Little Friends

These are the children that I babysit for a few days each week. I took these pictures of them to give to their parents for Christmas. (Yes, the older two are twins.)

Coldest Night

The busy times have found the Durbins no exception during the Christmas rush. There is, however, one exceptional phenomenon this holiday: recent Chicago weather. We have been experiencing a very early and very cold winter already in December. Working the (-)15-degree wind chills, as I have nightly layered up, I found literary inspiration in the bitter chill of the Windy City. I post the inspiration here. I have also posted some . . . (ahem) . . . candid shots of myself on the job, in what my colleagues call the ninja suit.

COLDEST NIGHT

On the coldest night, in December gray,
My soul primed for the fray,
Defeat will I the arctic air
With hat, with coat, with mitten wield.

“Though true,” say I with covered lips
And naked skin eclipsed,
“A foe as fierce I have not known
In youth, on Texas winter field.”

The moisture in my nostrils frozen,
Degrees but half-a-dozen.
The instant chill of wind’s resolve --
Antique, sub-zero weaponry.

With multilayered frost protection
Forge I an insurrection.
A turtleneck, my cannon line;
Thermal underwear, my cavalry.

Though tool belt armed with ASP and spray,
My poise in disarray.
This trusty steed (a four-by-four)
Soothes only with the heat full-blast.

Safety’s standard instruments
To crime and threat prevent,
But modest aids on lonely nights
When mercury completes its lapse.

Flagship of morning, vanquished eve!
My colors hoisted, heaved
To the sky as a badge of honor,
Whilst I survey the dark turn dawn.

The victory, not of my merit,
Did merely I endure it.
My icy eyes and fore of brow
Make morrow’s vow: Ski goggles don.

The Public Safety ninja strikes again!

We're expecting...

...a niece!! Hope I didn't give anyone a heart attack with the title! My sister is expecting a little girl this May. Congratulations to Jonathan and Marika--we're so very excited for your little family! Your little one will be the joy of your life...and her cousin Jack's. A lot of important decisions ahead of you, including what to call me. Auntie Anni? Aunt Anni? Aunt Annika? Auntie Schmann? Nothing really sounds that great. We gotta think of something.

Marika and Jonathan's Wedding

My sister wrote their wedding invitations.





Jonathan's older brother, Josh, and me--Matron of Honor.

This is Jonathan's niece, Emma, carrying 3-month-old Jack down the aisle. She was thrilled to do this; I love the look of total concentration on her face.

Uncle John (my mom's brother-in-law, who married Eric and me) married my sister and Jonathan.

Beautiful Bond Chapel.



The ever-expanding Whitaker-Bennett-Durbin family.

Don't they both look so beautiful? I loved my mom's dress (and my sister's, of course!).







Jack looks so little in these pictures! I can't believe how different he is now, 5 months later!





The beautiful bride.