Christmas 2007

ThomasKids.com Christmas 2007 Letter

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2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas 2007!

Another year has flown by in the blink of an eye! We stay so insanely busy, it’s no wonder. When I review our year for these letters, I am always amazed at everything we’ve done (and lived to tell about!)

Danny is still with TelePacific and working from home a lot of the time. He really enjoys his sales job – and is very good at it! He enjoyed several “perks” this year due to good performance – Lakers, Clippers and Kings games, a Las Vegas weekend, and a day of jet-skiing. He is also still involved with the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, St. Lawrence’s Parish Council, Taste of the Bay Operations Committee, and the Parishioners Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. Believe it or not, he still has time for the family. He took all the kids skiing again last winter and on lots of weekend bike rides – mostly to the beach to go boogie boarding or scooters on the strand.

Shannon started Junior High in September. (We’re not old enough to have a 12 year old!) She has continued with her Irish Dancing and danced with an 8-hand team in November in the Western Regional finals and her team placed 7th out of 33 teams! She is still playing AYSO soccer, played lacrosse for the first time last spring (a sport I had NEVER seen), and gets to play JV basketball for St. Lawrence this year. That should be VERY fun! She took sailing lessons again over the summer. She continues to altar serve at mass on Sundays. She also entered “young adulthood”, getting her ears pieced and acquiring a cell phone! Yikes!

Steven has had a year of maturing in 2007 and is now in the third grade. He played soccer again this fall and his team made it to the Regional Playoffs again this January! His skills have really improved – it is fun to watch. He also played flag football for the first time and really seemed to take to it. Even scored a few touchdowns! He’s fast and agile – a trait he gets from his Dad. He played basketball again and tried volleyball in the spring – and enjoyed both. He tried sailing for the first time, and seemed to enjoy it, but after the last class he said, “Mom, that just took too much of my time!” He still is my little homebody. Loves to have “downtime” to skateboard and play his DS. He received his First Holy Communion in April. It was a very special day. And lastly, we now have a frog named Fireball who lives in Steven’s room. UGH! He eats live crickets!

Colleen is 7 now and in first grade. She continues to be our musical child and stayed with her piano lessons most of the year. She also had her singing debut in November at the school’s variety show. She sang beautifully! Besides music, Colleen played softball for the first time in the Spring and soccer again in the Fall. She seems to enjoy the sports. She is also continuing with Indian Princesses’ with her Dad. But her favorite thing to do is play, play, play. Barbies, Polly Pockets, Littlest Pet Shop, dolls, etc. Her room is always a mess! But she sure enjoys her toys.

My big news is I went back to work in February. Just a part-time gig, but it helps out with the kids’ tuition bill! It has been hectic trying to keep up with everything and work, but I’ve managed to learn to say “no” to some things I don’t have time for. I am in my last year on the school’s Parent Board, serving as Volunteer Coordinator for the school, still singing in the Church choir, and have my book group (which I LOVE!) I managed to make “The Police” concert with some girlfriends, went to Vegas with my sister Brenda to see “The Osmonds” 50th anniversary concert (SO MUCH FUN!), and saw “Genesis” at the Hollywood Bowl with Danny (it rained). I also squeezed in a trip to Omaha in February for the CFM National Board Meeting. (brrrrrr!) Again this year, I did not sail as much as I would have liked, but did the His ‘N Hers series with my Dad again.

As a family, we had a few adventures this year. The kids and I (Danny had to work) drove up North to San Jose to visit friends the week after Christmas and stopped in Paso Robles on the way back down to see some friends there, too. It was a very fun trip and my kids are finally at the ages that I can manage a trip like that alone. We hosted the CFM National Board here in SoCal this summer, and we had a very fruitful meeting. We made our annual trek to Palm Springs in August – and it was ungodly HOT. We are getting ready (FINALLY) to start our remodel in 2008, so say a prayer that by this time next year we have another toilet to sit on!

Our only sad news from 2007 is that we had to put one of our dogs, our little Shadow, to sleep in May. She had a long and happy 15-year life. Shasta seems a little lonely, but Colleen often includes her in her tea parties, so she gets entertained.

My family is doing well. My Dad is preparing (mentally) for a knee replacement in January, so please keep him in your prayers. Danny’s family is also well. Laura and Eddie added baby #3, Zev, to their family in 2007. And Danny’s Dad had a triple bypass a few weeks ago and is doing GREAT!

That is all -ha ha ha!

Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas holiday and 2008 is your best year yet!

Love, Danny, Noreen, Shannon, Steven, Colleen, Shasta & Fireball