As has become customary, I like to take a moment on the last day of the year to post the year in review.  Here’s what happened to the Russell/Roberts/Liccardo/Green/DeLano/Armbruster Clan this year:

In January, Kevin and Lori celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary, but it wasn’t until February that we all gathered to celebrate.  Also in February, Katherine turned 18.

March brought a rare but exciting Brooklyn event – a snow day!  School was cancelled for the first time in many years, and we had a substantial amount of snow!  Also, Kelly turned 28, Jordan turned 24, and James celebrated a birthday!

In April, Robert turned 12, and Kelly’s costumes made their second stage debut with the school production of Little Shop of Horrors.  In May, we saw the beginning of the Family Graduation Marathon.  Kara went first, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University.  She was followed shortly by Lindsay, who received a Bachelor’s Degree from Brooklyn College.  We also had multiple birthdays, namely Joe (turning 25), Chris and Ami.

June turned out to be one of the family’s biggest months.  We started off with a celebration of Lindsay’s graduation, which brought family from far and wide.  The next day, Katherine debuted at Carnegie Hall, playing a violin solo to much acclaim.  Also, Emily and Katherine joined the ranks of the family’s high school graduates!

July became a whirlwind of activity as well, starting off with the big Roberts Cousins Road Trip to Florida, where we visited Disney World for a few days and then stopped off to stay with Grandma and Popops on the way back.  While we were gone, Wendy was participating in the MetroStar Talent Competition, where she made the quarter finals!  Jack turned 8, and Grandma A. celebrated a birthday.  Kelly made her television debut on QVC where she went to help The Firm with a segment!

In August, Jordan graduated from the New York Film Academy, receiving his Master’s Degree.  Lindsay turned 25, while Laura turned 22, and Mom, Carol, and Ted all celebrated their birthdays as well!

September did not bring very much activity, save for Daniel and Nicholas celebrating their 9th birthday and Grandma G. celebrating a birthday as well.  Also, various cousins started back up at school and work, and others wound down their summers (including Lori, who started in her new position as Assistant Principal!).  October brought Emily’s 18th birthday and Thomas’ 14th birthday.  Kara got her first nursing job at a hospital in Westchester.  Kelly visited Washington D.C. with a group of friends, and then immediately headed to Columbia, S.C. for her 3rd FIRM Believer’s Trip.  Shortly after she returned, Cindy arrived from California for a visit!

November and December were uneventful, save for celebrating the birthdays of Willa and Paul (November) and Kara (22), Dad, Kathi and Popops (December)  Otherwise, we wound down the year and got together to celebrate yet another holiday season!

With all this activity, what will 2010 bring?  Only time will tell!

Last year I did a year in review to just go over all the family news from the year, so I thought I would do so again.  I may leave some things out, as I base my year in review on the pictures that were taken, but I’ll try and do each event justice!

In January, Jack made his small-screen debut by being a featured video on the Belleayre (ski mountain) website.  Also, I performed in the second annual McKinley Choir Show.  My solo was the bridge of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (clip follows; though actually the clip was from the Lutheran Hospital performance of the same show, which I will mention in May!).

In February, Katherine turned 17 years old.  March brought my 27th birthday, Jordan’s 23rd, as well as James’ birthday.  In April, my costuming debut occured, when McKinley’s production of the Music Man finally made its way to the stage.  Robert turned 11, Kevin and Lori both celebrated birthdays, and Lindsay and I headed down to visit Grandma and Popops at their house in Virginia for the first time in many years.

In May, as mentioned before, the choir performed at Lutheran Hospital.  Joe turned 24, and Ami and Chris celebrated their birthdays as well.  June did not bring anything particularly noteworthy, however, July included Grandma A’s birthday and Jack’s 7th birthday.  I also went to Puerto Rico for the first time, to great success.

In August, Mom, Carol, Ted and Ronnie all celebrated birthdays.  Lindsay turned 24 and Laura turned 21.  Lindsay and I visited Montauk with Dad and Kathi, and discovered all the little hiking trails and beaches (and lobster rolls… we can’t forget about the lobster rolls!).

September brought Grandma G’s, Pam’s and Cindy’s birthdays, and Daniel and Nicholas turned 8!  Everyone returned to the normal grind of school and work.  In October, Emily turned 17, Thomas turned 13 and Russell also celebrated a birthday!  I headed off on my 2nd ever trip to the Firm in Columbia, South Carolina.

In November, Willa and Paul celebrated their birthdays, and the Roberts side of the family got together for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years.  In December, Popops and Dad celebrated their birthdays, and Kara turned the big 21!  The family ended the year with wonderful holiday celebrations!

I thought I’d post some pictures of the year of various moments. We could do an actual WORLD year in review, but as this is the FAMILY website, this made more sense!

January ~ Carol, James and the boys welcome Holli! (Actually that was in December, but this is when we met her!

February ~ Lindsay and I experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

June ~ Jordan graduates from Pace University!

July ~ I attend the Shakespeare Institute – the best week ever!

July ~ Thomas and Robert spend a few days with me and we explore the city.

October ~ We all celebrate Emily’s Sweet 16!

November ~ I visit the FIRM and bodyFit studios in Columbia, South Carolina!

November ~ Thanksgiving Upstate!

December ~ Jordan’s unfortunate rash, just in time for Fake Christmas

December ~ The Christmas Eve wig fest!

Who knows, maybe we’ll have another highlight or two in the three days that are left of the year!