Sinuous -- Gretchen

sin·u·ous (sny-s) adj. 1. Characterized by many curves or turns; winding: a sinuous stream. 2. Characterized by supple and lithe movements: the sinuous grace of a dancer. 3. Not direct; devious. 4. Sinuate: a sinuous leaf. [From Latin sinusus, from sinus, curve.] sinu·ous·ly adv. sinu·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

I'll bet Gretchen has to walk a sinuous path when she leaves the house since that giant tree has fallen across the driveway near the front door.

Procrustean -- Dad

Procrustean 

Pro·crus·te·an also pro·crus·te·an  (pr-krst-n) adj. Producing or designed to produce strict conformity by ruthless or arbitrary means. [After Procrustes, a mythical Greek giant who stretched or shortened captives to make them fit his beds, from Latin Procrusts, from Greek Prokrousts, from prokrouein, hammer out, to stretch out :pro-, forth; see pro-2 + krouein, to beat.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Dad says he loves his three children equally, and I suspect he learned early that procrustean rules would not work with his three very different--and lovable--children.

Freshet -- Mom

fresh·et (frsht)

n.

1. A sudden overflow of a stream resulting from a heavy rain or a thaw.

2. A stream of fresh water that empties into a body of salt water

Growing up, we didn't have a basement because Mom feared that a freshet might flood it.

Sere -- Ann

Sere

sere 1 also sear (sîr) adj. Withered; dry: sere vegetation at the edge of the desert. [Middle English, from Old English sar.]

---

sere 2 (sîr) n. The entire sequence of ecological communities successively occupying an area from the initial stage to the climax. [From series.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Though Ann and I love to visit the sere and sunny desert during Seattle's rainy season, we are at home in our moister and more verdant clime. 

Fulsome -- Todd

ful·some (flsm) adj. 1. Offensively flattering or insincere. See Synonyms at unctuous. 2. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities. 3. Usage Problem Copious or abundant. [Middle English fulsom, abundant, well-fed, arousing disgust : ful, full; see full1 + -som, adj. suff.; see -some1.] fulsome·ly adv. fulsome·ness n. Usage Note: Fulsome is often used to mean "offensively flattering or insincere." But the word is also used, particularly in the expression fulsome praise, to mean simply "abundant," without any implication of excess or insincerity. This usage is etymologically justified but may invite misunderstandings in contexts in which a deprecatory interpretation could be made. The sentence I offer you my most fulsome apologies may raise an eyebrow, where the use of an adjective like full or abundant would leave no room for doubt as to the sincerity of the speaker's intentions.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Todd's greetings are sweet, but never fulsome. 

Insouciance -- Sister Jen and Isabella

in·sou·ci·ance (n-ss-ns, s-syäs) n. Blithe lack of concern; nonchalance.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Sister Jen pretends insouciance about her children's whereabouts, but you should have seen her at the beach one night when she suspected that her teenage daughter Isabella was with the soccer boys next door.

Boon -- Little Brother Matt

Boon

boon 1 (bn) n. 1. A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request. 2. A timely blessing or benefit: A brisk breeze is a boon to sailors. [Middle English bone, from Old Norse bn, prayer; see bh-2 in Indo-European roots.]

---

boon 2 (bn) adj. 1. Convivial; jolly: a boon companion to all. 2. Archaic Favorable. [Middle English bon, good, from Old French, from Latin bonus; see deu-2 in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Little Brother Matt (LBM) and his new love for poetry have been a boon to me in my life after tumors.

Baleful -- Kristin

Baleful

bale·ful (blfl) adj. 1. Portending evil; ominous. See Synonyms at sinister. 2. Harmful or malignant in intent or effect. baleful·ly adv. baleful·ness n. Usage Note: Baleful and baneful overlap in meaning, but baleful usually applies to something that is menacing or foreshadows evil: a baleful look. Baneful most often describes that which is actually harmful or destructive: baneful effects of their foreign policy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

This year, Kristin will keep an eye on baleful clouds, hoping that Darien's streets won't flood again.

stricture -- Isabella's birthday word

Stricture

stric·ture (strkchr) n. 1. A restraint, limit, or restriction. 2. An adverse remark or criticism; censure. 3. Pathology An abnormal narrowing of a duct or passage. [Middle English, an abnormal narrowing of a bodily part, from Late Latin strictra, contraction, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere, to draw tight; see strict.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Isabella has long been of the age that she doesn't appreciate her parent's strictures, though they're not strict. Happy birthday (tomorrow) Isabella!

Bibelot -- Jack

bi·be·lot (bb-l, b-bl) n. 1. A small decorative object; a trinket. 2. A miniature book, especially one that is finely crafted. [French, from Old French beubelet, from a reduplication of bel, beautiful, from Latin bellus, handsome; see belle.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

When he was traveling in England and France, Jack took great care to purchase bibelots for each person in his family.