Top 10 Estell Events of 2008
10. With the help of our friend Perry and a contractor, we finally finished the basement. We still need to do something about the floor and ceiling, but Liam can now play down there.
9. The week before Christmas 2007, we had to ahve Honeycat put to sleep. She was experiencing a multitude of problems, heraleded by stones in her bladder, though we don't know the ultimate cause. She was in pain, had stopped eating, and the vet and I both felt it was time. She is greatly missed.
8. We continue to hold our weekly potluck dinners with some of our friends. We switched nights so that I could take a yoga class. This has led me to consider pursuing yoga instructor credentials.
7. In April, Liam had a pirate-themed birthday party. The kids made a pirate hat and a telescop, there was a treasure hunt, and the cake was a big treasure map. Later that month we attended Privateer Day in Baltimore!
6. In early June, Tim and I took our first trip alone since Liam was born. We dropped Liam off with my sister Karen, then proceeded to Salem, MA. We parked behind the B&B, and didn't drive again 'til it was time to pick up Liam! We walked all around Salem on Saturday, and then on Sunday took the train to Boston, and walked all around Boston. It was a nice get-away.
5. In June, I had 10 inches of hair cut off, which I donated to Children With Hairloss. Later that month I flew to CA to meet up with friends I had made in a Harry Potter on-line discussion forum. In the years since Half-blood Prince was published, we had become very close, and staged a reunion of sorts.
4. In August we had to have a tree cut down in our backyard. Tim used the 5 foot stump that they left at our request to build a pirate ship tree house. They're already talking about building a police station clubhouse next spring!
3. Liam started preschool in January 2008 at a school practically in our neighborhood, Clarien Nursery. In the 3 year old program, he attended 2 afternoons a week, and this year he attends 3 afternoons, plus a 4th "enrichment" afternoon. He also continues in the program at church on Sundays.
2. We took several family trips. While I was in CA, Tim took Liam to Strasburg, PA twice! We all went back in October, and met my parents, brother, and Karen & family. One Thursday afternoon, we spontaneously decided to visti Tom & Gale in WV since Tim had Friday off. Before Tim got home, I had everything packed and ready to go! In November, we travelled to Montgomery, AL to spend Thanksgiving with my Aunt Alice and my cousins Mike and Reagan; my parents, Tom & Gale, were also there.
1. We are expecting a baby in May 2009! After an early miscarriage in July, I was surprised to experience similar pregnancy symptoms in early September. In fact, I waited almost a week before taking a test, but by that point it merely confirmed what I already knew! So far the pregnancy is going well, and we hope to know the baby's sex soon!
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