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Barnett Family Update 2003
Well, 3 years into the new Millenium, and I still can't find a pair of slippers that I like. You'd think they'd have that figured out by now.
2003 was a busy but fun year in the Barnett household. Lots of changes, but that's nothing new for us, right? As I write this, we are getting ready for our first-ever cruise (with Nanny and Poppy Barnett) to the Eastern Carribean. We are very excited about our trip and can't wait to rest and relax for 7 days of fun-filled action!
Naomi is a sweet and caring 9 year old - she is doing wonderfully in 4th grade, her teacher told us she wished she had an "entire class of Naomi's!" It's so great to hear things like that. We're convinced Naomi will join the Peace Corp or become a social worker - she is very concerned with the well being of others and is always helping anyone who needs it. She is still keeping up with piano lessons, dance, and is acting in her Hebrew School production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - which happens in January 2004. Naomi also took up soccer again (and Daddy was suckered into coaching) and we had a great time together! The team came in 3rd place out of 10 teams, and the girls were a real pleasure. Naomi has gotten a little faster and a little more aggressive and has set a goal to be an All-Star next season! Naomi also recently was diagnosed with astigmatism (another gift from her father!) and will be wearing glasses full time - but the styles are so much nicer now than when we were kids!
Aliza is now in 2nd grade, and keeping up with her big sister just fine. Aliza is also busy with Soccer, piano lessons, and she went back to gymnastics and gave up dance. It seems like a great fit - she spends all of her free time doing headstands and handstands and jumps all over the place! Aliza is our budding actress, with the lungs to prove it (yet another gift from Daddy). She belts out any song (in key, mind you), anytime, anyplace. She also started with the swim team (joining Naomi), and the two of them have blossomed in the water. They are both strong swimmers and enjoy it immensely. Aliza learned how to ride a 2-wheeler this year, and is a natural with her scooter. She's also our fahion maven - the beret's in the picture are from our trip to Ottawa over Thanksgiving to visit Grandma Myrtle - Poppy Barnett thought they looked cute and Aliza wore hers all over the place!
Andrea has had the biggest changes - she finished up the year at Marlboro Middle School, then took another job teaching 7th grade Life Science in Freehold School District. The course material is more up her alley, and the 10 minute commute is great. She's been with Freehold since September and things are going very well. Of course, it's an entirely new curriculum, so she spends all her time doing lesson plans and grading papers! But the kids and Scott have done extra duty picking up the slack and giving her time to get used to the new job. Her coworkers and administration have been very supportive, and 7th graders seem more "cute" than 8th graders - that 1 year makes a huge difference!
Scott made his bi-annual job change, going from Atomica to BEA Systems, a fairly large software company that acquired a company back in 1999 that competed with one of Scott's former companies (Novera). It's been a bit of culture shock going to company that actually has revenues and product! Scott has been working with a group that built a brand new product that was launched in October. It's too early to tell how it will do, but the job situation and people have been great. We're putting odds on whether next years update will consist of the same company!!!
Also, the babies get bigger... we had first birthdays this year for Cameryn Thaler in May, Zachary Barnett in January. The girls loving being the "big cousins" and we've had quality time with both sets of families throughout the year.
Because of all the new jobs and school it was hard to take a lot of trips. We had a few visits from Grandma Tina (who flew in from Arizona) which are always nice. We also had a surprise 40th Wedding Anniversary party for Scott's parents up in Syracuse in July, and made it back in November for the annual Thanksgiving trek (and snow storm!) The kids spent the summer at Camp Ramah in East Brunswick, and that filled up pretty much the entire summer, not giving us a lot of time to travel around. All of our vacation funds are going toward this cruise, so it better be good!
Of course, we still have our "free" time for donating... Andrea had to cut back a bit with the PTA due to the job, but she has increased her time with ORT and is helping out quite a bit at our temple with the educational program and other areas. Scott is an active member of the First Aid Squad and rode on over 100 calls in 2003! Scott is now the Treasurer of the squad and is very active. We have enjoyed spending time at the temple and making new friends. The kids enjoy family night services and are very active in Hebrew School.
So, it's been another full year and we look forward to an equally exciting 2004. We hope this finds you and your family happy and healthy, and as always our door is always open - come by or call or email!
Love,
Andrea, Scott, Naomi and Aliza