2008 In Review

I've been on Christmas Break for the last two weeks and have had the opportunity to reflect on the past year. It definitely had its rough times and I can safely say that I am ready to leave that craziness behind me and move on (I think everyone has had a few of those moments). BUT...I also recognize that I have much to be grateful for and that I am very fortunate to have had so many awesome experiences throughout the year. Here are some pictures to chronicle some of the cool things that I got to do this year. I had lots of fun experiences this year that were not captured on film; these are just some of the highlights.

Nay and I went to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. It was way awesome! We were the only young ones there! HAHA!

In February I went to Disneyland with my brother's family and we got to go to the top of the Mark Twain Riverboat and the boys got to steer it, blow the whistle, and ring the bell!

In April, Nay and I took a road trip to Utah so that I could be there for Todd's and Mary's wedding. We got to hang around the city for the weekend.

In May we celebrated Kim's 24th birthday by going to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Long Beach and then we went on a video scavenger hunt at The Pike. Roscoe's is amazing! You should seriously go there!

At the end of June, my siblings and I decided it would be fun to do the ghost tours at the Queen Mary. It was awesome and spoooky! Yikes! My parents were in New York at the time, so when they got back they decided they wanted to go too. So, I went with them at the beginning of July. Since we were in Long Beach I, of course, insisted that we go to Roscoe's (on both visits to the Queen Mary). My whole family was instantly converted to the goodness that is Roscoe's!

In July we got to see the Terra Cotta Warriors at The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. We got to see the largest collection of warriors to ever leave China!

I got my first teaching job and started school on July 7th! I teach 6th grade! In August I got my first "big kid" paycheck and bought my very first new car! Hooray for having air conditioner for the first time in 6 years!

In October I went off-track with work (I had a month long break) and I got a room in the Alpine Lodge, which is a cute little motel next to Disneyland, that has fake snow on the roof and looks like a log cabin. I relaxed there, went on a couple of adventures, and spent time at Disneyland. It was my first real vacation on my own. I stayed for three days and two nights. I might make it a tradition!

On October 17th we celebrated Daely's birthday by going to Denney's in Ahaheim for breakfast and then spending the day at Disneyland. It ended up being a lot of fun! During the day we met lots of nice Disneyland crew members and we took pictures with some of them. The guy in the picture above is "Indy-Cameron". He decided to go on the ride with us!

My parents went to Europe for Thanksgiving and so Nancy and I went on an adventure with our friend, Jacob, and his two little boys. We ate at The Wheel Inn, which is the restaurant in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. "Tell 'em Large Marge sent you!" hehe! We got to see the huge dinosaurs behind it! It was a great Thanksgiving adventure!

On December 12th, we went to Disneyland, as a family, to celebrate Dad's birthday (and the other December birthdays too!) We got to see the fireworks show, which is followed by snow. The lights, the music, the atmosphere...truly magical!

On December 13th I graduated with my Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis is Curriculum and Instruction. More than anything, I was relieved! I had been so burned out with school that I almost didn't make it. Graduation day was surreal and it made all of the hard work worth it! After the ceremony I enjoyed time with my family.

Overall, 2008 was busy, productive, and adventurous! 2009 will be even better!