Our good friend Cory took pictures of the girls and their horses at G.O.H.J.A. for our Christmas pictures. Wow! What a
great job he did. They are all amazing. Later that day Aviles competed on Cookie and did an amazing job. Her
competition was stiff but she ended up the Reserve Grand Champion. Our friend Riley rode Spirit in competition and did
an excellent job as well. After G.O.H.J.A. we met up with some good friends at the Christmas Tree Farm in Eustis and
took a ride around and looked for a Christmas tree. We didn't end up getting one because it was too hot! I know that
seems like a crazy reason, but it just seems wrong to be getting a Christmas Tree when your sweating in a t-shirt
because it's 92 degrees outside, December 1st or not. We drove through Mount Dora to look at the lights and conjure up
the Christmas Spirit and then we headed home to work on our own decorations, minus the Christmas Tree.
great job he did. They are all amazing. Later that day Aviles competed on Cookie and did an amazing job. Her
competition was stiff but she ended up the Reserve Grand Champion. Our friend Riley rode Spirit in competition and did
an excellent job as well. After G.O.H.J.A. we met up with some good friends at the Christmas Tree Farm in Eustis and
took a ride around and looked for a Christmas tree. We didn't end up getting one because it was too hot! I know that
seems like a crazy reason, but it just seems wrong to be getting a Christmas Tree when your sweating in a t-shirt
because it's 92 degrees outside, December 1st or not. We drove through Mount Dora to look at the lights and conjure up
the Christmas Spirit and then we headed home to work on our own decorations, minus the Christmas Tree.
I don't really feel like I'm caught up in the spirit of Christmas until we take a trip to Disney for the holidays. I think that
Melanie and the girls feel the same way. Mel went to EPCOT last week with Alaila's class on a field trip and was so
impressed by the storytellers in the World Showcase that she begged to go back this weekend. She didn't have to beg
too hard of course. We walked from country to country and storyteller would tell of customs and traditions that were
practiced in their country. It was so enlightening. Some of our favorites were the witch Bafana from Italy (who upon
missing a trip with the wise men who were following the star, travels on the holiest night of the year from house to house
looking for the Christ Child and leaving presents for good girls and boys), and Pere Noel from France along with their
customs of a huge feast called La Reveillon and the Santons of the Cresh or Nativity. Now I'm in the Spirit.
Melanie and the girls feel the same way. Mel went to EPCOT last week with Alaila's class on a field trip and was so
impressed by the storytellers in the World Showcase that she begged to go back this weekend. She didn't have to beg
too hard of course. We walked from country to country and storyteller would tell of customs and traditions that were
practiced in their country. It was so enlightening. Some of our favorites were the witch Bafana from Italy (who upon
missing a trip with the wise men who were following the star, travels on the holiest night of the year from house to house
looking for the Christ Child and leaving presents for good girls and boys), and Pere Noel from France along with their
customs of a huge feast called La Reveillon and the Santons of the Cresh or Nativity. Now I'm in the Spirit.
We went to the Lippizaner Stallion show at the new UCF arena today. We met severl of the mom's and girls that Aviles
and Alaila ride with. The horses were beautiful and amazing. Most of the moves that the horses demonstrated were
Dressage moves. I had no idea what they were doing but Melanie and all the other girls knew exactly what a lot of the
moves were called. I forgot to bring cash for parking so I parked at a meter and walked the girls inside to find the seats,
then I went back out to find a cash machine and park the car. Then when I got back to the seats Melanie looked over at
me and said, "Did you bring the camera?" It was in the car of course, so I went back to get it. On my way back I was
browsing through the event programme and notice that the training facility for the Lipizanner Stallions is right off of Van
Arsedale Road, not even 6 miles from our property in Geneva. Cool huh?
and Alaila ride with. The horses were beautiful and amazing. Most of the moves that the horses demonstrated were
Dressage moves. I had no idea what they were doing but Melanie and all the other girls knew exactly what a lot of the
moves were called. I forgot to bring cash for parking so I parked at a meter and walked the girls inside to find the seats,
then I went back out to find a cash machine and park the car. Then when I got back to the seats Melanie looked over at
me and said, "Did you bring the camera?" It was in the car of course, so I went back to get it. On my way back I was
browsing through the event programme and notice that the training facility for the Lipizanner Stallions is right off of Van
Arsedale Road, not even 6 miles from our property in Geneva. Cool huh?
I can not believe this year has flown by the way that it has. You know when you were a little kid, how it seemed like your
house was so big and then when you got older it almost felt like your house had shrunk. Your perception of your house
got smaller as you got bigger. I think it works the same way with time. The older we get, the more accurate our
perception of time is. It truly is fleeting. It is cool for me to look back over this year and see how many wonderful things
God has allowed us to experience in 2007. It gives me much anticipation for 2008. However, I don't want to get caught
up in anticipation. I have one resolution. It is to 'enjoy each day'. I am guilty of being so focused on (or stressed out
about) tomorrow and the future that I completely miss out on today. As my girls are growing like weeds, I'd better learn
that lesson quick. Make the most of now. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Melanie and I finished out the old year with
our annual dinner at Buca di Beppo with a group of close friends. Then we went back to our house and moved all the
furniture out of the living room to dance until the ball dropped. After a toast at midnight with our children and friends we
played games until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore. It was a great night. I hope you had a wonderful year and
that amazing things are ahead of you in 2008. So here is Eric and Melanie and Aviles and Alaila and Amarige and Abby
and Shi Shi and Bowie and Spirit and Cookie wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
house was so big and then when you got older it almost felt like your house had shrunk. Your perception of your house
got smaller as you got bigger. I think it works the same way with time. The older we get, the more accurate our
perception of time is. It truly is fleeting. It is cool for me to look back over this year and see how many wonderful things
God has allowed us to experience in 2007. It gives me much anticipation for 2008. However, I don't want to get caught
up in anticipation. I have one resolution. It is to 'enjoy each day'. I am guilty of being so focused on (or stressed out
about) tomorrow and the future that I completely miss out on today. As my girls are growing like weeds, I'd better learn
that lesson quick. Make the most of now. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Melanie and I finished out the old year with
our annual dinner at Buca di Beppo with a group of close friends. Then we went back to our house and moved all the
furniture out of the living room to dance until the ball dropped. After a toast at midnight with our children and friends we
played games until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore. It was a great night. I hope you had a wonderful year and
that amazing things are ahead of you in 2008. So here is Eric and Melanie and Aviles and Alaila and Amarige and Abby
and Shi Shi and Bowie and Spirit and Cookie wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Quote OTM: Action speaks
louder than words but not
nearly as often. - Mark Twain
Movie OTM: Sweeney Todd /
The Demon Barber Of Fleet
Street
Song OTM: My Friends -
Sweeney Todd / The Demon
Barber Of Fleet Street
louder than words but not
nearly as often. - Mark Twain
Movie OTM: Sweeney Todd /
The Demon Barber Of Fleet
Street
Song OTM: My Friends -
Sweeney Todd / The Demon
Barber Of Fleet Street
