Happy New Year!
2008 is finally done. Let’s review the year, shall we.
The big news of 2008 was Carlos graduating from Los Ninos preschool and moving on to Kindergarten at our local elementary school. We were really sad to leave Los Ninos (still has the best playground on the coastside),
but all good things must end and we moved on to Farallone View. The Kindergarten has an interesting schedule. It starts out with half days all week, and then moves to full days twice a week. Eventually it ends up at full day for all week.
We also went to Lake Tahoe with our friends from Caltech. Deirdre had to bow out at the last moment, but Adam, Allison, Carlos, Chris, Dean , Leah, Margaret, Michael, and Rosaline all managed to make it. We rented a house as per the usual and hiked around the Lake. Very lovely. 
Carlos was so excited to see A&A that he did have a meltdown or two. But the whole trip was great fun. 
We also went to Disneyland (first time for Carlos) and had a great time with our friends. Chris remembers going as a boy and having an absolutely packed day. The days with Carlos was a leisurely stroll by comparison. We went on something like 5 rides on day. Oh yeah, and Chris was terrified during the Soaring ride at California Adventure.
Chris and Carlos also went down to San Diego to visit his family and had a great day at the Zoo. Oh yeah, Chris and his Mom were terrified during the Skyfari ride at the Zoo.
The big news for the end of the year was the house remodel. We redid the top floor (kitchen, great room, and bedrooms) and the front and back yards. Our friend Baby Celeste and her Mom came by to help with some of the design. 
She really helped crystallize things for us and guide us in all our choices.
We moved downstairs for the duration and that was either the best idea ever! or really, really dumb. We’re back upstairs now. Still a few loose ends to finish up, but things look great.
The holidays were busy trying to finish things up. Thanksgiving still had our kitchen in shambles, so we went to the fancy buffet at the Ritz-Carlton. Very very fancy – and Carlos got dressed up to boot. 
We went to the Los Altos Holiday Parade with Paul and Bridget and froze while watching it. 
The remodel was done in time to move upstairs for a great Christmas. Tania and Jean-Marc came over for Christmas dinner and she made a great curried pumpkin soup. Deirdre came to visit from Arizona to help celebrate the New Year.
Fran is still as tough as nails. She is still quite strong, but mostly just sleeps and eats these days. We visit when we can and wished her a happy 85th birthday the last week.
Happy New Year All! Margaret, Chris, Carlos, Ollie, and Inka.
