Well, it is that time of year again. The time to reflect on the past and look forward to what is to come. This will be a two part post. The second part will focus on the year to come. Right now I want to look back at this amazing year.

The year 2007 has seen the Soodz clan live to two different states & two different countries! Plus we have added new members to the family and lost a member. It has been a year of grief and loss, but also a year to celebrate and gains. We have watched our children grow, as we too have gotten older and hopefully a little wiser.

January we were in California, pregnant and happy. Becca and I were adventurous and enjoying time with new friends. We enjoyed trips to Disneyland and the zoo. I was knitting and enjoying time with Marina and Holly. We also welcomed some fellow Canadians to California!

February was a warm month in California. Becca swam in our little yard, in her kiddie pool (something tells me we will NOT be swimming outside in February here in Canada)

March was my baby shower for Ethan, it was so amazing to be surrounded by so many mothers and celebrate. Some of those women I never saw again

April was all about Ethan! He arrived with perfect timing and left us in awe and bliss. J’s Mom stayed with us to help out and we learned how to be a family of four.

May was a flurry of play dates, adventures and visiting. I was trying to experience it all before we left California. My Dad came for a visit and to meet his new Grandson.

June we celebrated Becca’s third birthday early with all her friends. It was a wonderful pool party, perfect celebration of our time in California.

July we arrived in New Mexico. Our stuff did not.

August we went on our first family camping trip. It was so FUN! We adopted Skippy the Alley Cat. I injured my foot pretty badly, then limped to many chiropractor appointments to get back on both feet.

September my Dad came to New Mexico for a visit. We also said good bye to our dear sweet cat, Charisma and watched as Becca’s heart broke. J went for an interview in Nova Scotia for a tenure track professor position.

October was a blur. J was offered a position in Nova Scotia … to start January 2008. Started Packing. We celebrated Ethan’s first Halloween in style. Ethan as a Hot Dog and Becca as a butterfly.

November we continued to prepare for our trek back to Canada. Said our good byes in New Mexico.

December we made it home. Our stuff arrived in tact and on time. Sadly our car has not. It is on a train in Ontario and has been for almost two weeks. ugh. We have enjoyed the snowy walks and adventures with the children. Ethan’s first Christmas ws magical. Becca received a call from Santa and believes in all the magic Christmas has to offer. We even had friends come to visit us in our new home.

We have finally arrived.

We shall begin.

That is a very brief recap of our year … Now for a visual … Happy New Year Everyone …

An old friend from university found me on Facebook last night and asked, where I was and what I was up to. It was so freaking weird to type, “Well at the moment I am in a motel in Albuquerque.” Although I am quite sure she meant like in life, but I had to answer literally.

I am in shock. Today we embark on returning home. I have slept my last night in the US and from now on (excluding some future holiday) I will be sleeping in my own country. It is yet to be 6 am but I feel like that Disneyland commercial where the kids can’t sleep “We’re too EXCITED” and the parents are giggling ’cause they are not sleeping either.

The first leg of our journey started off slow. I was burning out, packing, cleaning, caring for the children. So J & I had a bit more to clean and organize before leaving the townhouse. Ummm yeah and we forgot the baby’s food! Good thing he is still not eating a ton. I am sure I have seen baby food for sale in airports.

Oh my gosh, so we had to rent a vehicle to get off the Hill and to the airport. The rental place did not have what we had requested so they gave us a pimped out Suburban! J came home after picking it up and was all … “I feel like Tony Sorprano”. No joke. It was wild and quite luring to drive such a beast. My inner environmentalist was crying but damn it was kinda cool.

So today we head to the airport, flying into Chicago first then after a layover off to Halifax. Thankfully our waiting times are meal times, so after checking in early here at the airport we can have lunch, then in Chicago have supper. Kids are so less cranky when well watered and fed, much like house plants just nosier. hehe.

The cat has been traveling well. He was pretty spazed when we took him out of the carrier in the motel. Becca is pleased that indeed we are bringing him and that Skippyjon is doing so well.

I have some presents and surprises for Becca (And Ethan but really as long as he can breastfeed and be close enough to touch me he is fine) for the flights. She is beside herself with excitement. I have given her a few things since 99.9% of her toys are on the moving truck. She is so cute…”Is it a cat???? It is a cat .. a baby cat.” Why did I not just buy cats???

I am so excited! ugh Now I have the Sorpranos theme song stuck in my head …. “Woke up this morning … “

Well the movers are here as I type this, scooping up our boxes and loading them up in the truck.

J & I worked our butts off packing and finalizing it all. Last night we were up late, Ethan along with us, since he could not sleep. My body aches from moving boxes and packing. It is finally coming to a close. The next few days we will be camping out in our empty house. Becca and I will be cleaning then saying our good byes to the friends we have made here.

I uploaded a bunch of pictures on Flickr and now that most of the “work” is done I should be able to catch up with blogging. I really miss living each day “normally”.

Becca has had some anxiety. A few accidents and worries, along with nightmares, but besides all that she is awesome. She is rocking the imagination, building towers, cranes and playing a lot on her own. It is bitter sweet. I love that she is so independent, but my heart breaks as she grows up.

Ethan now has six teeth, his top ones finally broke through. He is still only able to propel himself backwards, forward motion alluding him for the moment.

J took this morning off to relieve some of the pressure on me to handle everything. All this moving and change has been hard, but we are finally on the last leg of the journey. Not long now until we are on the road again.

Oh gosh this move is kicking my butt! I have never slacked this much in the blogging, like EVER! *sigh*

Ethan is starting to feel better. We no longer live with a seal. w00t. Now his front teeth are driving him mad, making him cranky and clingy. I can hardly wait to snuggle up with my kids in Canada and not a care in the world.

We sent off all presents, cards and letters (except for a few special cases). It feels good to have that taken care of. We have also been packing fiends. We may just have this all done in the week and a half we have left before the moving truck arrives.

I have been a knitting fool too. Whipping out projects like there is a knitting ban in Canada. Odd. I think it is stress relief for me. Now if only taking pictures of all the projects was a relief too I could share it with you all.

I have yet to completely lose my mind, although I have come close a few times.

I am ready.

I am ready not to move anymore. To settle down, raise the family. Knit. Read. Sleep.

I am so ready.

Our wedding anniversary was wonderful. I was surprised with roses! In a gorgeous purple juice container! Poor J, I had packed the vase away already. The roses are no less beautiful. I also received a very cool bag (I (heart) bags). J is now the owner of a new watch (I think this is the fourth one I have bought for him!) We went to the Santa Fe Market then off to run errands. In the evening the four of us dined at a fancy cafe up here on the Hill. Becca and Ethan were both on their best behaviour all day, making it perfect. We were even able to watch a movie this evening! We lead such exciting lives … hehe!

With all the love, I thought I would share with you a really neat book that was sent to me by Source Books, “I Love You More” By Laura Duksta . Becca and I have read through it a few times already. It is a great curl up and snuggle book. Becca really liked all the different themes (animals, bugs, the ocean) on each page, giving lots to discuss. She was not entirely thrilled to flip the book over for another version of the story, but being Three, she is routine orientated. Once it was explained it was the boy’s turn she was cool with it.

Here’s you chance to win a copy! Share with me in the comments how you and your kids (or pets!) show each other you love each other and you will be entered to win a copy of “I Love You More”. A special Thank you to Tony & Source Books for the opportunity to review & giveaway such a wonderful treasure. A winner will announced by Wednesday