My kids' wish list...

For this Christmas; Andrea wanted a laptop, and Angela wanted a DSi. Arlene and myself thought they have been good this year so Santa is going to surprise them Christmas morning. Merry Christmas to all!

Into the 2009 stretch...

It's 4 days before Christmas 2009 and a little over a week before 2010. 2009 is a good year. Brother got his Canadian immigration documents completed and approved. Andrea has improved a lot on her basketball basic skills not to mention her excellence in school, Angela is growing to be a lovable kid, and Arlene has been very supportive...oops...almost forgot...Sam has been a very good dog!

But with all these positives, there's no way that negatives won't be on the board...one negative is probably I...we, didn't meet our savings goal for this year. We have to double our efforts to work on it for 2010.

Baby I'm Amazed By You...

My eldest joined the school play this year...Willy Wonka Jr...and she landed the role of Mr. Butler (Charlie's dad). While on stage and singing, I was on the edge of my seat...a "bit" nervous is an understatement of what I felt but my baby nailed her piece!

I am proud of you, of what you have accomplished so far, know that...I, your daddy, am always here for you, for support, for strength, for guidance, for a shoulder to cry on...in times of your needs...I love you so much Andrea...more than you will ever know...

Summer 2009...

Kids just started their summer vacation with a bang! Let's start with Angela...Vanderbilt swim class every afternoon, soccer in the mornings, on top of playing outside with the neighbors' kids. Andrea had her braces off, now just having to wear retainers for the next couple of months, swimming here at home, inviting friends for sleepovers, play basketball with me, and trying to do as much chores at home as she can.

Both are still having weekly piano classes. One piece Andrea played on their recent recital was Open Arms by Journey that nostalgically impressed audience at the recital.

Even Sam will have a 2-month training class with the Nashville Dog Training Club this summer. I also plan to enroll him in agility and tracking classes.

Arlene and I will continue to improve our backyard, lay pavers in an area to set some patio furnitures, maybe a fire pit, to spend some crisp cool afternoons in the fall...that's the plan, we'll see...

That's it for now...happy trails!

New Year...

Well...got pre-occupied with a lot of things and just wanted to record my first 2009 post, so here it is...Happy 2009! Hopefully this won't be the only post I make this year...