Year End Review

2007 has been an exciting year for the Walls family. I think I will title it "2007: The Year of Change". I guess every year is filled with change especially when you have young children, but this year brought about many changes and much adjustment.

2007 started with Daniel turning 5 and a fun filled day at Legoland with Tutu, Papa and Nana. Also in January Sammy graduated from his crib to a big boy bed. Sammy took a big step when he joined Daniel in Teacher Laurie's preschool class at the beginning of February. The spring was filled with fun trips to Disneyland, the East Coast to see lots of relatives, a four day backpacking trip in the San Jacinto Mountains for me and a family retreat with our church in our local mountains. In June Daniel graduated from preschool. A week later the boys and I were in Oregon visiting my sister and her family. We moved Daniel into Sammy's room and reclaimed the studio/computer room. We spent the summer swimming at the pool, Daniel in summer camps at City Tree and both boys attending VBS at church (I got to have a full week with no boys for the mornings, Yippee!). We ended our summer with an amazing trip to Hawaii where we stayed at a beach house on Oahu. The boys got to meet their great grandparents and a plethora of other Hawaiian relatives. At the end of August I celebrated my 33rd birthday (am I really that old?) and Dan and I celebrated 10 years of marriage (has it really been that long?) In September Daniel started full time Kindergarten and Sammy started preschool at City Tree. Since I found myself with so much free time on my hands (yeah right!) I started working a little bit for my old company. Dan and my Dad trained for a bike tour from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada that they both completed in 3 hours and 5 minutes, not too bad. October saw tragedy in San Diego as fires raged throughout the county, but was also a time of celebration as Sammy turned 4 years old. We got to spend Thanksgiving with my sister and her girls. Daniel lost his first tooth. Just a few days ago the boys took their first trip to L.A. with my parents all by themselves. Dan and I got to spend three days in the house all alone (simply wonderful).

We will ring in the New Year with root beer floats and mint chip shakes, yum. We sure did fill the year with fun memories and can't wait to see what this next year holds in store for the Walls family. Stay safe and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

The stockings have been opened and the boys are dancing around anxiously in front of the Christmas tree. Santa has indeed come! Merry Chirstmas everyone. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Baby it's Cold Outside...

It was in the thirties when I woke up this morning and let me tell you it was C-O-L-D! It could have snowed if there was rain...well probably not, but it was cold. I mean this is San Diego, the finest city, the city of sand and sun and temperatures in the thirties just will not do. The rain and chilly weather are making it feel like Christmas is looming near and I guess it is just around the corner. Our house is looking quite festive. We have decked the halls and trimmed the tree. The stockings are hung by the chimney and the lights outside are aglow. Yes, there is definitely Christmas in the air although we are more coughy, sniffly and hard of hearing than merry and bright.

This year we splurged and bought a noble fire instead of the cheaper douglas fir for our Christmas tree and boy am I glad. The extra ten bucks is worth all the time saved vacuuming up dropped needles. I know I say this every year, BUT... I think this is the best Christmas tree yet. The boys loved decorating the house and tree, although they were a little anxious to get everything out and start in on the fun before the adults were quite ready.

So it is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas, although I wouldn't mind if it felt a little less like Christmas, maybe by 20 or 25 degrees. Jack frost has been nipping at my nose too often these mornings.

One Down...

Daniel was so excited this morning as he told me the news that the tooth fairy had come during the night, took his tooth and left a dollar in its place. Last night I whipped up a little tooth fairy pillow to house the lost tooth. I did not want to risk Daniel or Sammy waking up as the tooth fairy searched around desperately for that little tooth.

It turns out that Daniel was not the only one to lose his first tooth yesterday. Two of his classmates also lost their first tooth, all within an hour of each other. Daniel's teacher told me that Daniel actually pulled his out during library time and boy was he excited. Sammy seemed just as thrilled and ran around telling all his friends at school. Sammy was going to try and stay up so he could catch a glimpse of the tooth fairy, but was fast asleep when she made her appearance.

I was a little nervous as I snuck into their room last night to make the exchange. Sammy is such a light sleeper. But I got in and got out, no problem. Daniel's other bottom front tooth is loose so it will probably not be too long till the tooth fairy makes a return visit. One down, many more to go.

A Late Night Visitor

We had a visitor tonight. Inflation has reared its ugly head once again, because when this visitor used to come to my house all I got was a 'Bright Shiny Penny!' (Make sure you use fake enthusiasm when you say 'Bright Shiny Penny!'). Daniel made out with a whole dollar! Kids today, they just don't know how good they have it!

As you can imagine, Suzy is beside herself with Mommy level five excitment. Daniel is pretty excited too. We caught him gazing into the bathroom mirror tonight. This is his quote,

"I look old, maybe... 13!"

The teenage years have begun. Wish us luck.

Advent Breakfast

The Christmas season has officially begun! December 1st already, and I can hardly believe it. Today definitely had a wintery, Christmasy feeling to it. A storm blew in yesterday bringing us much needed rain and it is cold and blustery outside. Every year our church starts off the advent season with an advent breakfast for the kids. Food, singing, crafts and fellowship was enjoyed by all.

December is probably my favorite time of year (although I could do without the endless coughing, sneezing and runny noses). I love all the sounds, sights and smells of the Christmas season. I love how people open their hearts at this time and are just so giving. I love the Christmas story and celebrating the birth of Christ. It really is all so awesome!