Welcome 2008
This is the first in several years that I can remember not sending out a Christmas family update with picture included. It is not that I was lazy about it. Forgot about it. Or didn't even start one. In fact, I have an incomplete publisher file sitting on my desktop with good intentions and no follow through. I simply did not get one out. Sorry folks. I even thought, "Hey, I will send out a New Year's Edition"... but nope, didn't quite make that one either- and yes, I know it is only the second day of this grand new year and technically it is still a fresh start of 2008 but I resigned in my heart this day that I will not be getting out an update with picture included.
I hope this first post of the new year will suffice in some ways. In no way am I going all digital on you and be cheesy enough to mass email my friends and loved ones to say, "Hey- check out our annual Christmas letter- brought to you by my blog!" I will not do that. I promise. However, I must confess that the bulk of this first post happens to closely resemble what is sitting in that incomplete publisher file sitting on my desktop with good intentions.
Happy reading!
The 2007 Williams' Factoids
2007 started off with quite the cold spell adorned with icicles and frozen plants. We even plucked one of those dangling souvenirs from a group of icy friends hanging out on our roof and stuck it in our freezer as a reminder that yes, places such as Texas can get cold. 2007 brought us to great places- some unexpected, some challenging, some funny... But really, all of these places were truly great places for they indeed strengthened our spirit, made for some great memories, and gave fodder for my first post of 2008.
Places we visited: Columbus, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; Gainesville, Florida; Disney World; The University of Florida; Corpus Cristi, Texas; Austin, Texas; Ikea
This seriously can not be happening to us: Within a two week span in March our kitchen flooded and Nate's orange truck was totaled (in our front yard). Nate replaced our kitchen floor. We ended up getting a lemon of a vehicle and after a few months of not so pleasant "lemony" moments we ended up getting another new set of wheels.
Celebrate good times, come on!: We celebrated a 33rd, 4th, 30th, and 2nd birthday. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and 2nd living-in-Texas anniversary. Ethan won our church's Bible memorizing contest for his age category and became a proud owner of an "iPod." The Gators won big time, the Spurs did their thing, and our beloved Red Sox celebrated another World Series.
Random trivia and useless facts: We spent about $600 on Jack's diapers and wipes in one year. Gretchen learned to whistle. Was introduced to Facebook. Ethan took swim lessons. Nate put in slate flooring in our kitchen. Jack gained 3 1/2 pounds.
Movies, books, TV shows, websites, and music that influenced 2007: Feist- especially 1,2,3,4. Raising Sand. Amos Lee. Stranger than Fiction. The Anne of Green Gables series. Arrested Development. My annual visit of To Kill a Mockingbird. The final Harry Potter book. All recipes.
Fun Memories: Ethan's roller coaster ride with Goofy. Ethan's acting debut at our church's Christmas play. Making Easter eggs. Carving a pumpkin. Cutting down our Christmas tree. Jack's growing vocabulary. Nate's 30th celebration including a Segway tour of Austin. Going with our friends to their lakehouse and riding on a jet ski with Ethan.
Christmas memories in picture form:
Commitment to 2008: To simplify my life. Write more.
