2007—Year in Review

Here's a photo tour of some of our family's 2007 highlights:

My new job at the bookstore. Wow, was my hair long.

Gary being recognized by his employer at a special dinner at Millennium Park. Gary didn't know about the recognition in advance or that I was invited to the dinner meeting to witness it.

Nikolas taking T-Ball lessons. He really enjoyed learning about the sport and he loved his coach. He will be joining the league this Spring.

Celebrating Gary’s 40th birthday with friends, family and Cheese Pizza. What a wild and crazy night!

Nikolas meets his idol at Kiddieland.

Gary and Nikolas first visit to the renaissance fair. Nikolas loved the jousting and got to ride a pony and a camel.

New Christmas CDs added to my collection this year:

Here are the CDs I have added to my collections thanks to gifts from family this year:

Monster Ballads Xmas


Holiday Classics Volume 5
My sister bought this for me. Her employer, Ace Hardware, put out this charity CD with proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network.


Disney Channel Holiday

…And Christmas For All: The Holiday Tribute to Metallica

Hell’s Bells of Christmas: The Holiday Tribute to AC/DC

A Jingle with Jillian

This CD continues a tradition that Gary started of trying to find me the most unusual holiday CD for a gift. Past contributions included Hanson (which I ended up liking), Mary Kate & Ashley Olson (they don’t sing much), The Christmas Chickens, and American Idol’s own William Hung.

This brings my total number of Christmas CDs to 216 and song total to: 3575.

How we celebrated this year

12/23: We celebrated with my side of the family this past Sunday.

Anybody want to claim this gift?

12/24: On Christmas Eve, we put out reindeer food before leaving to hear Grandma Mary play organ at church.

12/25: Santa has come! Thankfully, Chewy stayed up all night to guard the presents.

Nikolas insisted on opening the biggest box first.

The Tower of Loot (and the mound of wrap to the right)

After church on Christmas morning, we went to Grandma’s house for supper and presents with Gary’s side of the family.

WOW Christmas (Word)

A two disc collection of songs by the top contemporary Christian artists. The “WOW” series is to the Christian market what “Now That’s What I Call Music” is to the pop market. Stand outs include “A Christmas To Remember” by Amy Grant, “The Christmas Shoes” by Newsong, “Don’t Save It All For Christmas” by Avalon and Clay Aiken’s version of “Mary Did You Know?”

WOW Christmas

WCBS FM101.1 The Ultimate Christmas Album Vol. 4 (Collectables)

More great holiday tunes on this fourth collection including “Christmas Is” by Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, “Merry Christmas Baby” by Otis Redding, David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s duet “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy,” and the comedy skit “Christmas Dragnet” by Stan Freberg.

WCBS FM101.1 The Ultimate Christmas Album Vol. 3 (Collectables)

The hits just keep on coming with the third CD of this series. Highlights include “ All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Santa’s Doo Wop Helpers, Mavis Staples’ “Christmas Vacation,” Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby,” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” by The Supremes. My son would add to that list "Jingle Bells" by the Singing Dogs.

WCBS FM101.1 The Ultimate Christmas Album Vol. II (Collectables)

As the cover states “25 more great songs for the 25th of December” including “Dominick the Donkey” by Lou Monte, “Donde Esta Santa Claus” by Augie Rios, “Give Love on Christmas Day” by The Jackson Five, “ Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison and “Someday at Christmas” by Stevie Wonder.