Headley Family Christmas Card 2007

So how was 2007? Just fine, just fine...

Beth and I have been married for longer than a decade and less than two -- you figure it out -- but Brooke (11), Alex (9) and Nate (9 months) have two (wonderful ;-)) parents who are facing down 40 more than 30. But alas, on with the year's news.

Nate joined our family in March and what a great blessing that has been. As healthy as can be, nothing we can complain about. He is as cute as ever and these days is found crawling and talking (that baby language) like a mad man. Beth was brave (and tired), so while i was traveling she taught Nate how to sleep -- and now we've had a great month of really nice sleep. Brooke and Alex are so helpful and kind to their brother -- we are so pleased with how the family enjoys little brother Nate.

Alex is growing like a weed and is enjoying sports -- soccer, baseball, and softball or basketball during lunch. He likes his teacher at school and does well in class. Alex is enjoying cub scouts - working on his Bear badge and seeing his pals each week at cub meetings. He has a creative mind and inquisitive nature.

Brooke has started middle school and as we all remember that is a challenging experience. We love her and the sweet attitude that she has as she faces so many changes in her life. She seems to grow out of clothes every couple of months and is on the verge of becoming a young woman (can you hear dads growing interest in security systems, tracking implants and shotguns). She keeps busy with activity days (see mom's news), girl scouts, hula and trying to keep up with the homework of middle school.

Beth is as beautiful as ever. Life is busy with having Nate attached to her, helping at school, church and putting up with me. She enjoys great moments with each of her children and endures the trials with patience. She loves to read, go out with friends, dates with me (i'm a lucky guy!!) and chats on the phone with her sister. Her children love when she reads to them and they finished the Harry Potter series this year - even Nate gets his story time with her at night and he loves it. Beth worked most of the year in the primary and just started a new calling as the girls Activity Days leader - of which Brooke is one.

I'm still at Cisco and they treat me very well. I have the best team in the world -- all very much more talented and smarter than me (well except for.... just kidding team ;-)). Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your view), our competitors seem to be getting more and more aggressive, so I think I'll be gainfully employed into 2008. Did my first RTW trip this year (see the blog) and got to experience some new places - Dubai, Vietnam, China (Beijing). Church keeps me busy working with the young men and our summer camp; both Beth and I plan to be at camp with Brooke this year!

We feel very blessed for all that we have and enjoy. We are very grateful to our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ for the blessings of this life and the life to come. May you enjoy the season that we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Much love to you all.

BLOGGERed my FACEdown into LINKEDIN GMAIL with wife's DOTMac and got TWITTERed... NOKIA anyone?

Ok -- this web 2.0 thing is just making my head spin... first i got gmail - ok not bad -- search, not folders is the theme -- but yes i do use the DELETE button they finally put in... then i got LinkedIn -- why? why not - nice to hook up with friends - post your resume, get no offers on a regular basis (i'm ok with all that -- i think). Then it started getting crazy - my wife went web 2.0 with .Mac and put our family photos on the Internet -- WITHOUT protection (listen to the fear ;-).

Ok then it just goes nuts -- i hook up on Facebook and suddenly i find out that i'm the LAST PERSON in the UNIVERSE to get on Facebook -- ok that isn't true, but it seemed like it. And what is up with the poking going on? I mean -- i've thrown Gingerbread cookies, i've had spells put on me... crazy. but it ain't over... No, now i'm Twittering about... with myself - till i figure out the purpose of this... and finally, the last straw...

I got a Nokia E61i -- great handheld computing device - BUT SOMEONE forgot that I want to USE IT AS A PHONE!!!! hmmmm....

So what does this all mean -- boy... i don't know, but what happened to the good old days of "doing lunch".

and yes, of course... it IS NOT a bubble....

Eat and enjoy - you turkey!

So Thanksgiving is a favorite of mine. Hanging out with family, food, long weekend, more food. In particular i love my moms dinner rolls. Made fresh - they are finer than any bread i've ever had -- and being from the bay area that is saying a lot! Covered with raspberry freezer jam -- i'm living large. My dad does the turkey on the bbq and that is amazing as well. I did it once for a family Christmas party (my wife's family) and i think i called dad about a dozen times asking questions, but went off fine.

But alas -- while i'm actually not a food obsessed guy - i do have a favorite that is a result of thanksgiving. My mom makes this AMAZING turkey soup. I just finished my first bowl of it -- WOW -- i love it. I believe it takes a billion hours and a million steps to make -- so i'm very fortunate my mom loves me :-).

While i think Taco Bell is great -- just reminds me how wonderful it is that people know how to really cook...

ah, the perfect food... Cheerios

Ah yes, Cheerios. The perfect food. I remember growing up that we ate Cheerios or Grape Nuts for breakfast cereal cause our parents wouldn't let us have the good stuff -- Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms... the good stuff :-). I even remember a friend down the street - Adam - who would eat probably 10 Cheerios (at least how i remember it) with something like 10 big HEAPING scoops of sugar -- totally insane.

So tonight, i'm cleaning up after dinner and to keep our 9 month old busy, we feed him Cheerios. It dawned on my what a racket these folks have (i'm sure profitable). Essentially little round oats that have target markets at EVERY age. Babies, its the first hard snack (other than those baby biscut things). Kids - cereal parents would buy you. And finally adults, well it lowers your cholesteral and i'm sure other magical wonders. What a deal -- and i really doubt these benefits were thought of when they first created this boring (but good) cereal.

So i checked out there website -- and low -- the marketing folks at General Mills got it nailed... Check out cheerios.com a purpose for every age... all right there. Amazing... someone had to build a website to tell me how to eat Cheerios... ;-)...

Of course, if you really love the stuff, check out the book!

ah, life is good.