Hellewell Highlights for 2008

2008 has been quite a year for our family. This is just a glimps of what we have been up to this year! The first part of the year was spend being sick-all of us! I (Amy) was just exhausted from taking care of two sick people all the time. Brian was sick with sinus problems until he finally went in for surgery in April. He recovered rather well. We went back to Iowa during Memorial Day weekend. This was Brian and Kaili's first trip back to meet the family. We had a great time even though it was a quick 4 days! In June, I finished my job share of 4 years with my good friend Suzanne. We enjoyed teaching third grade together. I looked all summer for a new teaching position but nothing came around. This happened the same time Brian was presented with an amazing opportunity at a new company. So now I am able to be home full time with Kaili. I am enjoying teaching Kaili new things everyday! We have playdates with friends, go to Disneyland, and dance class. Kaili has been in ballet class since June. She seems to have a natural talent and dancing is her favorite thing to do. In August, Brian's mom came out to visit us for a week. We went to Sea World together and had a wonderful time.

By September we were just starting to get into a rountine. Kaili was going to preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays which gave me time to scrapbook and attend MOPS. This year not only am I a table leader but I am the Hospitality Coordinator. MOPS has been my lifesaver and I am so thankful that I am able to serve in such a wonderful group. Then in October, just as we were recovering from Kaili's surgery (she had her tonsils removed due to sleep apnea), we got the most shocking phone call ever-Brian's step father, Mike, had a heart attack and passed away. We immediately packed our bags and flew to Oregon. We spent a week out on the Barlow farm. Even though we were all there to mourn, we managed to have a good time when we went apple picking and hiked the Oregon Trail! Kaili also got to play in leaves with her cousin Lydia!

We made it home just in time for Halloween! This year Kaili was Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty. She picked out the costume at the Disney Store despite Brian's efforts for her to be a USC cheerleader! We went trick or treating with our good friends -The Wei Family).
In November we took a road trip up to San Francisco. There were a lot of first for Kaili: first BART ride, cable car ride, and first USC football game. It was against Stanford and we met a lot of Brian's friends there. Kaili had so much fun! We even made a stop at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as we drove up the coast!

And we made it through December! What a crazy month! We were in Florida from December 13-22! We spent the first 6 days at Walt Disney World then we drove to Miami Beach to see Serena. I got the royal treatment for my birthday! What could be better than a makeover, tiara, and dinner in a castle? Our neighbors were so nice to let us tag along with them! Emily, Penny, and Kaili are so cute together! We made it home in time to spend Christmas with Amy's parents in La Verne. Kaili got everything is asked for-which was a doll house and princess dolls! Santa was good to all of us this year!

Ching, Jennifer, Emily, Penny, Brian, Amy & Kaili at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Cinderella's Royal Table-December 17

Breakfast at Ohana-Priceless!

Rena and Ames-BFF in SoBe
Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning with Grandma and Grandpa

So we are really looking forward to 2009! We have a few things planned but as we have learned this year that sometimes the unexpected occurs! We will keep this blog updated and if you would like to see more photos, visit http://www.photos.hellewell.net/

Love,

Brian, Amy, and Kaili Hellewell