appears to be true now. When I was a kid, soccer was an integral part of Fall (perhaps the difference is that for Brazilians soccer is an integral part of every day of every week of every season). For my kids, it has been the same. But the season has now come to a close, and I can confidently say that they didn't lose a single game. Some parting pictures below.

The Philadelphian Redemption

2008-11-04T09:08:00.000-05:00

I have previously written in this space that "[t]here's a lot of pain to being a Philadelphia sports fan. I wish it upon none of my children." Two weeks ago, even as the Phillies completed their manhandling of Manny Ramirez and the rest of the Dodgers en route to Philly's first World Series berth since I was a senior in High School, I still endorsed that sentiment. Shoot, I felt the same way a week ago, when the Phillies were just a few innings from their first World Series Championship since 1980. Why such pessimism? Because Philadelphia sports fans know disappointment. We know it well. It's the air we breathe.

But all of that changed last Wednesday night, at the conclusion of the final three innings of a game that began two days before, until rain, wind, and near-freezing temperatures forced a 46-hour suspension -- a World Series first. The Phillies were up 3-1. They had their best starter on the mound. They were in a position to clinch the title at home. And what? Mother Nature strikes. I mean, how can one city compete against that kind of karma! Phillies fans felt doomed.

Then, something miraculous happened. On Wednesday night, the fans came back -- and so did the team. We started with a double, we scored a run ("Now all we have to do is keep them from scoring and we win!" I said, probably out loud.) Then the Rays scored a run in the top of the Seventh (the second inning of the night). I fell into a mini-depression. But the Phillies kept coming. Another run scored! Now, if we could just hold them... Next thing I knew, Brad Lidge -- the Phillies closer who hadn't blown a save all year -- was on the mound. It was the top of the Ninth already?! One batter up, one batter down. One out. Then, a single and a stolen base. Man in scoring position with only one out. Stink, stink, stink, stink, stink, stink... Then, a line drive to right field that was ... caught for the second out -- no time for the runner on second base to tag to third. One out away, one out away, one out away... (At this point, I was pacing the floor like a mental patient, half-afraid to watch.) Strike one! Two more strikes, two more strikes, two more strikes... Strike two! Could this be really happening??? Swing and a miss! Strike three! Game over! Lidge collapses to his knees and is rushed by the team! The Phillies defeat the Rays 4 games to 1 and win their first World Series in 28 years! Exclamation points abound!!!!!!!

My mother-in-law, who was holding my newborn son, watched the whole thing transpire, including when I ran outside and screamed at the top of my lungs. She can testify that I'm making none of this up. "People that aren't from Philadelphia don't understand," I explained. She figured that must be the case.

Now, my kids will be Philadelphia sports fans ... if they want.

Jacob Bertram Willis

2008-10-28T19:44:00.007-04:00

And then, there were five.

Baby Jake joined our family at 1:30 am, October 25, weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and measuring some 22.5 inches. Jen did great and appears to be recovering as well and rapidly as usual. The other kids, for their part, have been showering love on their newest sibling and future partner in crime. Grant has had perhaps the easiest job of all, and feels much gratitude for such supportive parents/grandparents, other family members, and friends. (Although he did manage to compose this post using one hand -- the other occupied by a sweet, sleeping, baby boy.)

Conference Weekend

2008-10-12T15:22:00.004-04:00

Here is a smattering of pictures from last week's General Conference weekend (which, except for Priesthood Session on Saturday night, we watched from the comfort of our family room).

These first few were taken between sessions.

This last one was taken during conference.

Indeed.

(It was, however, a wonderful conference.)

Picking for Ourselves

2008-09-27T15:17:00.019-04:00

There was a great article last year in Slate about how, in purely economic terms, apple picking is a "wasteful scam." History has shown that we don't really care.

Seven years ago -- in our second year in the area -- we first went apple picking as a family, along with our good friends the Wilhelms. We drove to a beautiful patch in the Virginia countryside called Hartland Orchard. At Hartland, apples are sold by the bushel (and they are very liberal about what constitutes a bushel). The orchard has apparently been around for a while, and the trees are large and mature enough to climb up and in. In fact, much of the fun was seeing just how high we could scale in order to reach the really, really big apples. We continued the annual rite with the Wilhelms for as long as they were in the area (before moving to the other Washington). We also went once or twice alone and/or with my brother Tim's family.

In most ways, Hartland is the perfect apple-picking venue. The only problem is that it takes a while to get there. As our family has grown, and the kids' activities have increased, we no longer have the "luxury" of spending the better part of Saturday traveling to and from hill-country Virginia to pick apples. So now, we pick a bit closer to home. The last two seasons that we've picked (we didn't get around to it last year, a fact the children reminded us of often) we have gone to Larriland Farm in Woodbine, Maryland. It's a bit more expensive than Hartland and not quite as "out of the way," but it's a neat place nonetheless. We continued the economically irrational tradition today, after soccer games and in between rain drops, leaving with about 30 pounds of red delicious, golden delicious, gala, and empire varieties. Give me two weeks, and I'll have had my fill until next season.

Some pictures of picking throughout the years:

2002 (Abby was younger then than Ben is now). We don't have any pix from 2001.

2003

2005, with Tim, Crystal and Co. (no pix in 2004, although I know we went). Jen has occasionally made caramel dip for consumption on site.

2006 (first time at Larriland Farm)

2008 (a little earlier in the season than normal, and a little warmer/wetter)

(Pete trying not to think about getting stung by any of the inhabitants of the bee boxes to his rear)

(on-site experimentation is an essential aspect of the apple-picking experience)

Pete Rides!!

2008-09-21T16:54:00.000-04:00

Some quick pix from our most recent two-wheel rider.

The Beautiful Game...

2008-09-20T16:08:00.000-04:00

... no more so than when played by a bunch of pre-schoolers and first graders.

Alex and Peter are doing soccer this year. Peter is in a pre-k "instructional" program (as if my kid needs instruction!) and Alex is in a first-grade "developmental" league. Alex practices on Tuesday evenings and plays actual games on Saturday mornings. Pete's program consists of a one-hour practice/scrimmage session, also on Saturday mornings. Pete's team is called the Lions; they roar after every goal (and much of the time in between goals). They also have lots of water breaks; I guess lions get thirsty a lot. Alex's team is apparently yet-unnamed (Alex informs me they are "still thinking of one"). As his team sports green jerseys, we have offered several suggestions, ranging from the green hornets, to the green bandits, to the green apples. I'm starting to get the sense they don't really care about the name so much.

With Pete's scrum at 9 am and Alex's at 10:30 (both at the same fields) our Saturday mornings are spent camped out at games (except for last Saturday when I abandoned my almost 8-month pregnant wife with our four children so that I could go waverunning / BBQing with some friends off the southern tip of Kent Island -- did I mention I have the best wife in the world). Some pictures from an absolutely exquisite late summer Saturday morning follow.

Morning at the Zoo

2008-09-19T15:46:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, Jen took Peter and Ben to the zoo along with Sis-in-Law (Aunt) Jessica and nephews (cousins) Sam and Luke. Actually, Jessica technically took Jen, as Jessica is a member of FONZ (Friends of the National Zoo) and therefore gets free parking and free animal crackers for the kids (the zoo itself is free for everyone). From the kids' report of the trip, it appears they witnessed a hippopotamus take a "bath" in his outside water tank, some tigers wake up from a nap (but none of which escaped), some monkeys, um, monkeying around, and other assorted animal life. Pictures on assorted statuary below.

2 Less Teeth

2008-09-14T17:41:00.000-04:00

Alex is finally beginning to lose some teeth.

A picture on his first day of school (he lost tooth #1 later that day -- yes, it's still in there, although very loose)...

...and a few days later.

Remembering a Bad Day

2008-09-11T17:47:00.000-04:00

I'm not very good at keeping a journal. Two years ago, however, on the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, I felt the need to record my recollections from that tragic day. I've cut and pasted those recollections below. I note as I re-read them that I tended to focus on the overwhelming sadness of the event, and that I did not record the amazing displays of heroism and absolute selflessness that were exhibited on that day and in the days thereafter. I am convinced that those sacrifices will not go unrecognized. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13.

_________________________________

September 11, 2006

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in the history of our country. It was a bad day; a really bad day. I remember it all too well. I was working out in the basement of the law school at Georgetown when the radio DJ said that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers. At first, everybody figured it was an accident. We went to the room with the TV to see what was going on. Then, as I left that room to do another set, the second plane hit. At that point, we knew it was no accident. I called Jen from the phone in the gym because my friend Jeremy Meacham was working the desk [Ed note: I had no cell phone at the time]. I dressed and went up to the main law school campus [which sits on Capitol Hill, a few blocks from the Capitol building] where I called Jen again from the phone in the Georgetown Law Journal office. She told me that there was a fire at the Pentagon and that maybe I should come home. I told her that I would see what was going on at the school. I retired to the main TV lounge at the law school where everybody was watching the big screen in disbelief. Soon thereafter, people said the Capitol was being evacuated, classes were cancelled and we should leave. Our understanding was that the Metro was shut down, so I fled, with a mass of other pedestrians, out of the city. I walked with several people from the law school. We traveled by foot all the way to Dupont Circle, passing on the way a stalled van that federal agents were checking for explosives. We all ran from that scene. I remember thinking that I very well may die; that it could go off and that would be it. Arriving at Dupont Circle, I was taken into the apartment of the girlfriend of one of the guys I had been walking with (a guy I had never met before that morning). It turned out that both towers had collapsed as we had been walking.

I learned that the red line was in fact operating, so I boarded the Metro and met Jen at White Flint station [in Maryland]. She picked me up and we picked up a suit that I had had altered (it was, after all, interview season – I had my callback interview at Jones Day the day before). We went home to our apartment at Westchester West [in Silver Spring, MD] and there was an eerie silence. Air travel had been suspended. We could hear and see fighter jets patrolling the skies every once in a while.

We watched the news for most of the day. I remember watching, either that night or the next, and feeling overwhelmed with sadness. I had checked the NYU website and read how the campus had shut down. Everything was a shambles. It was more than most of us could bear to watch. Nobody wanted to see any more pictures of the plane running into the South Tower. We had seen enough.

The next Thursday (two days later), we [Jen, Abbigail, and I] traveled to New Jersey for law firm interviews in Philadelphia. On I-95 as far away as Baltimore, there were signs indicating that tunnels and bridges into New York still were closed. It was a somber drive. While in the men’s room of the Four Seasons hotel in Philadelphia [where I had gone for a break before my afternoon interview with a nearby firm] a man in the stall next to me, whom I had never met or said a word to before in my life, turned to me and said, “We’re going to get those sons of _____.” I nodded. That’s how we all felt. It was on everybody's mind. That morning, I had received a message from Jones Day (left the night before) extending a job offer. It was a happy moment in an otherwise sad week.

A week later, I went to New York for an interview with White & Case in midtown. I arrived in the city early so I could go downtown; I wanted to see it for myself. The scene defied my ability to describe. Signs with pictures covered every lamppost and subway wall, asking for information about missing loved ones. Thousands of them. The scene at Ground Zero was like a war zone, with military personnel roaming the streets and a layer of dust covering everything. There was a distinct and awful odor emanating from the ruins. And the ruins were gigantic; almost mythic in size. It was surreal. I cried. And I was not the only one.

GHW

Andrew, Timothy, Grant, and Matthew Willis: World Trade Center, circa 1986.

First Day of School!!!

2008-09-09T17:18:00.000-04:00

First day for Abbigail (3rd grade) and Alexander (1st grade).

First day of school for Peter (pre-K).

OBX

2008-08-24T15:12:00.000-04:00

Last week, we concluded a week-long trip to the Outer Banks (our first trip back since our post-bar examination trip in 2003). It was awesome. We (or at least I) wish we were still there. Details below.

Two weeks ago, we left almost directly after church to begin the 7+ hour drive down to Frisco, North Carolina, located close to the bottom tip of Hatteras Island, the second southern-most island in the Outer Banks. (Ocracoke is the farthest south, but it is accessible only by ferry, private boat, or private plane.) The drive was pleasantly uneventful. We arrived too late to see the ocean (which was viewable from our porch) but not too late to hear it. My blood pressure began to lower almost immediately.

We awoke to the envigorating realization that for the next seven days we were to live 100 feet from the beach with little else to do but play on it. And play we did. We had beautiful weather for almost the entire week. Interspersed among our many, many beach visits was a trip north to Kill Devil Hills and the Wright Brothers museum in Kill Devils Hills (technially not Kitty Hawk) and to the largest sand dunes on the east coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park. We also managed to visit the famous Cape Hatteras lighthouse, go miniature golfing and, on our final full day on the islands, take the aforementioned ferry to Ocracoke. At night, we would relax to the sights and sounds of Michael Phelps dominating the world. Somewhat bronzed and moderately depressed by the prospect of leaving, we packed up Saturday night and departed early Sunday morning, catching Sacrament Meeting in the Nags Head Ward before enduring traffic on the way home that made one wonder whether we were being punished for not attending the entire 3-hour block.

We generated memories a plenty, and almost as many pictures. Here are a few.

(I've been to lots of neat places around the world and seen lots of neat things. But, at least so far, this may have just been my best vacation ever.)

Second Sugarloaf Summit

2008-07-25T15:43:00.000-04:00

As part of our ward's "walking buddies" club, our family a week or so ago daringly summited Sugarloaf Mountain for the second time in a single year. Although we considered contacting the Guinness folks to see how such an accomplishment might register, we decided instead to simply post a few pictures.

Overdue Willis Update

2008-07-20T14:42:00.001-04:00

So ... we've fallen behind a bit on the blogging front. I began several posts that I never finished. Others I never even started -- although I thought about it. In any case, it is now more than three months since spring break with nary a peep from "The Willis Way."

Today, the situation is rectified, at least somewhat.

Below is a reverse-chronological, mostly pictoral, update of Willis family happenings over the last 3+ months. (Of course, it ends at the 4th of July -- always behind...)

Fourth of July

Abby, Alex, Pete, Ben, and cousin Anika

Kids and cousins playing on slip and slide at neighbor's house during our cul-de-sac's annual Fourth of July party (the entire extended Willis family was present).

Trip to Utah

Camping, boating, and fishing at Strawberry Resevoir with Grandpa Kelly, Jen's uncle Brent and cousin Justin

Hiking to (and through) Timpanogos Cave with Grandma and Grandpa Kelly

The annual (or so) BYU pilgrammage

Salt Lake City's Liberty Park

Visit to the Hill AFB Air and Space Museum and picture at Great Grandma and Grandpa Kelly's house

The marriage of Sean (Jen's brother) and the now Jennifer Anne Kelly (which also happens to be Jen's full maiden name) at the Salt Lake temple -- on our 10th Wedding Anniversary

Abbigail's 8th Birthday and Baptism

Abby Dance/Music Recitals

Father-Son Campout

(I borrowed the truck from a friend -- but Ben to this day thinks it's mine. One day...)

Alex Baseball

Alex's 6th Birthday

Ben's 2nd Birthday

Easter

Spring Break

2008-04-05T16:46:00.000-04:00

As Easter was early this year, so was the kids' spring break. I worked the entire week (and then some) but Jen managed to fill the days with trips to Butler Ochard's "Bunnyland," the county's one-day "spring break" agricultural fair (both with various cousins), and a metro-ride trip downtown to have lunch and take a stroll with Dad.

In Belize to Celebrate 10 Years . . . Almost

2008-03-12T15:22:00.000-04:00

Jen and I recently celebrated our (almost) 10-year anniversary with a memorable "long weekend" in Belize. After leaving our children in the (thankfully) willing and capable hands of my parents, we flew to Houston, then to Belize City, from which we took a single-engine prop plane to the town of Dangriga. From Dangriga it was only a 40-minute van ride (over varying types of terrain) to our destination -- a wonderful little resort just south of the town of Hopkins called Jaguar Reef.

The resort, like the trip in generally, gets high marks all around. Our cabana was, quite literally, a stone throw away from the Caribbean Sea, and the resort had an assortment of snorking, boating, and sailing gear available for use upon request (one of our favorite activities was taking the resort's sea canoes on excursions up and down the coastline). As if this weren't enough, we also embarked on a series of "adventures" from the lodge, which took us (over a three-day period) zip-lining through the rain forest, tubing through caves, hiking through the largest jaguar preserve in the world, and exploring Mayan ruins (I know, it sounds like a Carnival cruise line commercial, but it's true).

In sum, the setting was perfect (the type of place where you feel the stress slide off of you the moment you arrive), the food was great, the staff was excellent, the trips were neat . . . and the company was ideal. Our only regret -- and as much as we missed our sweet children -- was that we couldn't have stayed but a couple of days more. But there will be other times -- on the next one, the kids may just have to come along.

The man who put the "Washington" in Washington, D.C.

2008-02-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

As I understand things, the holiday that we often refer to as "Presidents Day" is officially designated by the federal government as "Washington's Birthday." This is because George Washington was a pretty big deal. It has been said -- and who I am to disagree -- that amongst all of the so-called "founding fathers," George Washington was the singular "Founding Father." In so many ways, he has come to symbolize so many of the characteristics we like to associate with the United States: courage, strength, perseverance, patriotism, sacrifice, valor, honesty (remember the cherry tree myth?), duty, public service, volunteerism, liberty, mercy, magnanimity, etc. He was the first and the greatest of the citizen-soldiers. He was the first and perhaps most beloved of our citizen-presidents.

Moreover, for me, and others of my faith, George Washington's mission had a significant spiritual component. He was, in my view, guided by forces greater than his own to assist in the creation of a nation where religious liberty could flourish and in which the Lord could more freely reveal his truths to man. In this sense -- as perhaps in many others -- George Washington's life was much more important than even he could have realized.

Of course, George Washington had his flaws; he was human like the rest of us. He was not the greatest thinker, but he was celebrated for his wisdom and practical insight. He was not the greatest military commander, but he served with unwavering commitment and with unflagging determination and courage. He had no real ambition to preside over this or any other nation, but he answered the call of his people with dignity and humility. For those of his time, George Washington was larger than life. To many of us today, he remains so.

So, on the day the nation celebrated George Washington's birth, the Willis family visited Mt. Vernon, George Washington's beautiful estate on the banks of the Potomac River. The people running Mt. Vernon (which is open ever day of the year) allow for free admission on Washington's birthday, which many -- and I mean many -- people in the area take advantage of. Contributing to the absolutely enormous crowds this year was sunny weather with temperatures in the mid-70s by noon. So we spent the morning with throngs of like-minded freeloaders, walking the grounds, watching the presentations, seeing the sights, and soaking in the history.

George Washington loved his Mt. Vernon. It's easy to see why.

Little Pete Turns 4

2008-02-10T17:34:00.000-05:00

We never planned on calling our Peter "Little Pete," and we really only use the term to make it clear we are talking to/about him as opposed to Uncle Pete (my almost 25-year old brother with Down Syndrome who lives about a half-mile away, with my folks). In any event, Peter is getting less and less little. Today, our little boy turns four. Yesterday, he had his first birthday party, which included a trolley ride at the National Trolley Museum and other train-themed elements. Today, his actual birthday, we had our "family" celebration.

Oh how we love our Little Pete!

Chocolate World

2008-01-25T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hershey Park -- located in Hershey, PA -- has been a part of Jen's and my life since we were youngsters. I can personally remember coming to Hershey on at least a couple of occasions when living in New Jersey to attend Regional Conferences of the LDS Church, which were held in the hockey arena where the Philadelphia Flyers' farm league team usually played. I remember Ezra Taft Benson speaking at one of these events (he must of been President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles at that point, and he subsequently presided over the church). Later, I remember (more clearly) meeting Elder Russell M. Nelson (also of the Council of the Twelve) in the lobby of the hotel (I believe the Hershey Lodge) where many of us where staying.
As neat as these experiences were, truth be told, we were much more excited about Hershey Park, a Hershey-brand theme park featuring all of the usual theme park amenities -- but with a little touch of Hershey sweetness.

Jen didn't go to Hershey Park for Regional Conferences (she was in a different Region -- probably including New York). She went just for fun (go figure). She remembers visiting the Park at least a couple of times in her younger years, and camping out both times. (I believe we also did this once as a family, although -- if I have my family history straight -- I think I experienced the event in utero.)

As a family, we have been to Hershey Park itself only once, in August 2006. (As luck would have it, work beckoned and it was consequently a relatively brief trip with active blackberrying and cellphoning.) But we have visited Chocolate World -- which isn't really in the park itself although it sits at the Park's entrance -- on numerous occasions. The latest of these was on the Martin Luther King holiday. The facilities have been upgraded a bit, but the "ride" through the "chocolate factory" remains the most significant attraction. Admission is free, it's not that far of a drive, and there is lots of chocolate. We'll probably be back in a few years.

Surprise Saturday with Grandpa Kelly

2008-01-13T17:06:00.000-05:00

Jen was out of town this weekend, as she and a handful of friends went to Deep Creek (in Maryland's panhandle) on a little retreat sans husbands and little ones. However, as Jen was en route (and while the children were in the temporary care of their ever-gracious Willis grandparents, who live about 72 seconds away) she received a rather unexpected call from her father who, it so happened, was in our driveway.

This came as somewhat of a shock, as Jen's father lives in Bountiful, Utah (which is far away) and lately has been spending much of his time overseeing one of his company's projects in western Florida (which is a bit closer, but still pretty far). It turns out he was more-or-less in the area and decided, to our delight, to stop in for the weekend. Of course, this left Jen with some mixed emotions, as his plan was to leave on Sunday morning, prior to her return home. But father convinced daughter to follow through with her original plans, and son-in-law ultimately convinced father-in-law to stay an extra day so he could see his daughter and spend a little more time with the rest of us.

In the meantime, grandpa has made his always appreciated "monster pancakes" and two batches (and counting) of his near-famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. He also took the children (with the help of their father) to the Dutch Farmer's Market in Burtonsville, Maryland (run by a group of Amish farmers from Lancaster, PA), where, after years of searching, I finally found a cream-filled doughnut like those offered at Peter Pan Bakery in Moorestown, New Jersey. After the market, we were off to the playground at Peter's preschool.

It was a wonderful weekend for four grandchildren (and their parents) who only wish they could see their Kelly grandparents more often.

Not a bad picture, considering Abby took it.

The Dutch Farmers' Market -- before the doughnuts.

Air & Space Museum II

2008-01-01T07:18:00.000-05:00

One of the many things that makes the Christmas/New Years season so special is that it allows us time together as a family. Whether Christmas caroling, participating in family feasts, reading books, or just watching movies, it's our view that Christmas time should be about family time.

We continued on this theme after Christmas, embarking on several small family outings during the week prior to New Years Day, including our first visit to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. The biggest hit, however, was the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center, which, unlike its much older cousin, is not located on the Mall, but out close to Dulles Airport in Virginia. A must-see for anybody interested in seeing a lot of airplanes, many of which are simply too large to fit in the museum's downtown location (such as the Enola Gay, Concorde, Blackbird, Space Shuttle, etc.), the Center is well worth the $12 parking fee. (As with other Smithsonian museums, admission is free, although that could be changing.) Some pictures follow.

Christmas Morning

2007-12-26T06:54:00.000-05:00

So much going on between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so little time to blog about it. But we won't be accused of leaving out the important stuff. Here are some pix of Christmas morning at the Willis household.

Living Room/Dining Room Transformation

2007-12-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

Since moving into our home in the Fall of 2004, we have wanted to do something with our living room and dining room. Both rooms had great wood floors, but they needed refinishing. Also, the living room walls had a certain, um, "dated" texture that we felt had to go. Lastly, there was an arch between the rooms that, although unique, was not necessarily to our liking.

After much talking, Jen eventually took matters into her own hands and demolished the arch (while I was away on business -- I saw the initial pictures from a hotel room in Huntsville, Alabama). Jen then ripped out all of the drywall in the living room (the drywall in the dining room was not afflicted with the same texturing). Our friend, Jeff Shaw, then replaced the drywall and put in some of the moldings (particularly the crown moldings, with which, unlike other moldings, we had no previous installation experience). After Jeff's excellent work, we (almost all Jen) painted and then had the floors redone. We thought the result was overall quite an improvement.

Thanksgiving Traditions

2007-11-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of the things that we do during the Thanksgiving holiday. Some of them are traditions on purpose, others somehow became that way.

Thanksgiving feasts and programs at preschool and elementary schools. Link to Alex's kindergarten program: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/stonegatees/2007-2008/GradeK/Ha/HaHome.shtm
Grant participates in a "Turkey Bowl" with his brothers (and usually re-injures his knee) Thanksgiving morning.
Jen makes a whole lot of something yummy for dinner.
Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Willis's home.
Many, many pies.
Full bellies, warmth, and friendship.
Football games (now in HD).
Early morning "Black Friday" shopping trip for the ladies, ending with a "Happy Birthday" lunch for sis.-in-law Andra.
Turkey sandwiches for dinner Friday night.
Saturday morning "Turkey Burnoff" 5 miler for Jen and and sisters-in-law (Crystal, Andra and Jessica). For results see: http://www.mcrrc.org/racing/race07/20071124TurkeyBurnoff.htm
Having fun just being together.
Sad realization on Sunday night that it is all over and we must get back to the routine Monday morning.

Halloween 2007

2007-11-17T07:43:00.000-05:00

Peter as "Woody" (stirrups not pictured).

Abbigail as a Renaissance Princess.

Alex as "Superman" . . . being charming . . .

. . . and doing disco.

Ben as a wounded giraffe (see entry below).

The entire crew, before the sugar rush.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

2007-10-30T17:06:00.000-04:00

Sunday night I made my 3rd trip to the ER in the last 10 months. One time for each boy. Alex poked his eye with a pencil early last December -- thankfully his eyelid took the brunt of the damage and he only had minor scratches on his cornea. Though the laceration should have been stitched, the ER doc and the plastics specialist decided that trying to stitch the eyelid of a 4 1/2 year old would likely cause more damage than he already had. We left the ER with only a butterfly bandage and a little bit of tape to hold the eyelid together and an appointment with an opthalmologist.

Pete made his first trip a few months later, barely past his 3rd birthday. We have a raised brick hearth on our fireplace, and as one might imagine we have told those boys countless times "Someone is going to crack their head open if you boys wrestle near the fireplace!" Those words proved to be true. I was preparing dinner and was unaware of the wresting match going on in the family room. I heard the scream and ran to see what the trouble was. The shirtless Pete had, sure enough, hit his head on the brick hearth and split it open. The split wasn't very big and he only needed 1 staple. They didn't even numb him for it because then he would have had two pokes instead of just one. He said only, "Ouch, that hurt."

Which brings us to Ben. Ben turned 18 months on the 12th of this month, an important milestone for any LDS child and his parents, as this is the age the child is allowed to enter the nursery for the last 2 hours of our (3 hour) Sunday meetings. As our fourth child and third boy, Ben has two speeds: run and sleep. On Sunday night, Ben, running of course, tripped and smacked his forehead into the same brick hearth. This one is going to leave a visible scar. (I keep hearing that scars are ok for boys!?) His injury is about an inch below his hairline right in the middle of his forehead. The ER doc thought she could glue it until she cleaned the wound up a little bit and saw that it was deeper and more jagged than she had first thought. They numbed him up with some numbing gel and then velcroed him flat on his back, arms at his sides, onto a board intended to keep him from moving while the doctor sewed up his head. He needed two stitches.

Then there is Abbigail. She is approaching 7 1/2 and has thus far managed to avoid the emergency room. I am grateful for her for many reasons, and her cautious nature is just one of them. Abby is a doting big sister, and a wonderful helper for Grant and me. She is funny and smart, beautiful both inside and out. Her bright eyes and lovely smile cause me everyday (especially days I am taking a brother to the emergency room) to "thank heaven for little girls."

Soccer and Such

2007-10-24T20:06:00.000-04:00

Some pix of Abby and Alex at their after-school soccer clinic a couple of weeks ago (you can't see any balls, but I assure you it was a soccer clinic), whilst Pete and Ben played on the schoolyard playground.

Mormon Night at the Washington Nationals

2007-10-20T08:28:00.000-04:00

Mormons make it a point to get together. On the family level, we get together for regular "Family Home Evenings," family dinners, and the occasional family reunion (including three, four, and sometimes five generations). As a church, we get together at least once a week on the local level, and usually more frequently. On the global level, we reunite every six month (albeit via satellite feed for most of us). Of course, Mormons have been gathering throughout their history: from New York, to Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois, and ultimately to Utah, the church has sought to bring together its adherents. Notably, however, there has never been absolute geographic unity in Mormondom; indeed, as soon as many 19th century LDS immigrants arrived in Utah, Brigham Young sent them on their way to found or join the various Mormon colonies that came to dot the West. Somewhere along the way, the church made it clear that its members needn't gather anymore; instead, church membership was encouraged to stay where it was -- to "bloom where it had been planted." Hence, Mormons in Ghana are not required to trek across the world to be with other Latter-day Saints. They can stay where they are, attend their local congregation (a "ward" or "branch"), and fellowship with other local members of the church. (In Ghana, they can even attend a temple within their nation's borders.)

I'm unsure about the popularity of baseball in Ghana, but it's fairly popular in the United States. Despite chirping from some quarters that "America's Pastime" is no longer America's "favorite" sport, there continues to be something unique about going to the ballpark for a summer baseball outing. And apparently I am not the only person -- nor the only Mormon -- who thinks so. Thus, last month, our family participated in what has become an annual "gathering" event -- "Mormon Night at the Washington Nationals." Technically, the event was sponsored by the local chapter of the BYU alumni association, but as there are very few degrees of separation between any Mormon in the area and BYU, a "BYU" event such as this becomes a de facto LDS event. As such, food was required, and it was abundantly supplied in the form of pizza, cookies, and assorted beverages, served on a grassy patch at the back of the one of the stadium's parking lots. After getting our fill, we headed to the game.

The Nationals were playing the Philadelphia Phillies. I am a Phillies fan, and I have been since I can remember (I grew up in South Jersey). My brothers (most of whom were at the game) are Phillies fans. My parents (who were at the game) are Phillies fans. I think even Jen is a Phillies fan (because she loves me) and that my kids are Phillies fans (except when they want to be Nationals fans). In fact, I dare say that 40% of those in attendance that evening were Phillies fans (although the great majority of "Mormon Night" participants appeared to be faithful to the home team). The large percentage of Philly folk was due, at least in part, to the fact that the Phillies were in the midst of a multi-team battle (which did not include the Nationals, except indirectly) to make the playoffs and were entering the final week of the season. (Note: The Phillies would end up miraculously winning the National League East Division on the final day of the season and making the playoffs for the first time since I was in high school, only to be swept by the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Series. There's a lot of pain to being a Philadelphia sports fan. I wish it upon none of my children.) As a result, we were able to cheer on our team with some of the most, um, "passionate" fans in sports. I'm just glad for my kids' sakes that certain words are made somewhat more difficult to understand when chanted by thousands of inebriated Philadelphians.

As it turns out, we didn't actually see a whole lot of the game. You see, it takes a certain amount of patience and an intensity of interest to sit through an entire baseball game without it turning into background noise to the conversation you're having with the person in the next seat. Four small kids and seats far enough away to make the action appear as if it were occurring in miniature didn't help matters. So, happy that we made the trip but with very tired children, we left somewhere in the mid-late innings. The Phillies won the game, I vowed -- as I do every year -- to take the kids to more games next season, and we all slept well, dreaming of the those famous "Philadelphia Filthies" of 1993. Mormon Night at the Washington Nationals was a success.

To School We Go!

2007-10-14T10:34:00.001-04:00

Fall has fallen (even though our autumn has averaged about 83 degrees) and a new school year has begun. We now are officially the proud parents of two elementary-schoolers, one preschooler, and one pre-preschooler. Abby, our Stonegate Elementary School (home of the Sharks) veteran began second grade in late August, with her teacher, Ms. Dantzler. Alex, our rookie Shark, began kindergarten on the same day, with Ms. Ha. Peter -- after a year of pleading with his mother to let him go to school (so, among other perceived perks, he could take a "school lunch") -- began his formal education a couple of weeks after Abby and Alex, at Ashton Christian Preschool. His teachers are Ms. Missy and Ms. Vicky (why teachers go from Ms. [first name] in preschool to Ms. [last name] in kindergarten, I don't know).

Abby is becoming reacquainted with friends from previous years and making new ones as well (with all of the drama that attends the navigation of a young girl's social landscape). Alex also is apparently meeting new kids and building relationships, although his conversations about school typically focus on his soccer playing exploits at recess. For his part, Peter already had one preschool friend (in his cousin Sam) but he has taken a noticeable shine to another little classmate as well. Her name is Cheyenne, and she is, according to Peter, "very, very beautiful." (Whenever I think that he's too young to hold such an opinion, I distinctly remember a girl in my preschool class to which I paid particular attention.) Needless to say, we're already looking into local all-boy school options.

Family Picture

2007-09-29T20:02:00.000-04:00

A recent picture of our family, taken while at Oglebay in August.

Summer '07 in Review

2007-09-27T09:47:00.000-04:00

Regrettably, I don't get summers off. (Of course, neither does Jen, although she would add that she doesn't get "vacations" off either.) But the kids do. So, soon after the close of Abby's first-grade year, we embarked for Utah. With four small children, "getting there" is always an adventure in its own right. Our voyage to Salt Lake was made all the more interesting by a plane delayed approximately 7 hours, our arriving in Salt Lake just before 1 am MDT (3 am EDT), and an obnoxious Dollar Rental Car employee refusing to get our car because she (erroneously) asserted that I hadn't reached the counter on time (after I had literally sprinted through the airport to ensure I had). The upside was that Abby and Alex got to sit (sleep) in first class with me, so they're now ruined for life. Jen got to sit in coach with a sleeping Peter and a vomitous Ben. (See above re Jen's "vacations.")

Happily, things improved. The reason for, and highlight of, our Utah trip was spending time with Jen's folks and siblings in Bountiful, all of whom were there for at least some of the time that we were. With various members of Jen's family, we took several small daytrips to such places as This is the Place Heritage Park and Liberty Park in Salt Lake. (Jen and Abby also took a trip to the local salon, where they both got their hair chopped.) We also visited Yellowstone, where Jen and I had not been in years, and which the kids had never seen. We toured the park for about two days, taking in all of the wildlife, geology, and scenery that only Yellowstone can offer. We left the park through the south entrance, passing through Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Star Valley, and (drumroll please) Evanston, on our way back to Utah. It's during such drives, through apparently endless expanses of space, that I remember coming to Utah as a New Jersey kid and thinking that no one back home would believe that there ever could be so much land -- much of it stunningly beautiful, much of it depressingly barren -- with so few people.

Summer Trip No. 2 was to Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, where, for the third time since 2002, we participated in the Bertram & Christine Willis family reunion. As with our trip to Utah, it was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family, which, at this reunion, included some 14 kids 10 and under. This statistic made sleeping arrangements (everybody was in a single cabin -- the largest Oglebay offers) and the traditional family picture interesting affairs, although both worked out as well if not better than in past years. There were plenty of attractions to keep the crew occupied, including golf (real, par-3, and miniature varieties), swimming, paddleboating, horse-back riding, hiking, a zoo (with a train), and a nature center. I can truthfully report that we went to bed tired every night, and that we look forward to going back.

We marked the end of the summer by camping -- in our backyard -- on the Friday before Labor Day and then hiking to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain the next day. The kids did great on Sugarloaf as we opted to travel what appeared on the map to the be the shortest route to the top (which it was). As it turns out, it was also the steepest route to the top (which makes sense). Abby, Alex and Pete scrambled up, through, over, and around the rocky terrain (of course, they also went out of their way to find rocky terrain) on their way to summitting what is surely one of the tallest peaks, if not the tallest peak, in all of Montgomery County, Maryland. Ben did great too, although we didn't let him scramble quite as much as he would have liked. The hike was part of our master plan to prepare the kids for the many family backpacking trips planned for the not-too-distant future.

Preface: The Blog -- The Modern-Day Family Letter to the World

2007-09-26T08:55:00.000-04:00

From the day I began college -- some 13 years ago -- my father encouraged me to write regular letters. This was in the days before flat-rate long-distance and mass cellphone proliferation. It was also in the earliest days of the internet, and most of us had no idea what email was (much less how to use it). In any event, it was good practice for my two-year LDS mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during which practically all contact with "home" came in the form of weekly written correspondence. (My understanding is that LDS missionaries now typically use email for this function.) Years after my mission, and after I had married Jen and we started to have kids, my father again requested -- this time as a birthday present of all things -- that his children send out at least a monthly letter (by that point, distribution by email was deemed appropriate -- even preferable). I did this quite faithfully -- for a while. But then we moved into our house, life became increasingly busy, and -- except for our annual Christmas letter -- the monthly Grant&Jen Willis family update quietly ceased operations.

In time, and after thinking about the best way in this day and age to share information about our family with our kin and friends -- many of whom are now flung all over the world -- we decided to jump on the "blog" bandwagon. The price is right, the medium is sorta hip, and it's available for the whole world to see. What could be better.

So, dad and everybody else, welcome to the gift that keeps on giving -- welcome to The Willis Way.