Farewell 2008: You've been quite a year

2008, you've been fun, sad, crazy, and real.  You've seen us start new things and say goodbye to dear people.  We've grown older, wiser, more talented, and sometimes sillier.  I'm grateful for all that you've given me.   So goodbye now, you've been quite a year.

January

Jungle Boy won the award for "Most Unusual" Pinewood Derby car.  It had a sail.  He actually won some races with it.

 

February

I joked with Jungle Boy that if he "kept spinning around the house like that, I'd enroll him in ballet."  He called my bluff and signed up.  He never looked back.  He has found the one thing he adores more than any other in life.  

We took a vacation to Yosemite to play in the snow.  Drama Girl was unimpressed when I made her look out the cabin window at the bobcat chasing squirrels.

March

Watched Wasabi Girl play about 100 games of softball.  Watched her run to the snack shack after every single game and get a gatorade and skittles.  Snack of champions.  Celebrated as the twins turned 10.

April

Started blogging.  Started wondering why I didn't think of it sooner.

May

Sister-in-law's fabulous, unique, beautiful wedding.  A mix of traditions, Hollywood, family, friends, and utter coolness.

June

My father-in-law passed away suddenly.  We were all comforted by the fact that he had been able to travel to see his daughter married, but we miss him very much.  Jungle Boy had his first ballet recital, where he performed in 4 dances.

July

Drama Girl got cast in a local production of "Get Smart."   Tillamook Cheese started following me on twitter.  I realized this whole blogging thing can get really weird.

August

Drama girl turned 12, and suddenly knew everything.  Trip to Disneyland.  Twins started middle school, and for the first time in many years I had all three kids at the same school, and I could drop them off and pick them up at the same time.

September

The twins started practicing their new instruments for band class - a trumpet and a saxophone.  The cats and I hid under the bed.  Jungle Boy and Drama Girl began Nutcracker rehearsals.  Wasabi Girl got picked for the local gymnastics team and started her workouts with them.

October

The holiday whirlwind began.  Lots of the usual pumpkin carving and candy eating.  

November

Election excitement.  The kids took an interest in the whole thing and we tried to explain it as best we could.  We stayed up late on election night to see the results roll in.

December

Pesky elf returned for a visit during the holiday season.  Drama Girl and Jungle Boy were fabulous in the Nutcracker.  Jungle Boy learned how to play blackjack while hanging out in the boy's dressing room.  We had a hard time tearing Jungle Boy away from his fans as he chased them down to give them autographs after the show.  Santa was very generous with everybody.

So now I'm ready to start 2009, with a new blog look and a long list of goals and ideas.  Thank you my friends, for reading along on our family adventures.  Blogging has certainly been a very fun part of 2008.

Happy New Year!