Tracey’s Year in Review
2003

January- Matt and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary!
I moved into my new speech room at Sunset View Elementary School-a whole new office with high ceilings and tons of natural sunlight.
We found out Michelle was pregnant with Hannah Banana!

February-Matt and I took a trip to San Francisco to stay with Joel, Astevens, and McCann—such an excellent time and an instant bond with new friends. Additionally, we started to really make some good friends in our own region of San Diego, with people in our Bible Study and people at Matt’s work.

March-I kidnapped Matt after a difficult couple of months at work and took him to our favorite places in San Diego—Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea (the area where we stayed when Matt, Mary and I came out here for a spontaneous vacation several years ago). Then we had fun visitors-first Michelle (and Hannah, in her belly!) and also Astevens, McCann, and Joel. We all went to Joshua Tree National Park and had an epic trip. Matt and I also went to see Cush, which was one of the best shows I’ve seen in my life.

April-Mom and Dad Good came to San Diego!!! We hiked to an oasis in the desert, went to the zoo, farmer’s market, sunset cliffs, and many other great places. Also watched “a mighty wind”, which I enjoyed thoroughly.
May- Our friend Chelsea was in LA on business so we drove up to meet her and spent the evening with her on the Santa Monica strip—excellent time with another lifelong friend! Also, I went to see Billy Graham, who was in San Diego (so beautiful and simple and honest). We finally made it up to Chowchilla to see Mary and Casey—quick visit to Yosemite and a glimpse into their new lives in central California.

June- Yay! School’s out!!! Ryan and Michelle (and Hannah still in the womb) came to visit us for 8 days! Unfortunately, we had probably the worst week of weather we’ve had since we’ve lived here. That didn’t stop us from having a great time, though. I was on the local news, laying out at the beach-ha! We also found a condo that we fell in love with and put a bid on (the waiting game began…)At the end of the month, I left Matt for a couple of weeks to spend time with family and friends in Cincinnati.

July- Cincinnati visit continued…whew! What a busy two weeks of visiting with Grammy and Granddad and Kevin in Columbus, Mom and Dad in Cincinnati, Ryan and Michelle in Lexington, Michelle’s shower in Cincy, and then a visit from Heidi over the 4th of July. The rest of the month involved me running at Sunset Cliffs, relaxing at the beach, and having fun!!! Also, inspection of the condo and more waiting…. Michael (and his friend) came to visit on their way through the country.

August-More waiting for the condo, a visit from Rachael, and one of the best vacations ever! Matt and I drove up the coast of California and camped at a different place each night—it was beautiful and peaceful—great to have time alone and with the Lord, enjoying His many creations. While on our vacation, we received a message that we could close on our condo! Yay! We finally joined the ranks of first-time homeowners! We moved in at the end of the month, with much help from good friends and a schedule that allowed me to move things over little by little. And we had fun painting our new walls with actual colors!

September-Our dear friends, Heidi and Ken, came to visit and we had such a fantastic time. A perfect ending to a perfect summer! And then, school started! It was a rude awakening at first, but I eased into it by the end of the month J. And then beautiful Hannah was finally born! We are now Aunt Tracey and Uncle Matt! And Michelle and Ryan are Mommy and Daddy!

October- Kevin and Emily got married! Yay! A new sister for me! Matt’s good friend Marni got laid off of word (at Scantron) and we kidnapped her and took her out with the friends that we run around with. Mary and Casey came down for a weekend and we had a great time! Unfortunately, they had to leave early due to the California wildfires. Mary and I started training for the San Diego Half Marathon.

November-Matt got laid off of work, which was sad, but we’re looking forward to the next adventure! We shared Thanksgiving with the entire Edwards family (except Gramps)—my first turkey-making experience! Such a great week of yummy food and visiting and a sunset vow renewal ceremony for Mom and Dad’s 30th anniversary.

December-A fun month of Christmas parties, more training for the half marathon (to take place Jan 18th), and a trip back to Ohio to visit family for Christmas break: first to BG (Edwards’), then to Cincinnati (Good’s), then to Youngstown (Heidi and Ken). This year we’re thankful for the family and friends with which God has blessed us.

Favorite movies this year…
-Catch me if you can
-Chicago
-Owning Mahoney
-Bruce Almighty
-Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
-Pirates of the Caribbean
-Seabiscuit
-Elf
-Love actually

Honorable mention
-Down with Love (set design, costumes, and style of banter only)
-Lost in Translation (for Tokyo scenes and Bill Murray’s hilariousness only)


Favorite music this year…
-The Strokes
-The White Stripes
-The New Pornographers
-Rooney
-Saves the Day
-Something Corporate
-Ash
-Denison Witmer
-Travoltas
-Cush, as usual

twas the night before christmas
and all through the house
every creature was stirring
especially grandpa and matt.

mare! i forgot about that awesome lazy quote of:
"(come on fog!) i didn't get this job to have to go to work every day!"
i laughed so hard when i read that, remembering the silliness of that statement (and also the anger behind it!)

best quotes from grandpa so far:
"it'll never work out with michael's girlfriend."
why not?
"because she's a redhead!"
(pause maybe 3 minutes)
"life never works out for redheads...unless they have lots of money and can pay their way through life."

lots of laughing at that funny guy!

we had sort of a ridiculous trip out here, which included our taxi being late to pick us up to take us to the airport, and two flights where we had CONSTANT screaming kids sitting the row in front of us, and then a lost suitcase--which of course contained all of our christmas presents. so anyways, it all worked out and we finally got the suitcase back today, so everyone will get their gifts this year! hopefully the trip home will be less eventful.

been having a fun time over here at 1040 village drive: eating, talking, laughing, playing cards, eating out at trotter's, etc.
last night matt and i went out with lots of old friends and had such a wonderful time.
it's hard for us to be back in BG for several reasons, but family and friends make it worth it.

tonight is christmas eve and we're going to do "the night before christmas" over the phone with mary and casey. and we're going to make cookies, too, since we haven't fatly eaten enough yet.
and then tomorrow christmas of opening presents, maybe a movie, and best of all, mom's chicken enchiladas!!!! yummy!

merry christmas everyone!
~tracey