The Barnett Family Update 2007

Barnett Family Update 2007

Welcome to the 7th year of our Holiday web updates! The only thing that doesn't change is the hokey way I update our website - with all the new technology out there (especially ones we're developing ourselves - see below!) you'd think we'd come up with a more modern way to build the site!

The girls are now 13 and 11 - The picture on the left was taken at Naomi's Bat Mitzvah in June. Hard to believe we now have a teenager! Of course, Aliza is not far behind at all. We had an amazing year - just so many fantastic things happened for all of us

The biggest news of 2007 (as previously reported) was Naomi's Bat Mitzvah. It was a magical experience and we couldn't be prouder of our wonderful daughter. She did an AMAZING job reading the Torah and she got kudos from practically everybody who was involved. We followed up her special weekend with a 2 week trip to Israel. All four of us went as well as Nanny and Poppy. We spent time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Eilat, and all points in between. Naomi had a second Bat Mitzvah on top of Masada, once again, doing a fantastic job. When we came back from Israel the girls finished the season with their local swim team and went off for four weeks to Camp Ramah. It was Aliza's first sleep-away summer and she had a great time. Naomi was once again in her element there and brought pride to her camp swim team with an awesome butterfly stroke! But it doesn't stop there - Naomi started 8th grade and is doing wonderfully, and has been applying to specialty high schools already. She really likes the humanities program at Howell, and we're all hopeful she will get in. She is once again in the School Play (Grease), Show Choir, Darfur club as well as a new dance team and sports (Soccer, Basketball). Naomi enjoys her friends, instant messaging (ALL DAY LONG), going to a never-ending stream of friends Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and attends Hebrew High school. Naomi is also in a special group at school called Conflict Managers, a small and selected group of 8th graders that deal with complex student issues at the school.

Aliza has been equally busy and now that the attention is off Naomi from her Bat Mitzvah, the spotlight will begin to shine on Aliza's (we already have the date in 2009 of her special event, and have to start reserving locations/caterers/etc! Amazing, right?). Aliza started Middle School in 6th grade and has settled in with no problems. Both girls made Honor Roll for the first report card - Aliza did an excellent job. Aliza enjoys gymnastics, soccer and basketball, and is also in choir, Darfur club and student government at school. She attends Hebrew school two night per week. She still takes piano lessons as well, has a great ear and is getting better. She also absolutely loves Girl Scouts.

Andrea is in her 4th year at Solomon Schechter as the Middle School Science teacher. She has really settled in there and enjoys the job and kids tremendously. Her duties there have increased to teaching 5th grade and a special science enrichment program as well as guiding the building of a new science lab and K-5 science program. One of the best perks last year was a free trip to Israel in February to be trained in the enrichment program. She felt like she was 22 again flying off unaccompanied and seeing many friends she made when she was there in 1985. She is still involved with the synagogue and stays very busy being the primary taxi driver for all the kids activities.

Scott is still at Bluenog, and the company has grown very nicely. It takes up a lot of time, but it's been very exciting watching the company grow and succeed. The company released its first product of its own this year, a Content Management and Platform product that can be used (among other things) to manage websites. Perhaps next year we'll do our update running on Bluenog Platform! Scott is still involved with the First Aid Squad and shares in the taxi duties.

We really enjoy all the cousins - we see Alison and Cameryn Thaler pretty regularly, but Kaitlyn and Zachary Barnett not often enough! We're planning a ski trip to Canada with the Thaler cousins over winter break, and hopefully a visit to Grandma Myrtle (in Ottawa) and Nanny and Poppy (Syracuse) on our way back. We had the chance to see most of our close family and friends this summer at Naomi's event and we treasured seeing all of you. Our sister Arianne is taking NYC by storm with the big 21st year in life and junior year at Yeshiva University. Zayde and Jani enjoyed a 25th Wedding Anniversary and will be cruising in February. Grandma Tina is moving again...EAST! We will look forward to having her near us in the new year.

So, it's been another full and mostly wonderful year and we look forward to 2008. 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

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Barnett Family Update 2007