Christmas 2010

Hello to all our friends and family. First of all, here's a link to the blogs from the previous three years: http://naditz.blogspot.com/. We can no longer edit that blog because the e-mail address that created it no longer exists. Don't you love technology?


And now on to the news for 2010....and it's been a very active year!


This was, for the most, part, the year of Caelan. He started his freshman year at Bella Vista High School, where mom teaches. Before arriving, he auditioned for the school's Madrigals program (an advanced competition and show choir) and he got in. He's the only freshman who got in...only rarely do freshmen make it at all. He is now the proud owner of a tuxedo (the required men's wear for the group's performances). For someone who was so reserved in middle school, he's turned out to be quite well known in high school, largely thanks to Madrigals. The other students in the group have also done a wonderful job welcoming him into their choir.  

Am I getting paid for this?

He's made quite a name for himself: in addition to getting into Madrigals, he also got a solo at the annual fall fundraiser known as "the Dessert Concert" (another feat not often accomplished by freshmen). His solo at the Broadway-themed concert was awesome -- he sang "Johanna" from "Sweeney Todd." People loved it, although you really need to see the movie to understand it -- otherwise, he comes off sounding like a stalker ("One day, I'll steal you..."). As fate would have it, none of the family's video cameras managed to record it (nor anyone else's, either...even the guy who was recording the entire show for the parents didn't succeed this time). Again, don't you love technology?


As if that wasn't enough, he just found out that he has a part in the spring musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Now he has to learn to dance as well. Good thing he's a quick study (a feat he definitely did not inherit from Dad).

Caelan's also tried his hand at improv training (kind of like the TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway?"). He loved it and did well, but is not sure he'll be able to participate with the school's improv team since the practices may conflict with the rehearsals for the play. 

Another first for Caelan, and also for Alan, was our trip to France this past summer. We spent almost two weeks with some of my students and some of my friend Christine's students covering vast swaths of territory from Paris to Monaco and had a wonderful time...except for the combination of heat and humidity! If they go back again, I think it will be during my February or spring breaks (we all prefer rain to heat).



The students outside of the castle of Chambord



Caelan and his roommate, Steven, in Monet's gardens in Giverny.

Caelan and Nicole at a vista point on the way to Monaco from Nice

Alan, Caelan, Nicole and the group from my school with our tour guide,
Thomas (next to Nicole), on the last night of the trip.

After we got back from France, we hosted our first exchange student, Antoine. He comes from a small town not too far from Bordeaux (on France's Atlantic coast).We hosted him for three weeks and we learned a lot from each other. It was fun to take him to visit some of the most beautiful places in Northern California and having him try very typical American foods and drinks: bagels, fried chicken, Mountain Dew, root beer, and so many other things are not found in France.

Having fun at Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of Carmel.

Us with Antoine and the French chaperone, Stéphaine,
on the Eagle Lake Hiking Trail near Lake Tahoe.



And we just had to tour the Jelly Belly Factory!


In August, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! Hard to believe it's already been 20 years. Evidently, we've been having a lot of fun because the years just flew by! Wonder if the next 20 will go as fast...

Twenty years, and Alan still doesn't finish his drinks.

And of course, the year wouldn't be complete without at least one trip to Disneyland. We went back for Labor Day weekend. "World of Color," the new show at California Adventure, is amazing!!!

Alan is still busy writing, writing, writing....and fixing everyone else's writing. He still is a contractor for Intel and also does some writing and editing for a small community newspaper in Stockton. Every once in a while he also turns out a short fictional piece as well.

Nicole is still busy teaching and presenting. There was a surprise in December when it was announced that she won the grand prize in the Jane Ortner Educating Through Music Awards (for submitting a curriculum guide on how she uses music in the classroom). She will be receiving two tickets to the Grammy Awards in February 2011! Of course, those of you viewing from home will actually have a better view of the stage since the two tickets are not (most likely) going to be for seats anywhere near the stage. The Staples Center in Los Angeles is huge and Nicole is expecting to not bring binoculars but will certainly wish she had.

Our animals (Sophie the dog and Chatterbachs the cat) are still cute, still love us and seem to like each other pretty well. Neither one was injured this year fortunately, although Sophie does show signs of her increasing age. Guess you can't blame her -- she's almost 80 in human years. 

Finally -- wrapped up the year in, of all places, a karaoke bar. While Caelan attended a sleepover with friends on New Year's Eve, we went and sang with the "adults" for the first time in a LONG while. Not sure, but it seems like the kids at our usual pizza place hangout are more adult than some of the so-called grownups. Must be the alcohol.

Something's missing here, but not sure what...

We are all still happy and healthy and hope this digital card finds you the same!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Nicole, Alan, and Caelan (plus Sophie and Chatt'rbachs).