A new year, a new decade.

Wow so much has happened this past year, 2009 was a very full year.
Aaron is home a little more, he still has two jobs, but his hours went from 85/week to 65/week. He gets a little more time in between both jobs which makes it possible for him to get a nap and eat dinner with the family. It also makes it possible for me to do errands without the kids.
I turned 30 and got to celebrate with a little trip to the big island of Hawaii. I am also teaching preschool part time for the second year. My mother in law is gracious enough to watch the boys, and they couldn't have a better babysitter.
Mia started 2nd grade and had a great year in soccer. She really loves it and wants to join a more competitive league, but Aaron and I want her to be a little older. She's also very proud of her art work that was chosen to be displayed in the San Mateo public library.
Kai turned 4 during the summer and wanted to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese. He also started pre-k and was having a fabulous time. We had to take him out though because he really needs occupational therapy and we couldn't afford to keep him in both. He's going to do pre-k next year instead of starting kindergarten which we think will give him a great advantage in his education.
Noah has become an independent little guy. He likes doing things his way and on his own which is very different from his siblings. He does remain a snuggler which is so nice especially with him being our last. You will not find Noah empty handed very often he always has one of his "guys" in his hands, he even goes to sleep with something whether it be a flash light, a train or a Buzz Lightyear figure.
Also this past year we got to enjoy to family reunions the first in May when Rhett married Monica. The second was for Thanksgiving and for Sarah and Angelo's wedding the same weekend. Sarah and Angelo will be welcoming a little boy this May! Another nephew, Mia remains the only grandaughter!

As we enter this new decade I took a look back at 1910 and wrote down a few facts.
1910 was known as the "Ballroom Era".

It was the birth year of two great people, Gordon B. Hinckley and Mother Theresa.
It was also the death year of some very talented people, Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy, and Henri Rousseau.

Prices are the biggest difference between 1910 and 2010.
House $2,000
Car $850
Bread loaf $0.03
Gal/milk $0.30
Gal/gas $0.07
Gold watch $6.95
Belt $0.39
Movie ticket $0.10

Lifestyle
US population was 92.3 million
Life expectancy was only 50 years!
Marriages ending in divorce was 0.74 per 1000 population-another big difference.
Average income was $750/year.
70% of bread was homemade.

News/politics
Taft was president (27)
1st women's suffrage parade was held.
1st Father's Day was celebrated.
Largest fire in US history destroys 50 million acres across Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Boy Scouts of America was founded.
Black & Decker was founded.
Elizabeth Arden salons introduced.
Birth of the tabloid news.
Bomb kills 21 at the LA Times building. McNamara Bros. sentenced.

Art/science
The Phantom of the Opera is 1st published.
1st movie adaptation of Frankenstein.
Halley comet observed photographically for the first time.
Neon light introduced.

Sports
Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in the World Series (4-1).
Jack Johnson beats James Jeffries (The Great White Hope) for the boxing heavyweight title which sparks race riots in over 50 cities.
Ottawa Hockey Club wins the Stanley cup.

We're looking forward to 2010, Happy New Year!!