♥ Be My Valentine Bulletin ♥ A Hip Alternative To Tell You What’s Happenin’ With The Blicks

Volume 5 February 2010

Forth Times A Charm

Berryville—Karen and Richie celebrated the arrival of their fourth

child, Lillie, in the middle of record snowfall for the DC area.

“She‟s our snow angel,” laughs Karen, “we think she had

something to do with the 1 ½ feet of snow that fell in Berryville

between the 19th

and 20th

of December.” Richie continues, “Drama,

it‟s all about drama, and she was born with it, but I‟m glad she‟s

here and she‟s healthy.” (For the record, we‟re pretty sure she had

something to do with the 3 ½ feet of snow that fell in the coarse of

one week in January).

Lillie enriches the lives of all she meets. Her red hair and

blue eyes are captivating. She enjoys being held, loves to snuggle

and cuddle and enjoys mealtimes. “She‟s a happy baby,” says

Karen, “until she‟s hungry, then all bets are off.”

Richie gazes at her throughout the day and talks to her about

their busy day and all they need to do to get dinner ready. She

helps him strategize what chores to do first and which to delegate to

Karen, Elle, Spencer and Harrison. Most get delegated in exchange

for some snuggle time between Lillie and her daddy.

Elle, Spencer and Harrison have stepped up in their role as

older siblings to help with diaper changes, poofing her with powder

and retrieving sleep sacks, blankets and her pacifier. Lillie‟s very

appreciative of their hard work and dedication. She exhibits her

appreciation with an endearing smile, adorable coo or heart-

warming touch. “This is hard work,” says Elle, “but I love Lillie,

so that‟s ok.” “She‟s my best friend,” comments Harrison. Spencer

sits and smiles as he pushes Lillie in her swing. “They‟re really

good with her and they‟re starting to understand that sometimes

Lillie‟s needs have to come first and I think they‟re ok with that.”

Next Edit ion The winds of change may arrive in Berryville during 2010—what‟s in store for the Blicks?

Spencer begins Kindergarten—how will his experience with public education shape his personality?

It’s All In A Name

Berryville—Lillie‟s name is a compilation of her

grandmothers names. Jillianne is a morph of Millie and

Jean, Karen‟s mother‟s name, and Leigh is a different

spelling of Richie‟s mother‟s middle name, Lee. “We‟re

honored to have our daughter named after two very

important women in our lives. We are confident she‟ll

continue their legacy of kindness and caring as she grows,”

says Karen and Richie.

“Lillie” Jillianne Leigh Curtis Blick

Born: Monday, December 21, 2009

Time: 2:50 AM

Weight: 9 lbs. 5 oz.

Length: 20 ¾ inches

Me and Grammy Above: Lillie and Grandma; Right:

Lillie and Grammy

2

L e g e n d s The Blick Matriarch Begins New Role as Angel

Emporia— Our family suffered a great loss with the passing of Grandma

Blick. Memories of her fixing meals that would feed an army, watching

out for the wielding spoon full of mashed potatoes (and the numerous

plates she broke as a result of getting every last bit of potato off the

spoon), finding her tending to her flower garden in her 70‟s or up on a

ladder cleaning her gutters help paint a picture of her independent nature.

“I remember dad talking about how she was in the attic not too long ago

searching for things—she was 80 something!” exclaimed Richie. He

continues, “I miss her rolls, choco-cake and fudge, but most of all I miss

visiting with her. I wish she would have lived long enough to meet

Lillie, but at least she knew about her impending arrival after looking at

ultrasound pictures. Words can‟t even describe how much I miss her and

how sad I am that my children will never experience sneaking hard candy

out of the bottom shelf of her refrigerator, or playing „pee-pie‟ with her.

I was lucky to get one of her handmade quilts for each of my children

and a few other sets of chotchkes for them to have when they‟re older.”

Richie displays the furniture given to him from grandma‟s house

with pride. It‟s ironic that the dining room set was made in Winchester,

VA and that it was in Emporia for all those years only to make it back

close to Winchester. Her picture sits proudly on a shelf in her secretary.

Richie says, “It‟s great to look at her everyday. It‟s a constant reminder

of how lucky I was to have her in my life.”

Virginia Bell Wrenn Blick

September 16, 1916 - June 8, 2009

A Grandmother’s Love

Golf Expert Finds the 18th

Hole in Heaven Durham, NC—Karen‟s cousin, Andy, passed suddenly from a

heart attack. “I‟m going to miss visiting with him at family

reunions. His golfing tips were always helpful,” remarks Karen

An Artist’s Canvas Becomes Heavenly Scenes Sioux Falls, SD—Karen‟s cousin passed after a long battle with

emphysema. “One of my fondest memories of Savella was her

artistic talent. She was a great painter,” says Karen. Savella Elsa Gayle Olesen

5/16/48-2/14/10 James Andrew Barringer

10/1/62-3/1/09

Pictured from L to R: Baby Richie with Grandma and Grandad Blick;

Grandma holding Elle (Elle is named after her, in part); Richie and Grandma

3

C l a s s i f i e d s

Snow Angel

Guaranteed snowfall with the charm of this

little angel. Resume reflects record-breaking

snowfall.

Big Brothers and Big Sister This trio takes their responsibility as role

models seriously as each helps guide the

physical, social and emotional development

of their little sister. Their commitment to her

is evident in every hug and kiss.

Techie Need help with computers? If so, contact

Spencer at 1-800-Compute. His expertise

with computers and hand held electronics

surpass his competitors.

Secretary of State This young lady is inquisitive about the

world and all its cultures. She has spent

hours examining world maps and the globe

discovering all the world has to offer.

Birth Announcement Karen and Richie proudly announce the

arrival of their daughter Jillianne Leigh

“Lillie” to the world. It‟s a better place now.

she‟s here .

Book Critic

Need to know about quality reading

material? Ask this accomplished critic.

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33333

C l a s s i f i e d s

Wildlife Protectors at Eaton Ferry Marina These three dedicated public servants take it

upon themselves to ensure ducks and fish

alike are served plenty of food.

Santa’s Helper

This little elf guarantees smiles are plentiful

throughout the year, not just during

Christmas.

Carnival Ride Inspectors at White Lake

Quality control defines this duo. They take

their job seriously by thoroughly inspecting

each ride personally.

Collectors Experienced sticker collectors searching for

stickers to add to their collections. Pays in

hugs, kisses and big smiles.

Disc Jockey In need of a DJ? Let this officianoto host

your next event. You‟re guaranteed to have

a blast!

5

Sports, Health and Leisure

Six One Way, A Half Dozen the Other

Berryville—No matter how you look at it, the Blick family has grown.

Lillie‟s arrival created a renewed sense of optimism and hope for

family and friends. “She‟s so precious”, says Karen as she cradles

Lillie in her arms. Elle, Spencer and Harrison are the best older

siblings. “They take their job seriously, tending to Lillie‟s every

need—as long as it doesn‟t interfere with their Scooby-Doo episodes or

Wii tournaments,” says Richie.

The challenges of being older siblings are met with enthusiasm.

Karen comments, “We‟re very proud of how Lillie‟s arrival has been

embraced by Elle, Spencer and Harrison. They usually introduce her as

their „best friend‟, it warms our hearts.”

The Wonder of the Wii

Berryville—Santa knew how much the children would enjoy having a Wii,

which is why he paid heed to Elle‟s written request and delivered one with

several games this past Christmas. Elle was so excited when she woke up

to see the Wii under the tree. It wasn‟t long before the sound of Wii

bowling filled the air followed by a demolition game played by Spencer.

Harrison and Lillie were (and continue to be) content cheering the others as

they play their respective games. Once the novelty of the Wii waned,

Karen took control of a Wii remote to play a shooting game. So far she‟s

claimed the Bronze, Silver and Gold metals. Richie enjoys playing Wii

golf. “I‟m pretty good at golf,” he says, “I‟m good at bowling too.”

Competition has its place. Elle and Spencer play several games

together and are learning that they can‟t win every time. They are

beginning to learn the lesson of competing with themselves as opposed to

competing with one another. “This lesson is starting to sink in as cheers of

congratulations can be heard throughout the house,” says Karen as she

picks up the Wii remote to shatter her current record of 491. “I‟m shooting

(pun intended) for 600. If I can shoot more ducks, I‟ll be set.”

The Blick RV aka

The Rollin‟ Terd (from the movie RV)

The Blick Family

Let’s Go RVing!

Berryville—And that‟s exactly what Karen, Richie and the kids did

this past October. After finding an RV for sale on the Internet, Richie

picked it up for a test drive. We then decided to take it on a trip and

visit friends in Montoursville, PA. “It was a lesson in cooperation,”

commented Karen, “but the kids had a great time in spite of the

cramped quarters.” Richie spends time looking through the book,

Scenic Places in America, determining future destinations, “I can‟t

wait to take the kids on trips across the country!” exclaims Richie.

Earl and Diana are taking part in the RV experience as well so watch

out for The Blicks!

Spencer and Elle battle it out on the Wii screen

Wii Statistics Elle—“Charge”—Silver Metal

Spencer—“Bowling”—6-Pack Strike

Karen—“Shooting Range”—Gold Metal

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S t y l e

This Year’s Picks

Elle’s Favorites

Spencer’s Favorites

Harrison’s Favorites

Lillie’s Favorites

Book Amelia Bedilia series Pixar ® Cars

book series

Chicka Chicka

Boom Boom

Family Fun

Magazine

Movie/Video Wonder Woman Pixar ® Cars Scooby-Doo What‟s the

Name of That

Song

Song You Belong with Me

by Taylor Swift

Life is a

Highway by

Rascal Flats

4 Minutes by

Madonna and

Justin Timberlake

Rock-A-By

Baby

Toy Stickers Pixar ® Cars

movie Cars

iPod Pacifier

Pastime Gymnastics Running and

standing on

head

Jumping and

summer salts

Looking at Elle,

Spencer and

Harrison

Chore Doing Dishes,

Sweeping and

Vacuuming

Sweep Wiping off tables Supervising

family members

Responsibility Changing Lillie‟s

Diaper

Keeping his toy

cars in order

Cleaning up all

his messes

Keeping

Mommy on her

toes

Outdoor Activity Swinging on the tire

swing

Racing on his

scooter

Pushing his Little

Tikes car

Looking at all

the snow

Character/Cartoon Sponge Bob Patrick (from

Sponge Bob)

Tootie from Yo

Gabba Gabba

Daddy

Food Fruit Cocktail Cereal with

Milk

Milk, Milk and

more Milk

Milk

Berryville—This

year‟s

favorites

are in!

From

favorite

song to

favorite

chore, this

list tells

readers

what‟s in at

the Blick

household.

Left—This year‟s

picks

decided by

Elle,

Spencer,

Harrison

and Lillie.

Picture of the Year The Meeting

December 2010

The Parent‟s Pride Gallery Berryville, Virginia

The Eclectic Collection

“My Famile” by Elle

“School

Bus” by Spencer

“Hands and

Heart” by

Harrison (on loan from the I Have a Dream

Exhibit)

7

L i f e Mt. Vernon HS Class of 1989 Celebrates

Alexandria, VA—Karen, her sister Kathy,

and her best friend from high school,

Laura, reunited for a trip down memory

lane in August 2009. Their 20th

high

school reunion brought them and quite a

few of their former classmates together to

reminisce and catch up on the past two

decades. “It was fun to see everyone

again,” remarks Karen as she flips through

old photographs to post on Facebook.

What a Decade Brings…..

Berryville—In short, 4 children, laughter, stress, homes,

career changes, college degrees and many, many funny

stories. Karen and Richie celebrated their 10th

wedding

anniversary this past April at a quaint restaurant in White

Post, VA. Richie surprised Karen with a diamond

anniversary band; Karen surprised Richie with the news

that Lillie was on her way (to which he confirmed with

multiple pregnancy tests!).

“Our marriage hasn‟t been

without its share of ups

and downs, but we keep

our focus on the positive.

We‟re looking forward to

the next 50+ years,” says

Karen. “I‟d do it all over

again,” smiles Richie. The

big question is, would Karen? To which she replies, “yes.”

Richie’s Real Estate Reality

Berryville— An improving market keeps Richie busy. After a lull in

the industry, Richie continues to use technology, specifically his

websites and personal contacts to maintain and increase business. The

loss of his cell phone over Christmas proved to be quite an obstacle to

overcome, then his main computer crashed and he lost a program that

he used religiously, but he managed these obstacles in stride.

In spite of a slow real estate market, Richie has helped several

people find their dream home or dream property. He also sold our

additional lot at the lake. “It‟s a thrill for me to help people realize their

dream of owning a home. Good deals are to be had out there; 2010 is

looking very promising. I‟m hopeful for a good year.” Richie remarks.

Richie‟s Goin‟ Green Business Card

Karen and Laura, 1988 Kathy, Laura and Karen, 2009

Our View

8

a certificate of appreciation from the Clarke County Animal

Society and a Nintendo DS from her mom and dad. She

continues her community service pursuits by volunteering her

time to visit the animal shelter and pet the animals. “I like

holding the cats,” says Elle.

“She‟s getting so big and comes up with great ideas and

ways to help others. She‟s the first to pack bread when we go out

on the boat to feed the ducks while at Lake Gaston. She was the

first one to put change in the Salvation Army pots during the

holidays and deposited her contribution to the school‟s food drive

with pride. She immediately went to work sweeping and

organizing toys, wiping off countertops and vacuuming to earn

canned goods to contribute to a local family for the holidays. We

have a genuine philanthropist in the family,” gleams Karen.

Another thing that Elle is proud of is the fact that she‟s

Elle’s Excellent Adventure

Berryville—Elle finished Kindergarten with excellent

marks and started 1st grade with the teacher she adores.

“I like Mrs. Newcomb because she decorates her door,”

explained Elle when she received notice of who her

teacher was going to be. She began this school year

excited to share all of her summer feats with her friends,

starting with how she learned to swim without floaties

and that she could swim underwater. She was able to

showcase her skills at her first Daisy Scout event—a

pool party! Elle has also learned to read quite well and

advanced to reading Amelia Bedelia stories. Her face

beamed with pride when she commented at the dinner

table that she could read „congratulations‟. “We‟re very

proud of our little girl,” comments Richie as he gives Elle a big hug.

Another accomplishment that Elle has made is with her artwork.

“She really enjoys painting,” remarks Karen, “I‟ve enjoyed working

with her on class projects. She started the year researching flamingos

and painted a poster size flamingo for her project and included some

important facts about them, then she had an art project to create using

noodles and she decided to do a fish, and then there was her planet

project. She did a great 3-D rendering of Neptune by painting a ½

sphere different shades of blue, mounting it on foam board, and

including facts about the „blue planet‟.

Elle is also proud of her commitment to community service.

She asked her friends to bring presents for the local animal shelter to

her birthday party in lieu of presents for herself. In return, she received

Elle‟s mermaid pose at Lake Gaston

Inspiration

Above: Elle tries hard to keep the class members‟

attention as she reviews Annie‟s spelling words.

Elle with Mrs. Newcomb at the Annual Christmas Program

lost 4 teeth and the tooth fairy has visited her every time. “The tooth fairy has a special bank where she gets silver

dollars and two dollar bills,” says Elle, “Mommy and Daddy say I can‟t spend them, so I have them in my bank.

They told me that I have to keep my teeth squeaky clean so I don‟t get any cavities. The tooth fairy doesn‟t bring as

much for those teeth and I need money to buy stuff.” “We think her smile is precious,” Karen remarks.

9

Inspiration

Spencer‟s 5-Year Portrait

greeted with, “What did you bring for show and tell today,

Spencer?”

Spencer‟s love of cars has defined the past year of his

life. He has become an avid collector of Pixar © Cars toy cars.

He knows which cars belong to him (over 50) and which belong

to Harrison and Elle. He loves racing them, crashing them and

organizing them along the back of the couch. He‟s very

prideful of his collection.

His love of action keeps Richie and Karen on their toes.

He enjoys racing, running, jumping and climbing. And he likes

doing it faster and/or better than anyone. His competitive spirit

can sometimes get the better of him, but he‟s learning to control

his temper and play fair with others. His infrequent outbursts

for calls of justice break his normal persona of a very quiet and

reserved little boy. “We just love his sweet nature,” says Karen.

Above: Spencer spent most of his time at Lake Gaston

practicing casting his rod and reel; Right: Spencer‟s

little boy portrait, commissioned by his Daddy.

Spencer’s Charm is Infectious

Berryville—Spencer continues to charm his way into the hearts

of many. He enjoys riding his scooter at high speeds and has

gone through several pairs of shoes because he uses his right

foot as the brake. He has recently taken up writing. He writes

his name without help, practices the other letters of the alphabet

and has started practicing writing numbers. “He‟s a doer,”

comments Richie, “if you need anything figured out on a

computer, he‟s your guy. He really likes technology and enjoys

problem-solving.”

Spencer enjoys the teachers at his school. He looks

forward to show and tell every week. Spencer and Karen

worked out a deal where he takes a toy one week and an object

from nature the next. This alternating schedule has encouraged

Spencer to explore nature. So far he has brought a dead snake

(frozen), a hornet‟s nest, a variety of dead bugs, a snakeskin and

a turtle shell to share with classmates. His teachers are a little

anxious on show and tell day because they‟ve never had a

student bring a snake for show and tell before. Spencer is often

10

fall. He was standing on a stool and leaned

forward. The stool came out from under him

and he bit part of his tongue

Keep in Touch! Berryville Home—111 Battletown Drive, Berryville, VA 22611—540.955.2039

Soggy Britches—224 Kelly Drive, Valentines, VA 23887

Karen‟s email—kcurtisedu@hotmail.com Karen‟s cell—703.314.5849

Richie‟s email—MyRealtorRichie@gmail.com Richie‟s cell—703.401.7980

Inspiration A Force of Nature

Berryville—Karen and Richie can‟t really seem to define

Harrison. He‟s a love bug one minute and a bull the next. His

zest for life is apparent as he gives everything he does his all.

He enjoys the company of others and doesn‟t hesitate to carry

on conversations with those he meets. He spends hours

listening to music on his iPod. His favorite song continues to

be Justin Timberlake and Madonna‟s 4 Minutes although he

has expanded his listening pleasure to include Lady Ga-Ga

and Nellie & Fergie. “He‟s our DJ,” laughs Karen, “he knows

more about that iPod than I do. If I need to find something, I

usually have to get his help. That‟s pretty impressive

considering he‟s 3 years old!”

Harrison looks forward to school. He enjoys his

teachers and likes to share his knowledge with others. “It‟s

adorable to hear him using his words. Some favorites include:

re-dic-kley-us (ridiculous), havit (habit), and much a lot (slang

for „more‟). His insistent tone commands the attention of his

teachers and classmates. Harrison did suffer an unavoidable

accident while at school one day this past fall. He was

standing on a stool and slipped. He bit part of his tongue

July 2009 for a busted chin), but this is a first for

Harrison and he was a trooper. Once he knew he

could get popsicles, he was happy.”

Harrison has taken the responsibility of big

brother very seriously. He won‟t hesitate to

correct Elle, Spencer, his Mommy or his Daddy if

they wake her up or do something to upset her. He

even supervises Elle when she carries Lillie to

ensure that her head is supported and her feet are

covered. “We‟re so proud of our „little man‟, he‟s

growing up so fast,” comments Richie, “it won‟t

be long before he‟s in Kindergarten too.

Hopefully we‟ll be able to tame his mischievous

nature by then!” Karen adds, “I‟ve already warned

the principal at the primary school to be prepared!”

off and bit through his bottom lip. Richie took him to the emergency room where he was taken to surgery to repair his

tongue and lip. “We‟re lucky this accident didn‟t impair his speech considering how much of his tongue was

severed,” comments Karen. Richie adds, “we‟re used to taking Spencer in for stitches (his latest trip to the ER was

Above Left: Harrison fishing; Above Right: Harrison stops for a

quick photo with his idol “The Abominable Snowman