I completely missed wishing my dedicated readers (all 3 of you) a Merry Christmas (or Chrismahanukwanzakah for the overly politically correct).  I hope you all had a very merry one. 

 

I will, however, be on time to at least wish you all a Happy New Year!  I hope that 2007 was good for you, and offer you my sincerest wishes that 2008 is even better.

 

2007 was good for me--I got to spend a month in Rarotonga (I would highly recommend Raro for a restful holiday to anyone)--and that coincided with my first ever basketball game against a team of cross-dressers.  They looked a little funny, but they had game.  They had been undefeated until we played them.  Thank you Conrad for letting me get a run!

 

I left Auldhouse, went to work for a small IT firm.  That was a good thing at the time.  I think both Auldhouse and myself needed some time apart.  The new gig didn't work out as we had all hoped. :(  So I returned to Auldhouse. :)  And generally speaking my employers and myself both have a healthier relationship this time around.

 

Thanks to my friend Karla, who inquired so innocently "Do you know anything about SharePoint?" I was presented with the opportunity to write a chapter for an upcoming Windows SharePoint Services book (Keep an eye out for "Mastering WSS 3.0" by CA Callahan--destined to become the next "War and Peace" of tech books).  That was a real eye-opener for me, but a great experience and hopefully I'll have the opportunity to do more of that kind of thing in the future.

 

Brandon completed his first year of intermediate school, celebrated his 12th birthday, and is now preparing to go to Costa Rica for the first school term next year.  Very exciting times for my son the world traveller!  His soccer and basketball teams did pretty well.  They both started out slow, but as the team concept kicked in finished very strong.  His basketball team ended up earning 3rd place in their league, which was quite an achievement, and they managed to beat the number 2 team during the regular season, but couldn't replicate the feat in the championship semifinals.  In both sports Brandon brought his usual energy and aggressive defensive style to good use.  If you were going to play one of his teams you'd better be prepared for a few bumps and bruises!  Brandon managed to be the team leader in rebounds and blocked shots for his basketball team despite being the most vertically challenged.

 

Jessica had another good year academically, as well as doing well in her ballet exams.  Her netball team had good year and Jessica improved by leaps and bounds.  She also started playing junior tennis, where she seems to be picking it up pretty quickly.  She'll be kicking me all over the court soon!  She also started playing trumpet this year and has made steady progress.  I can tell that it is starting to "click" for her and I think she'll be rocking hard on her horn very soon.  Jess has also turned into quite a voracious reader, ploughing through book after book.  A girl after my own heart!  She finished up the year with a great birthday party--camping overnight with her friends at Tawharunui.  They all ate too many lollies, stayed up too late and generally had a great time.  One little girl was heard to say that it was "the best birthday party ever"!

 

Taylor completed her second year of school, and is doing very well.  Her reading and writing are getting better every day.  She has also started playing tennis.  She has a bit of a competitive streak in her (only a mile wide).  She hasn't had to prepare for ballet exams yet, but that starts this year.  But she was wonderful in the ballet concert this year.  One of the most graceful birds I've ever seen!  2007 also marked the start of her piano career, taking lessons from a friend's daughter. (Joanna is a wonderful player and great teacher!).  Taylor was very very good about practicing, doing it most days before school without having to be asked by anyone!  As a result she's picking it up very quickly and is developing a good ear.  And as the self-portraits below attest, she's a girl of many moods (or is it funny faces?)

 

Hannah gets cuter and cuter every day.  She's a very happy little girl who loves to sing and dance and also very sits down and very earnestly "reads" her books to herself if there's no-one else around to read to her.  I love eavesdropping on how she blends what she remembers of the story (which is an astounding amount to be honest) with what she takes from the pictures and mixes that with the whimsy of her own imagination.

 

Kara had another super busy year, finishing her post-grad diploma in education.  So now they can let her loose on the minds of unsuspecting teenagers!  She's gotten a teaching job at Long Bay College next year (For my US friends: "College" is what they call high school in New Zealand, and "university" is what they call college).  In addition to that she runs the Spanish club at the girls' primary school, tutors a couple of students privately and teaches a group lesson every week.  Oh--and she was one of the coaches for Jessica's netball team.  And just in case that wasn't enough, she is serving on the tennis club's board.  She is currently setting up a two week tennis tour of Costa Rica for the middle of April. (Contact her at mom@xtra.co.nz if you would like more information).

 

Oh, and the Finley/Morrison household had a couple of new additions this year . . . No, not that kind . . . we've added some new fish and a rabbit. Yay!

 

Well, that about wraps it up from here.  We're going to be heading out for our annual camping trip soon, so I'd just like to wish everyone a wonderful New Year!

 

Hasta