'07 Year In Review

It's that time of year again! I feel like I was just sitting here at the computer typing up some highlights from '06. Geez. Time is flyin' by.
Believe it or not, (because I'm having a hard time doing so), I was typing from sunny SoCal last year at this time. Since we habitated 3 different addresses since moving up here to Oregon in Jan., I feel like we've lived here a lot LONGER than a year. This is the ONE exception to the "time" comment.

'07 monthly highlights:

Jan: Had an awesome good-bye party with my basketball buddies; ate a very memorable dinner/w Wayne & Sandra Ramay (Chris' boss in Simi) at a restaurant called Fins. (I can still taste that macadamian crusted halibut...mmmmm.) Moving time...second consecutive year. Packers & movers came. I handled it all solo...second consecutive year. : ) The kids & I hooked up with Chris in Long Beach @ his managers conf. We flew together on the airplane to Portland!

Feb: Moved into rental in The Greens. Started sight-seeing new area. Visited "Spruce Goose" at local air museum. Discovered the OR beach was no Zuma! : ( Took advantage of attending a temple that is so close to home & close to our hearts.

Mar: Went to an awesome Spurs/Trailblazers game! Traveled to San Jose to visit Dunfords. The dads biked in Solvang, the kids played, the moms talked "shop". ; )

Apr: Watched Cassie swim like a fish in water polo. Colin had a visit to the ER...3 head stitches. Spent a lot of evenings on the sidelines of the baseball diamond cheering Craig on in baseball. Supported Chris being the coach.

May: Attended Time Out for Women/w Kathy here in Portland. Did my first bike event, Reach the Beach. Biked 75 miles, from Newberg to the ocean! (I barely survived.)

June: Bought a house! Moved ourselves. Traveled to St. George, UT for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary & Dad's 80th birthday party! Had a big family reunion at a big house.

July: Alex came to visit. Did my 2nd bike event, STP. I biked from Centralia, WA to Portland...100 miles! My Mom & Dad came to visit. Chaperoned at Cub Scout day camp.

Aug: Went to Girls Camp/w Cassie. Did my 3rd bike event, Vine Ride, 100 mile loop around Newberg. Ran the Hood To Coast relay....LOVED IT! Spent a couple of days in Newport on the beach.

Sept: Spent many evenings on the football field sidelines cheering on Craig in football. Ran a 5k for a good cause.

Oct: Cassie & I traveled to Eagle, ID for Sean's farewell & some over-due girl's time away!

Nov: Caran came to visit. We shopped for 3 days straight! Our family flew to AZ for a week of sunshine & friend-therapy @ the Dunford's. I didn't want to leave. The dad's biked in Tucson & surrounding areas. The kids played. The moms tried to solve life issues & spent even more time talking "shop" ; ) Had Thanksgiving w/ Mom & Dad in St. George. Quick stops in Idaho. Kristin flew out to Portland to visit!

Dec: Enjoyed Cassie's band concert, Christmas parties, birthday parties, shopping parties & most of all, the sleeping in parties that are currently going on throughout this holiday break!

Other highlights:

-Loved blogging. I posted about 125 times this year. The posts that received the most comments were Must Love June (June 3rd) & A Good Boy (Sep. 30th) each with 7 comments.

-Cassie & I indexed over 5,500 names through Family Search!

-I biked thousands of miles. I'll keep a more acurate record in '08.

-Completed 75 runs = 240 miles = 24,000+ calories!

-Spent way too much money eating out at Chipotle, Q-doba Grill & Bon Teriyaki.

-Travled through CA, WA, OR, ID, UT & AZ.

My favorite tv shows of '07:
-Y&R
-House
-Lost
-The Office
-The Unit
-Survivor China
-The Bachelor
-FNL
-Battlestar Galactica
-24
-er

Movies:
-Music & Lyrics
-Amazing Grace
-Waitress
-Harry Potter Order of Phoenix
-No Reservations
-Becoming Jane
-Bourne Ultimatum
-Dan in Real Life
-Bella
-August Rush
-Atonement

My top/most downloaded artists of '07:
-Keane
-Colbie Caillat
-Mindy Smith
-Corinne Bailey Rae
-KT Tunstall
-Maroon 5
-Kanye West
-Feist
-Gnarls Barkley
-Massive Attack
-Ivy

I don't know how to sum up this past year in just a few words. It was a year filled with change, physical challenge/adventure, celebration & growth. I saw the most change occur within Cassie. She has become a beautiful young woman full of goodness. Athletically, our whole family rose to every challenge on every field/pool/road we stepped/rolled on this year. We were definitely a bunch of busy bodies! There was nothing more special than the celebrations after our individual victories on & off the field. I'm so grateful for every "high-five" & hug given/received. It was wonderful to watch my parents reach a milestone in their lives & to be there to celebrate it with the whole family. With the move & addition of another year in our children's lives our house size, clothes size, shoe size, grocery bill size, etc. expanded. Hopefully Chris' salary will keep up! I am happy that I am not moving this year. I will continue to grow & bloom our family memories here in Newberg for a while...with some frequent visits to AZ : )....hey, the "garden" needs sun!