The change of the year always causes us to reflect on the past and anticipate the future. 2008 was a landmark year for us in many ways and we were inspired to share some of it with you.
In December 2007, energized by a wedding trip to Mexico earlier in the year, we returned to Baja with a small group of adventuresome friends and experienced our first kid-free week long vacation since our “summer southwest sojourn honeymoon” in 2000. We spent the week on a remote nature preserve island 25 miles off the coast of La Paz. Complete with two guides, a cook, and two skiff drivers, we kayaked, fished for our dinner, hiked, snorkeled and slept under the stars on the beach. Realizing how nourishing such a trip is to our parental psyche, we hope to make it an annual event.
After a series of pregnancies, losses and adoption dead ends, we learned last January that we would welcome a healthy baby girl in July. We came to accept that not having any more children was a loss in and of itself from which we drew courage to try and try again.
In February, March and into April we embarked on a 50 day tour of Europe
for Phil’s job as Global Product Manager of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Triggered by pregnancy and our extended travel plans, Emily took leave of her job of five years as a recovery room nurse for an orthopedic surgery center, to be a full-time mom for the first time. We are filled with gratitude for the once-in-a-life-time experiences this European odyssey brought us and feel a sense of pride having survived it pregnant, with an active niño and a demanding job all going on at the same time. Emily in particular feels a significant growth as a mother after two months of 100% Galen time, much of it as a single parent without support of family, friends or english speaking strangers. To learn more about our adventures in Milan, London, Venice, Paris, Munich, Madrid and more, please see our previous blog entries.
In May, Galen had a big week when he got on his bike (which he had rejected for many months since his pushy parents removed his training wheels) and rode around our patio, then around the house, down the street and into our neighborhood park. It was as if he’d been secretly practicing behind our backs. Happily his grandmother and aunts were there to witness it as they were in town for a mothers blessing for Emily. That same week he mastered the monkey bars and decided he was ready for a regular size bed.
During the summer, Kelsey and Tyler enjoyed the unique experience helping their grandfather with his wheat harvest in Nebraska. Both kids returned with big smiles and stronger backs. Tyler and Kelsey are now sophomores and are throughly enjoying their high school experience. Galen graduated from his beloved preschool of three years and has launched into Kindergarten. 
Our much anticipated baby girl arrived two weeks late on August 4th, with the honor of sharing Barack Obama’s birthday, and nearly sharing her sister Julia’s (Aug 8). August has always been bittersweet for us, but with Alia Jane’s birth it weighs heavier now on the sweet side. Our family finally feels complete even with one missing.
2008 ended and 2009 began with a bang as we celebrated New Year’s on the beautiful island of Kauai, in honor of Grandma’s 70th birthday and Grandma and Grandpa’s 44th wedding anniversary! Joining them was a herd of 19 - children, spouses, and grandchildren. We are still adjusting to sleeping without the sound of surf and grandpa’s gin and tonics.
We look forward to the changes 2009 will bring for this country with new leadership, and for our family, as two learn to drive, one learns to read, and one learns to sleep through the night.
With love and gratitude for our friends and family,
Phil, Emily, Tyler (15), Kelsey (15), Julia (would be 6), Galen (5), Alia Jane (5 mos)
