It's 2010...Can you believe it?

As we approach the middle of January it is still hard to believe that it's the year 2010 and I've made it another year! The kids are getting older and we're definitely getting older that's a given. 2009 has been filled with many wonderful times and events that we're so grateful for and not soon forget.

I can't help but realize that we are also here for such a short time; really just a glimpse. I love my family and still can't believe how blessed I have been. What are your resolutions as we approach a new decade? It is still in question how we would address this decade...strange, never thought we'd get here!

In a couple of months we will join Steve and Kristal in Puerto Vallarta for a few days in the sun. Kurt and Steve will actually be there a week before Kristal and I for the boys portion of the trip. The Bays own a timeshare and traded them for two units in PV and decided it would be fun if the girls joined them for the last portion of it. It was a great surprise and I'm excited to go.

Steve's mom Judy has offered to watch our boys while we're away - couldn't ask for more generosity than that! She is such a sweet lady and the boys will be in good hands I know!

Jared is getting ready to turn 12 next month! I still can't believe it. He's made a good friend this year in his class. His name is Colton with a little brother Garrett who is 9. Colton and Jared have a shared interest in airsoft guns and his family also enjoys camping and hunting. They seem like a really nice couple. It's hard enough finding kids that comes from a good family with manners and are courteous let alone a family of boys! So it's been a win and win situation.

Jared is still active in his school band program playing the trumpet and looks forward to practice every Tuesday and Friday. Starting next Wednesday he will be taking a Jazz appreciation class; which will be exciting to introduce him to the world of jazz through instruments.

Mrs. O'Connor, his band teacher has been very motivational for him and seem to appreciate his presence in class; which is more than I can say for his room teacher. I think certain people just shouldn't teach if you like playing favorites...

Evan has enjoyed being in Mrs. Pierces kindergarten class even though we worried he would be bored academically. However he has really embraced being around his friends in class and out of class and the activities given. We invited a few of his friends to his birthday party back in October and really enjoyed having them there. We found he could also use a little brushing up on some handwriting, math skills and reading comprehension; so kindergarten is not a total waste of
time as I thought it might have been.

We will however be taking a welcome break from Northeast for a while and hope by the time Evan goes there it will be better and we'll have a new outlook on it.

As I close this entry I ask what will you do differently this year? There are the obvious personal physical and health goals but as a person of humanity I will be a more pleasant person, not talk about people so much especially in mixed company and try harder to go with the flow...!


Lastly, my main goal is to talk to and find people that are REAL. No hidden agendas, no lying but to speak with tact, how one really sees things and/or feels. I'm at a point right now where it somehow seems important to live this way.

Happy New Year !

Let's Check Out the Latest

The Denver Auto Show was in town again and surprisingly a lot of people were there despite the economy. We had been talking about getting a new car since my Sienna is all paid off and I'm so over a minivan!! As you all recall, I purchased the van mainly for Chewy because it was the only vehicle with a backseat window that actually goes down and I wanted a walkway from back to front so Chewy can get to me. Unfortunately he died shortly after that purchase and here I am with a minivan to transport what? the kids! Just kidding!!

Kurt had secretly checked out a new four door sedan VW came out with called the "CC" - it was a more luxurious version of a Passat. However, the body was sleeker and more like a coupe, he drove it and really liked it. The price was hard to beat too - fully loaded at around $42,000.00. Then he thought he would check out the new Audi Q5, a smaller version of the Q7 which was my initial choice a couple of years ago. Like the VW, Audi has all the bells, whistles and gadgets that has become their trademarks and also competitively priced. As I found out later, he almost came home with one of these but wasn't sure which color or if I would even like it without ever driving it. Which I'm glad he didn't...!!!

So we checked them all out at the auto show and in addition, looked into the BMWs, Infinitis and revisted the VW Touareg. It was great to be able to see all the cars in one place. This is the best time to be buying a car because of the dealers willingness to "deal" but it's also the worst time because of the unstable economy!! It's a no win situation. Well, I suppose I could just rack up all my credit cards, overbuy a home that I couldn't afford and then use Obama's plan and have everyone else bail me out! There's a solid plan to save the economy and our country!

We saw a lot of concept cars and of course the "dream cars" - like Lambourghini's, Astin Martins. Jared loved them and Evan loved the Monster Trucks!

A Night for Proud Parents

We were recently entertained by the 5th Grade Band & Orchestra - their first concert ever! Let me just say how proud we are of Jared and all the kids in his Band class. He was so excited all week long in preparation for this night. He only started learning the trumpet about 5 months ago (my next Chris Botti!) I was thoroughly impressed at how much he had learned and how well he played!! We were beside ourselves at the concert as you will see and hear in these videos. There were no solos performed by him but as a whole, the group did very well.

The required attire was black pants, white shirt and tie. Jared got dressed the night before to make sure everything was in order and when he came out I could hardly believe my eyes! It was as if he just grew up overnight; no longer my little baby...that's when I realized how old I'm actually getting! Just kidding! He looked so good I had to have him do some poses and I thought it would be fun to have him pose as "Bond, James Bond"(Another one of my favorites; those who know me!) with his airsoft gun. By the way, I tied his tie!! Yes, Me!!! I was so shocked that I remembered how! Kurt taught me years and years ago and by trial and error I figured it out again! I was quite proud of that!

Jared unfortunately was seated in the back row - where all the trumpet players were so we couldn't get his face in the videos but we did get some pictures before and after the concert. This is one of their favorite songs played called Hard Rock Blues!

This is one of those programs that will be first in line to be cut as we face millions of dollars in budget cuts this year and subsequent years. I can personally think of a few other subjects that our kids can do without and music has been proven to be an asset in a child's growth and conducive to their learning! Why are the arts always seen as "unnecessary" in a school curriculum?