Another year has gone by, busier than ever. So much for my plan to update this blog monthly, or even quarterly. *:?) At least I'm here now! Without further ado, here is our year-in-review, 2007 edition. Hope all is well with all of you, and to hear/see news from you soon!
G (pink coat), J (UO Ducks coat), the school principal, the school admin, and several Kindergarten and Third Grade friends, at the Portland Spirit "Cinnamon Bear Cruise" we won at the 2007 Auction.
Click here for a special holiday greeting from our two Favorite Elves!
NOTE: The video clips below will download to your computer's temp folder before playing. Patience! This can take a minute or two. (I didn't do the dial-up size this year — sorry!)
WINTER
2007 started off with several snowfalls, some of which stuck more than others. I, of course, love the snow and wish Portland would go back to the weather patterns of a hundred years ago, when scenes like the one at right were the norm in winter. { SIGH } The kids love it, too, although mainly because they get to miss school and have extra cocoa rations.
The next January thing is always J's birthday. This year, we had it at our house, and invited all the Second Grade boys. I think that's the last time we'll do that!! LOL! It was a lot of fun, though, with Star Wars decorations everywhere, and even a pinata. The weather cooperated, so the boys were able to run around outside and shoot baskets, have football scrimmages, or climb on the play structure, all of which they did with gusto. Plus, J decided of his own accord to donate his gifts to charity. We collected a huge stack, which T took to a local shelter for women and children escaping from abusive family situations. Because J did this on his own, we made up for it by giving him a Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer set. The thing has 1,366 pieces, and of course, he put it together in something like a day. *:?)
The rest of the winter passed in a blur of Auction preparations, school and preschool functions, and G's first ever "official" Gymnastics Show. She did really well, and had tons of fun. This year (2008), her teacher has handpicked her current group to be in the show again, and is posting a "secret" class that only these ten girls will be allowed to register for. We're very excited, and can't wait to see what they wind up performing. G also wants to start ice skating lessons, and has expressed interest in skiing. No surprises there!
Win Media / QuickTimeWin Media / QuickTimeSPRING
In March, we made a jaunt to the Oregon Coast for some whale watching. We thought we saw a few "spouts" going up into the air, but they all appeared to be moving offshore by the time we got there. Still, the weather was amazing, and we're thinking of doing an actual boat trip next time.
Other than Easter and my birthday (and the school's annual Fitness Challenge), the next major thing we had was J's First Communion. I taught his class, which was so rewarding, and we were so proud of him. Afterwards, we celebrated at Maria's house, since she is like a cousin to us. Grandma came, of course, as did J's godparents, and their three boys (including twins born on January 26 — the dad's birthday is actually the 25th, same as Joshua! *:?)).
Win Media / QuickTimeWin Media / QuickTimeSUMMER
At the end of May, a few weeks before school got out, our beloved Husky, Sitka, developed a strange lump on her throat. After weeks of multiple surgeries to investigate it, and inserting a very uncomfortable tube to drain it, it was getting harder and larger, and she was clearly not doing well. We made the difficult decision to end it for her peacefully in early July, a month before her 10th birthday.
There's a huge hole in our lives and our hearts where she used to be, but I have to say, now that Chelsea is an only dog, not living in Sitka's rather dominant shadow, her own sweet personality is coming out in spades. Plus, she has the Bladder of Steel — unlike Sitka, who needed to go potty all day, everyday, Chelsea can apparently hold it forever. Seriously. We have to make her go out in the morning and before bedtime. Usually, when we open the door, she just looks at us like we're insane and backs away!
On a happier note, this year G had a Gymnastics Birthday Party, which we also won at the Auction. It was so much fun, watching her and all her friends, boys and girls alike, swinging from the ropes into the "pit of foam", or jumping along the bouncy walkway, or playing in the ball house.
Later in July, we had a wonderful, but too-brief, visit from T's Aunt and Uncle, who stopped by on their way back from a visit to the Tri-Cities, where they spent time with T's Great Uncle Emmett shortly before he died. Although it was a sad occasion, it was so wonderful to see family — up here, no less! (HINT. *;?))
The week after their visit, we went on our annual parish campout, and won a YURT for next year! Good thing, as 2007 was horrible, weather-wise. Not making this up — so many families went home early that our priest actually moved the Saturday Mass up five hours to give folks a chance to pack up, attend, and then run for home. It was bitterly cold and wet, and the wind was so bad that people's tents were either flooded, ripped, or both. (I want to have t-shirts made up that say "I Survived Campout '07". *;?))
Then, a couple of weeks after that, I found out I was being laid off from my job of 8.5 years. I was immediately thrown into job hunting in all of my non-existent "spare" time, on top of not being able to find anyone to co-chair the 2008 Auction. All in all, it was an extremely stressful summer, and while I did find another job, it's a big pay cut, which has put huge financial strain on our already strapped state. Plus I no longer telecommute, which is a big adjustment. It's a wonder I'm updating this blog or sending out cards at all. *:?)
FALL
In September, J entered Third Grade, and G started Kindergarten! *:?) They are both doing great, although it's been a busy few months. J is on the swim team again, and also decided to play — drumroll, please — basketball! Yes! If you can't remember why we're so excited, I'll tell you. *:?) The fact that he can do any kind of impact sport at all is only because his Perthes is basically done!! He's still in the "healing" phase, and may be for several more years. But his doctor has cleared him for all physical activity, as long as he doesn't experience pain doing it! His hips are doing great, and it looks like there will be minimal long-term effects from this whole ordeal. Thank God!!
In other news, his math is still off the charts. When the school Learning Specialist came back from maternity leave and saw his score on a new assessment test they did at the start of the year, she emailed his teacher to make sure it wasn't a typo! (He got 43; the class average was 16, and no one else scored over 21 or 22!) I have a meeting with her and his teacher in January, to see what we can do long-term to challenge him. I had this same conversation 15 months ago with his Second Grade teacher, and here we are again. I'd like to not go through it every time he gets a new teacher!
Win Media / QuickTimeWin Media / QuickTimeG is loving school, and is already learning to read. In fact, she reads and spells so well now, we can't spell words in front of her to try to keep our conversation a secret! As noted above, she's taking gymnastics again, and we may add soccer or something similar in the spring. After the Auction, which is creeping up on February 23, 2008. I can't wait to be done with that! Then maybe I can get on with some of my own stuff.
Speaking of which, I haven't had much time to write. I'm about half done with my latest WIP (work-in-progress), a comedic romantic suspense set in the middle of the California desert. It's garnered a few requests from editors, but I haven't heard back from any of the partials (three chapters + synopsis) I've sent out, so we'll see.
T is still working for the City, at the Bureau of Development Services. He's also still working on remodeling our downstairs. It's coming along — he has a bit more sheetrocking to do, then we need to mud and paint and decide what to do about the floor. Then I can finally go pick out storage (I want to have a built-in wall of shelves, cupboards and drawers, to store books and games, display knick-knacks, etc.), and after that, we can move the pool table, computer and other furniture that's been sitting in our garage for over a year back inside and see if we actually have room for it all!! *:?)
Win Media / QuickTimeWin Media / QuickTimeWell, I think that about does it for 2007. I'm sure I'll think of other things I should have shared, after I post this. *:?) In closing, I found this prayer online, and it seems apt, for all the things we're all going through:
Christmas Prayer
Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.
Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you, shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are.
Amen.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all — God bless us, everyone! *:?)
