It seems another year has come and gone faster than the one before.  I know it has been some time since I have written in this space but I thought that in spirit of living green I would save some paper and publish our annual Christmas letter on line.   

The past year has been a busy one for us.   As the kids get older they seem to be involved in more and more activities which in turn, means that Michelle and I are always on the go.  It seems we are constantly trying to balance schedules and frequently have to "divide and conquer" and end up taking the kids in different directions.  That would explain one of the many reasons that I have not kept this space up to date.  

Even though all of the kids keep us running Emily seems to keep us busy most night of the week.   She is still dancing but know that is up to twice a week, once for ballet and jazz and the other for pointe.   Her dancing activities were curtailed earlier this year for about eight weeks because she broke her ankle in P.E. class.  If the sounds familiar it is.  This is the second time that P.E. class has claimed her ankle.  This time the break was not as severe and it was on the other ankle but it still kept her out of Dance for a while.  

The ankle injury might have taken her out of dance class for a while but that was it.  She is still involved in Girl Scouts and is currently working on the Silver Award which is the second highest Girl Scout Award a girl can earn.   When we are not running her to dance or Girl Scouts there is always something going on with her Confirmation class at church.  As if that's not enough she keeps a pretty busy social calendar too.  We are always dropping her off at a friends house for a party or something else.  

I am told that this is pretty typical behavior for 12 year old girl.  Michelle and I are basically Emily's answering service when she is not home.  Anytime the phone rings I can almost bet it is not for me.   I thought it would be getting better last February when we gave her a cell phone for her birthday but it hasn't.

Even though Alex is not quite the social butterfly that his sister is he keeps us moving pretty fast.  He is still passionate about baseball and has found his position at catcher.  He was really excited this fall when he found out that we had signed up up for a six week clinic with an ex major league catcher.   Baseball is a year round thing for him.   

Like his sisters he is still involved in scouts.  He is a first year Webelo this year and is enjoying doing more outdoor things instead of crafts.    If he isn't outside with the scouts he is trying to get someone to take him fishing or hiking.   

When he is not playing ball or scouting he is being a typical boy and hanging out with his friends and playing video games.  If Emily's friends are capable of giving you a headache with their constant phone calls and gossiping Alex and his friends will make your head feel like is going to explode with the things the come up with.   All of his friends are in the gifted program with him and when they get together there is no limit to the ideas they can come up with.  Take for example their science fair project.   Alex and his friend decided to see which method would allow you to open a soda can after it had been shaken up with out the soda exploding.   Luckily his friend's parents are little more laid back and let them do the experiment at their house.  Their control was to roll the soda down the steps from the second floor and then open the cans up in the bath tub after they did their experiments like tapping on the top of the can or whatever and measuring how high it shot up on the wall.   

Last but certainly not least is Mallory.   If any of the kids keep us on our toes it is Mallory.   She tries her best to keep up with her sister more so than her brother.   If Emily has her hair done a certain Mallory thinks her hair needs to be done the same way, if Emily is going somewhere Mallory thinks she needs to go to.   

Even though she tries to emulate her sister she is also coming into her own.  She started full day kindergarten this year and loves because she feels like a big kid.   She is starting to read and learn all sorts of things.   Just ask her about echolocation in nocturnal animals the next time you see her.  

Mallory is also our little artist.  She will draw on anything and I mean anything.  It could be a blank piece of paper or a bill or the wall, the problem is she is pretty good but we don't need any murals on the walls around the house.   She also loves to dance as much as her older sister.  Mallory is just more outgoing about it.   If she can see her reflection in a mirror, or window she will dance to whatever song is in her head.  She has even gotten in trouble at school for dancing at the wrong times.  

Michelle is still the glue that holds everything together around here.  She keeps the place clean and makes sure everyone leaves the house on time and looking somewhat presentable.  She manages to do this all while working full time at St. Lukes Hospital, running the girls here and there and making sure homework is done and all that. 

With all of that she still finds time to volunteer with both Emily and Mallory's Girl Scout troops and teach Sunday School at church.    

I guess that leaves me.  As many of you know I started a new job in July.  After working for the State Public Defenders Office for 14 and a half years I decided it was time to move on.   I am now working for Charter Communications in the Internet Security Department.   The work is a little more challenging than before but I enjoy it.    

I also coach Alex's baseball team and I am still the Committee Chairman of the Cub Scout Pack at school.   I am still taking pictures and making mosaics but that has slowed down a little since I started the new job.   

We hope that the past year has been filled with as much fun and joy as ours has and we wish you the merriest of Christmas and much happiness in the new year.  Please drop us a email or a phone call and let us know how you are doing.  I have posted some pictures on the Picture Page.  If you would like a description of the picture you are viewing click on "Image Info" below the picture.