TODAY'S TOPIC: What is the best thing that happened to you in 2007?

Have you ever gone on a road trip? Well, I have! My mom, dad and siblings went on an exciting road trip to Colorado through Arizona and New Mexico. When we arrived in Colorado, I saw a raccoon on the property that my mom and dad bought when I wasn't even born yet. On the way back from Colorado, I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico. It had a lot of souvenir and gift shops. I bought a dead scorpion embedded in glass and a T-shirt with a map of Santa Fe as souvenirs. Then we drove back to Arizona where we visited the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. It was interesting to feed and pet the deer. It felt ticklish and gross. Before it was time to leave, I bought another souvenir, a long toy school bus. When it is pushed backwards, it moves forwards. Before we left Arizona we picked up some small lava rocks. It was a blast! Visiting Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico was the most exciting road trip ever! It was my favorite event in 2007.
Geo Lopez, 9
Castaic Elementary
Castaic

The best thing that happened to me was incredible because I was playing basketball with my school team. When we got in the gym, the ref told us all the rules, how to play and what not to do. Then we started the game and the other team was winning by two points. Then we had three seconds to shoot the ball into the hoop. My friend passed the ball to me and I made it before the time was over.
Jonathan Veliz, 10
Lemay Elementary
Van Nuys

In 2007 my favorite thing was I was getting picked up from school and my mom says we're picking up Ingrid, who is one of my best friends. When we picked her up both of us did not know what was happening. Ingrid's mom, Susan, said it will be cold. We soon found out we were going to Santa Barbara, but where? When we were near Santa Barbara we overheard my mom saying something about the Santa Barbara Bowl. I remembered the concert playing that night was Gwen Stefani. We were so happy. We had a great time at Gwen Stefani's concert!
Phoebe Brown, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

Looking back at the year 2007, my best memories were when I did a count down in school to know how many books I had read throughout the season! I have to say that was really interesting to me. Another project we did was to write letters to the elves in the North Pole and they really wrote back! That was shocking to happen to us. What I also enjoyed this year was when I went to the American Girl store with my dad because I got perfect grades in my class. Those were really fun memories that I will treasure and I can remember them through my older years when I am grown.
Jordan Anderson, 8
Castaic Elementary
Castaic

This year many great things have happened to me but there is one in particular that makes me smile every time I think about it. I am grateful for being a sixth-grader because we have so many newfound responsibilities like meeting and greeting people who are coming to observe our school. Also, I get to have a kindergarten buddy and treat him like my brother. Also, I am the second oldest student in the school and I am at the head and leading grade in school.
Wyatt Winborne, 12
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

2007 was the best year because I made it to 5th grade. I got to meet my wonderful, funny teacher. Her name is Ms. Delaney. She is a hardworking teacher. Sometimes she is kind of strict but I think that's good. She gives us nice things like boxes, glue, crayons and much more. The next best thing was that I get to spend all of my time with my friends that I cherish. I love Ms. Delaney and my friends.
Vanessa Obeso, 11
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

In 2007 I went to a football gamewith my dad and stayed until it was over. It took a long time. We had to wait until 4 quarters to leave. It really took a long time.
Aaron Sandoval, 8
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

This year I went to San Diego to see my cousin graduate from the U.S. Marines and I got my first Holy Communion.
Enrique Cardenas, 8
Sacred Heart School
Lancaster

The best thing that happened to me in 2007 was my birthday because we went to the beach with my friend. I got a trampoline and a cake. I jumped on the trampoline for the whole day with my friend, Mike. We did front flips. It was one of my best birthdays.
Matthew Farber, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

This year the best thing was I got a new dog. His name is Meeko. I get to play with him. I have fun with him!
Lauren Blodgett, 8
Sacred Heart Schoo
Lancaster

The best thing that happened to me this year was my birthday. This year I got many pretty things but the most special thing is that my favorite cousin got to come out here. She lives all the way in Long Beach. We were out all day long. We went to Magic Mountain. We went on all different kinds of rides but they didn't have loops or go upside down. After, when we were waiting for my mom, we ate a funnel cake. We had such a fun day.
Ajah Harrison, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

The best thing that happened to me in 2007 was adopting our dog, Hazel. Hazel is a sweet old German Shepard that didn't have a place to go. So we took her in as a foster dog. After awhile, as all foster dogs are, she was adopted. The catch to this was, the woman who ran the rescue center found out that the family was keeping Hazel chained up in the backyard. So she went and took her back. Because of this, she asked my family if we would like to foster her again while she found a new home. So we said that we would just adopt her. We took sweet old Hazel back and gave her a nice, warm home where she is not only allowed inside, but always allowed to sleep on the bed with us when she wants to. We also gave her two companions, Smudge and Lola, our other dogs. So that is what I consider the best thing that happened to me this year.
Connor Resnick, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

I went to San Francisco with my cousin and sister. In April I went to Hawaii to have fun with my whole family.
Kassidy Trumbo, 8
Sacred Heart School
Lancaster

There are a lot of good things in life that I appreciate. But if I had to choose in the year of 2007 it would be my beautiful Arabian horse, Mini. She can be very high-spirited and other times calm and lovable. I'm always asking my mom if I can ride her. When I got her it was for Christmas. It was so cool seeing her in her red bow in front of my doorstep.
Lacey Rossi, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

The best thing that happened to me in 2007 is when I had my 10th birthday. I went to my dad's house and he bought me a Nintendo Wii. It was so fun because I got a lot of cool presents.
Cristian Cisneros, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

The best thing that happened to me in 2007 is that I got my two guinea pigs. One is short-haired and her name is Sofie. Sofie is all brown with a white stripe on her back. The other guinea pig is long-haired and her name is Amber. Amber is white, brown and black. Amber is seven months old and Sofie is about five months old. When they are hungry, Sofie squeaks at the top of her little lungs. When Amber and Sofie see me, my mom or my sister, they purr like a cat. When we put fresh Timothy hay in their cage, they "popcorn" which is a happy dance.
Jessica Conn, 10
Live Oak Elementary
Castaic

The best thing that happened to me this year is when I had my birthday party. I had a big jumper with a slide. People gave toys, money, video games and cds. We ate cupcakes, rice and fish. It was the coolest birthday party I ever had.
Prince Salvador, 10
Lemay Elementary
Van Nuys

COMING UP: If you could learn how to play a musical instrument, which one would you choose and why? Draw a picture of yourself playing the instrument.

Parents and teachers should make sure that the student's name, address, age and school are CLEARLY PRINTED on the letters and the backs of drawings.

Pictures should be drawn using black or dark blue ink on white, unlined paper. Drawings must be no larger than a standard, 8 1/2-by-11 inch sheet of paper.

The deadline is Jan. 1 and letters will be printed Jan. 8. Letters received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Send entries to Kids' Daily News, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365-4200.