Good-bye 2008 Hello 2009

OK, I realize it's only 8:30 and I have 3 1/2 hours before 2009 get's here but I'm rather tired and not sure I'll make it until midnight. Something about the 3.7 mile walk I took this morning. I dropped my car off for service and then walked home. I was able to do the walk in 1 hour and 10 minutes, which considering the fact I'm SOOO overweight right now I'm pretty happy about it.

I'm not big on New Year's Resolution since for most people they are broken before the month of January is over. I like setting goals. I think I'm going to follow in my friend, Claudie's footsteps and set monthly goals. Before Christmas break I was working with Mark to set weekly goals, in an effort to help him focus better and work toward the day he can be off the ADHD meds.

Tomorrow will be a day of football and an outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. Should be fun...

Christmas 2008 is almost history

Last night was at my in-laws and today was with the extended family.  It was a good time.  Lots of good food!  We were missing some of the family, but all in all it was a good time.

I'll be posting the pictures soon.  After I finish testing Microsoft's new Live Writer Program. 

So far so good... we'll see...

Couple of hours later...

Pictures are up. If you didn't get an email from me about them but would like to see them, leave a comment and I'll send you a link. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Erwin, Holly, Tim, and Mark!

This has been another busy year. Erwin is still working at LA Custom Door. He is playing roller hockey with only one team right now, the Polar Bears. No major injuries other than a severely dislocated finger joint at the base of his middle finger. He continues leading worship at the church every other month.

Tim graduated from San Dimas High School in June.

He started working as a student worker at Azusa Pacific University, for Information and Media Technology. He also taught trumpet lessons at Gard's Music. He has now finished his first semester at APU. He really enjoyed most of his classes. He did alright in the grade department, 4 A's, 4 Bs and a C+. He also had two classes where he received a pass/no pass grade. So yes he had 11 classes that worked out to 17 units. Welcome to the life as a music major.

Mark is in fourth grade and doing very well. He is in a 4/5 combo class. He tested for GATE and was accepted, which meant he would have to switch schools to take advantage of the program. We decided to keep him at his current school and I think that we made the right decision.


Mark also started his second year in Kare Youth League. KYL has been good for him, teaching him how to play basketball in the winter, baseball in the spring, soccer in the summer, and football in the fall. He enjoys basketball the most. He's improving each year and it's fun to watch him grow. Mark is still bowling in a youth league. Most days he enjoys himself, but once in awhile when he's having a bad game he's ready to quit. I think his average is in the 60s but I'm not sure.

I'll finish my 23rd year at Azusa Pacific University this February. It's hard to believe that I've been there that long, but now that Tim is in college it all worth it! His tuition is covered.
I am working on a Master's degree. I started it in Fall 2006 and won't finish until Spring 2011. But hey, it won't cost me a lot so that's ok. I'm still in charge of the music at my church. This year I took a leap of faith and director a Christmas choir. Even though I didn't have a large choir they sounded like a million bucks. It was so cool to be able to work with them. I posted the first Sunday's song I need to get the rest of them posted. Maybe sometime this week. If you would like to hear them click here.

That's a snap shot of the happenings at MagnusonHouse. Check back when you get the chance I try to update this site every few days.

Blessings,
Holly

Christmas Lights at the Boss' House!

My boss, loves Christmas and loves decorating his house for Christmas. Below are some pictures that Erwin took with his phone... it was very cool and thankfully we were able to get the pictures before the rains started.

Basketball Season Begins

Mark is starting his third year of Kare Youth League with his third season of basketball. Today they had a scrimmage against the other Covina team and the Upland team. Of course, they play outside in Covina and it's finally decided to be "winter" here. So Mark was a little cold at times.

For all of the first game against Upland and part of the second game they only had 5 players. Mark is doing better than I've seen him do. Still not the best player out there, but he's playing with a little more confidence. He blocked a shot actually got a couple of rebounds. He didn't shoot when he had the chance but he passed it to one of his team mates who shot and got the basket. So hey he got an assist!

The KYL is doing a basketball game for the kids in January which should be a good thing for him. The football one helped him.

Christmas at Disneyland

"Golden Gate Bridge" Decorated for Christmas

Yesterday, Mark and I went to Disneyland. Mark had the day off from school due to Parent/Teacher Conference. I made my appointment with Mr. V for 8:15 so we could spend the day at the "Happiest Place On Earth"

We finally went on the new Toy Story ride in California Adventure.


Very fun!

We did Soaring over California, and Grizzly Rapids. Though I only did it one time. Mark felt the need to rideit once again. So I let him go by himself. The funny thing is ended up riding the ride with the same family we rode with the first time.

After we did all we wanted in California Adventure, or maybe I should say all the things that Mark wanted to do. We didn't do California Screaming or Tower of Terror. But I can always go back!

We were also able to do quite a bit in Disneyland as well.

Mark wanted to do dinner at El Polo Loco so left around 7:30 or so. In the middle of his chicken leg he realized he had lost a tooth. He never did find it, but swears he didn't swallow it.

All in all a good day.