2008: A Year in Review

Time for the annual look back at this quick year of 2008! Here are some of the noteworthy highlights for us:

WINTER/SPRING
- On New Year’s Day, went to the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena to see A march with the Marine Band (and the TV footage zoomed in close on his face!)

- Took a little trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to see “The Phantom of the Opera”

- L started taking a Wado-Karate class on the Marine base

- A went on tour with Marine Band San Diego to Seattle, Washington

- Said ‘good-bye’ to L’s 15-year-old Izusu Trooper and purchased a 2008 Saturn Vue

- A took the extremely difficult Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Course and graduated as a Green belt Instructor for his unit

- L performed in her first belly dance performance

- Moved out of our small apartment of 3 ½ years and upgraded to nice, off-base military housing

- A re-qualified as a 2^nd Award Rifle Expert on the rifle range at Camp Pendleton

- L started a new harp gig of getting to play for the Tea at the fancy Westgate Hotel

- L earned her yellow belt in karate

- A went on a tour to Albuquerque, New Mexico with the Marine Band

SUMMER

- A performed in several Marine Band concerts between San Diego and LA County

- Went to Chicago, IL, to visit Leah's sister and brother-in-law, and coincidentally attended our Marine friends’ wedding

- Traveled together to London, England and had a blast getting to see all the historic sights

- Celebrated our 4^th wedding anniversary on August 6th

- L performed in the Robert Drasnin Orchestra at a Tiki Oasis Convention, under the direction of Robert Drasnin himself, a long-time Hollywood composer

- L earned her orange belt in karate, and danced in the Celebrate Dance Festival in Balboa Park

FALL

- L began taking ballet classes

- A traveled to Houston, Texas with the Brass Quintet

- L performed in the musical theater production of “The Light In The Piazza” with Lamb’s Players Theater, 7 shows a week from September to November

- A was promoted to Sergeant (on his 2-year Marine Corps Birthday)

- A went on tour to Chicago, Illinois with the Marine Band

- A went on another tour with the Brass Quintet to Indianapolis, Indiana

- Attended the MCRD Enlisted Birthday Ball to celebrate the Marine Corps 233^rd Birthday

- A turned 28 and got his first gray hair

WINTER

- In the MCRD Christmas Concert, the Marine Band premiered 2 of A’s arrangements and L got to play the harp in the concert as a featured soloist.

- L earned her blue belt in karate, and played a dozen different Christmas gigs

- Had enjoyable family Christmases in several installments.

- L celebrated her 26^th Birthday

- Rang in the New Year in Pasadena again to see A march in the Rose Parade (and the TV cameras caught his face a couple of times again!)

And in 2009…

- Beginning the New Year right by going on a vacation to the Hawaiian Island of Oahu!

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We're thankful to God for blessing us with another successful year! Happy New Year!