Christmas Letter...

Merry Christmas from the Calvillo's!!

We decided to do a little 2007 recap on our blog this year in lieu of a printed letter! Enjoy!

2007 has been a good year. We've had our ups and downs but it's ending on a good note. Our little Alex is growing up so fast. It's hard to believe he's already almost a year and a half. He's walking (and running) everywhere! He's talking up a storm, and is picking up new words everyday. His favorite Christmas-time words are Angel, Snow, Jingle Bells and Touchdown! We are enjoying every day with our wonderful son and are so thankful and blessed with a happy and healthy little boy. Christmas is so much fun with a child in the house. Joe and I are having fun coming up with new family traditions and looking at the season through a completely different set of eyes. For us, Alex just makes everything better!!!

Joe has been working at Twin City Bagel as a Production Manager for the last year and a half. For most of the last year he's been working on the 2nd shift (if you've tried to make plans with us, you know how this has put a damper on our social life!) He just loves being Alex's dad and spends most of his free time thinking up fun games and loving on his little boy. Alex thinks Daddy is just the best! Joe's had a rough last few months. In August, during a routine ingrown toenail procedure, he was injected with rubbing alcohol into his big toe, instead of the anesthetic. Needless to say, this has caused him many problems including 2 hospital stays and many, many doctor and physical therapy appointments. He's going to be okay, but he will probably never regain any feeling in his toe again.

I started working again this fall. I'm working three days a week as the front desk receptionist at Berean Baptist Church. My friend, Steph, also works there, so I get a ride to work from her! It's also fun because Steph and I have worked at two other churches together, so it's great that we can make it three!!! It's also been good to get out of the house and have some meaningful work outside of the home. It's the best of both worlds as I still get to be home with Alex a couple of days a week. We found a wonderful woman, Yuri, that watches Alex when Joe and I are at work. Not only is she very caring, but she speaks Spanish to him all day long. So, Alex has already been incorporating Spanish words into his vocabulary!

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This year, we took our first major roadtrip, to Kansas, to attend Joe's nephew's wedding and visit with his family! We had a great time and found out that Alex is a great traveler and loves riding in the car. Alex was able to meet his Grandpa Vargas and a bunch of aunts and uncles and cousins on this trip too. He sure has lots of family that loves him! We've taken a couple of trips to South Dakota as well, and enjoyed small town life with my mom and Mark. Joe's brother Louie and his family came from North Dakota to spend Easter with us and we hope to drive up to see them again soon.

In other family news, my sister Bonnie was married to Tim Coyer this September. It was a beautiful day and we are thrilled to welcome Tim to the family. Also, my dad and Chris are moving shortly after Christmas from Champlin to their new house in Ramsey, which they just finished building. We are excited to celebrate Christmas next year in the new house!

We think about and remember our friend Paul Lundquist, during this Christmas season.

Well, that's our life this past year. We are so thankful for our friends and family and wish you a blessed and wonderful Christmas. And may the Manger and the Baby who lay in it so many years ago, be evident to you during this season.

Love, Joe, Holly and Alex Calvillo