Merry Christmas!

For all of our friends in the blogosphere who we don't have addresses for...Merry Christmas from the Himmelbergers!

Dear Family and Friends, December 2008

2008 was a roller coaster ride of a year for the Himmelberger family!

Drew continued on at the same preschool where he now attends three mornings per week. He is getting really good at writing all his letters and it seems like he is close to being able to read simple words. We can’t believe that we are the parents of an almost 5-year old who will be starting kindergarten next year! Drew loves to stay busy and will ask every morning where we are going. He likes to make us laugh and has a very tender heart.

Ava started preschool this year at the same school as Drew. She gets to go one day a week and loves every minute of it. She is a very spirited little girl at home but apparently she has the teachers fooled because they think she is an angel. Ava is full of energy, constantly jumping, climbing or dancing. She is also a very compassionate child, always the first one to offer a hug and say “are you ok?” if she sees a friend that is sad or hurt.

Early this year we had an unfortunate break-in and the thieves made off with almost all of our “toys”. They stole our bikes, our bike trailer, our snowboards (Andrea had used hers once) and some other associated gear. Luckily it was all covered by insurance but it was a very scary feeling being violated like that. We have since made some improvements in our security and hopefully we can stay safe from now on.

Drew did have surgery this year in late May at Stanford Hospital. A post-operative infection kept us in the hospital for about six weeks so we all missed the month of June. The surgeon, Dr. Hanley, was able to do a one and a half ventricle repair which was the best we could hope for given Drew’s anatomy. Drew is doing awesome since the surgery! He is not taking any medication for the first time since he was born. His energy level has skyrocketed and he hasn’t been sick at all this year. Dan likes to tell people that it is like having a whole new kid.

Andrea has continued her running and competed in the same half marathon as last year, besting her previous time by over a minute per mile! She goes to the gym at least twice a week and usually does a longer run of 6+ miles on the weekend. She enjoys staying home with the kids (well most days she enjoys it!) and keeps a busy schedule with preschool, Community Bible Study and Mom Connection during the week, in addition to being the best wife and mom ever!

Dan continues to work from home as senior project manager for Health Outcomes Group. He enjoys riding his (new) bicycle as much as his schedule will allow and was able to complete two 100 mile rides, both in the California wine country. He has also been golfing and playing poker quite a bit with his friends from church whenever he can.

Just after Thanksgiving the whole family made our first trip to Disneyland joined by Grandma and Grandpa Stimac and Uncle Thomas. The kids had a blast and so did the adults. There were hardly any lines and the weather was nice and cool. Drew’s favorite ride was the monorail and Ava loved “It’s a Small World”.

We will be spending Christmas at our house in Citrus Heights and then driving to the Bay Area to spend a few days with Dan’s family.

We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy and we wish you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Love and Blessings,

Dan, Andrea, Drew and Ava Himmelberger