If you received our Christmas card and are logging on to the blog to "see what we've been up to", be sure to also bookmark this website and check back just after the holidays so that I will have a chance to put up some more photos of the whole family during the holidays including the boys, Willie & James, who don't usually get much airtime on the blog - mainly because they are so busy, I don't know what they are up to half the time, and on top of it all, they tend to be a little camera shy!In the meantime, I thought it would be nice to do a quick update on all of us (not just Kelly!) for those family and friends who we don't see or talk to often enough and who have taken the time to check out our blog. I'm sure I will be able to sneak in some great photos of the boys while they are busy opening presents next week!
First off, Kelly had her annual "school" photos taken at daycare in November, one of which you have already seen that we chose for our Christmas card above. But here are the other two that we thought also turned out really fantastic. It was hard to choose which one to put on the card!
So, to find out more about what Kelly has been up to these days...well, like the header says, the blog is mainly about her, so just keep on readin' all the past blog entries! In lieu of keeping up her "baby book", mommy has committed herself to this blog - It's turned out to be such a great way to keep everyone updated as well as to create a wonderful keepsake for her (I plan to someday turn this into a photobook (or maybe a few photobooks) complete with all the written entries, stories and reader comments. It has also given me a personal (although somewhat public...) "journaling" experience where I can share some of my thoughts and ponderances on motherhood and raising a child. It has helped me in many ways to have this outlet, so thanks to all who read & enjoy it :-)
So, we'll start with James, who turned 16 in August and is half way through his sophmore year at San Dieguito Academy, working hard and earning good grades. He plays basketball with friends and Gary down at our local park a lot and is thinking about joining the basketball team at school this spring. He is also still into skateboarding, surfing and bodyboarding (although I think the water is getting mighty cold for that now for a few months even with a wetsuit!). We have been taking him driving in the car to practice for his license, but most things of interest are within walking or skating distance, so he doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry (which is fine with us!). He is also talking about getting a part-time job soon, which dad has been encouraging, as long as his grades don't suffer! Being a typical teenage, he spends a lot of his time in his room, on the computer or phone. But we can occasionally drag him out to hang out with us and he enjoys spending time and playing with Kelly often. Kelly loves her older brothers!
Willie will be turning 21 in February '09 - wow! Since graduating from San Dieguito Academy in '06, he has completed some college classes at the local junior college, worked at different odd jobs, and traveled, the latter of which I think he finds most enjoyable to do with his time these days. So far he has ventured mostly to parts of northern California visiting friends at other colleges and such, but he dreams of traveling much farther soon, maybe to Europe. He was living with some friends in an apartment locally, but just a few weeks ago moved back into the house. He will likely be here through the holidays and is looking to move into a new place in January or possibly take off on a new adventure somewhere...we'll see! Kelly has really enjoyed having him home. Her trains and train table had taken up residence in his room while he was gone, and we have nowhere to move it now that he is back, so he gets lots of visits from her and requests to play trains together, to which he obliges happily!
Gary is still owner, CEO, and sole employee of his now 20+ year old successful business, Telephone's Etc., wiring and installing phone systems in homes and small offices. Business has remained quite steady most of this year despite complaints from other contractors in the area that their business has slowed dramatically due to the economy woes. He has talked about selling the business and retiring "soon", but he may opt to just slow it down some or be more picky about what jobs he takes on or refers out in order to cut back some and start to take it easy. Outside of work, he is pretty busy with the kids. He drives James to school every morning and tries to make sure he is home at a decent hour doing homework. He also takes every Thursday off to be with Kelly all day (she is still only in daycare 3 days/week - I take off Wednesdays with her). On weekends, we mostly just relax and enjoy down-time together around the house, playing with Kelly, watching football (or whatever sport of the season!), and once a week or so he still gets down to the Leucadian to have a beer and play some pool with local friends.
I have also been really fortunate to remain quite busy & productive in real estate this year, despite the massive downturn in the economy and changes in our industry. I was in the top 10 in gross closed sales in our office every single month this year, and was in the top 3 for three straight months over the summer! I am definitely having my best year since getting my license 5 years ago. I think most Realtors this year at one time or another have thought about getting out of the business, which I don't deny either despite my success. It is a much, much more difficult job than it was 5 years ago. However, I am committed to continuing to build on my success, as I do love it and feel like I am making a positive contribution. And although I have at times worked more than full-time hours, it still has provided me much flexibility and control over my schedule so that I can be more involved with and there for Kelly and our family. I take every Wednesday off to be with her and do my best to keep that day sacred, with little to no work calls! Other than that, I play with Kelly and visit friends and family and that is about it...which has been enough for me!
Well, we hope to hear from and/or see you all sometime this coming year. Remember to bookmark the blog site, check back often and feel free to send notes or comments anytime. For those far away, we always have a room for you should you decide to come to sunny SoCal for a visit!
We wish you all a wonderful holiday filled with laughter, joy, love, peace and togetherness...from our house to yours!
Love, Gary, Kim, Willie, James, and Kelly
For all you non-ballet people, this would be "first position"! When I or her instructor would go to straighten out her knees, her feet would pop apart! Still working on that balance.
In class doing some warm ups with Miss Sylvia.
Actually, there is another 8-week session that starts in January with the same instructor and most of the little girls from her current class are going on to that one too, so I think we'll be signing up for another round and see where it goes from there :-)
We spent Thanksgiving day at Tim, Susan & Shawn's house. James and Shawn battled at video games while Kelly cheered them on! 
I see London, I see France! Yes, that's Kelly wearing UNDERPANTS! We got the potty thing down pretty good now. Now we just need to work on that girl etiquette stuff. But what the heck, those video rocking chairs are great fun!
Here is me & Susan in our usual "take our own picture" pose. Got a million of these as the boys seem to always be too busy eating or watching football to take one for us! Yes, we are in the kitchen where we spend much of T'giving cooking, laughing and nippin at the wine bottle :-) 
Stuffed and heading home to relax, here is our clan minus Willie who spent Thanksgiving with a bunch of his friends who do not have family in town. (he will hopefully be with us for Xmas though!).
The day after Thanksgiving, Matt & Lynn had their celebration with Lynn's family and Grand-dad Don, so we stopped by there for a while. Kelly had a blast running around and playing with her cousins Lucas & Conner.