Happy New Year 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

We’re sure ready for a great 2008 and here’s some highlights from 2007…

The Family Man…Music Man…ZAP Man…Xebra Man a.k.a. Alex ~ It’s been another very busy year for the man in our lives. Alex is quite the talented juggler, fitting in his career, music with the guys, family time, co-ed soccer, 10 days of volunteer work for the For Pete’s Sake memorial project, traveling several weekends to Pacific Valley to assist in the replacement the deck surrounding the Campbell house and of course being the famous Xebra car driver of Santa Rosa. Most recently he has become the one to take Colin to school each morning while Naomi attends Nursing Assistant school. Colin has really enjoyed this new routine as well. Colin and I are thankful for all of his hard work and dedication to the family.

It’s been quite a year for the little man in our lives. Colin entered his second year of preschool at College Oak Montessori. He’s in the morning preschool program for 3 to 6 year olds and loves every minute. He’s really amazed us because he’s already beginning to read simple words and of course can count to 20 like a pro. Colin has also enjoyed his many play dates with friends and family outside of school as well as spending time with his Grandparents and Great-Grandparents. They’ve been superb kid-sitters for us. We couldn’t maintain our sanity without them

Naomi has begun her studies at SRJC completing pre-requisites for the Registered Nursing program as well as she has enrolled in the Certified Nursing Assistant program which she will graduate from in January 2008. When she’s not in school, Naomi remains at home with Colin, attending to his ever-changing needs as well performing her function as a Domestic Goddess of the Campbell household. Also, for the first time in her life, Naomi attempted and succeeded in canning food. She made 12 pints of Santa Rosa wild blackberry jam. She couldn’t have done it without the expert blackberry picking performed by Alex and Colin (though Colin ate most of what he picked).

Major Travels: In January Naomi went on a ski trip to Soda Springs with cousin Kitty. Fun times snowshoeing and sliding down the mega snow hill. Also in January Naomi and Colin took an overnight trip with friends Carie and her daughter Grace to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In March we took cousin Rowan with us to Tahoe where surprisingly it was not very snowy and we spent a lot of time on the warm shores of Lake Tahoe. We made several trips to Lassen to visit Papa Jack to throw rocks in his lake and visit the fish hatchery. We ventured on a few additional vacations to the Monterey/Big Sur area to visit the aquarium and the Campbell family house in Pacific Valley. June brought our annual trip to Feather River, which was fabulous, but it wasn’t the same without Emily, Derek, Adam & Leah. Our friends Holly, Matt and their kids joined us for their first visit to Graeagle. I think they’re hooked! In August we drove to Whispering Woods Oregon (near Mt.Hood) for a week with the Campbell clan. Along the way we stopped to see and stay with Naomi’s sisters Jill and Lisa and nephew Joshua.

In other family news, on October 5th, our beloved Grammy entered into eternal rest. Our Christmas this year was certainly not the same without her loving cheerful face to grace the table. I was fortunate enough to spend 9 years of my childhood with her, I will miss her terribly and I will not forget the life lessons she taught me all those wonderful years. Though, as Grammy said in her last letter to me, we must make way for the new babies and make way we did. In April we welcomed a new cousin, Rory Charlotte Kearns (“Roy” as Grammy would call her). Congratulations to my cousin Abbie and her husband Johnny on a baby well made. We’re also looking forward to another little cousin due to arrive in February. Alex’s sister Emily & her husband Derek will welcome their third child (a boy) and we couldn’t be happier for them.

All our best for a happy and healthy 2008!