CHRISTMAS 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope that you all have had a a wonderful 2009 Christmas.  sorry for the delay in getting our Holiday note out!.  We're celebrating Christmas in July this year!  (photo)

After graduating from high school, Anna went on a mission trip to Savannah, Georgia with the church youth group.  she had a restful summer, then started her first year at Augustana College in Rock Island, Il.  she is studying Classics and History , has a great roommate, and is truly enjoying her first year.  She is keeping up her martial arts by taking Tai Kwon Do.

Ben started his senior year in high school and is looking at several colleges for next year.  He went with Anna on the senior high mission trip to Georgia, met his current girlfriend there (she's from Kansas) and has plans to have her visit here.  Ben is continuing his music lessons on tuba and guitar.  Ben earned his brown belt in Karate this year.

Sarah started her first year in high school and has a full academic load.  she traveled with Elizabeth to Yellowstone Park and enjoyed the amazing geological formations.  she plays violin in the high school orchestra and has taken to karate, moving up a full belt at her first test.

Jonathan began middle school (6th grade) this year.  He is taking bass violin lessons and karate classes and is teaching himself piano.  He went to music camp last summer in Green Lake, Wi. singing and playing in the bell choir.  Through a local children's choir, he sang in Northwestern University's production of Bernstein's "Mass".

Rebecca is now in 1st grade and loves her teacher (who has tought three of her older sibs.).  She went with Jonathan to Green Lake and had fun hanging out and playing with the other kids.  Rebecca loves to paint and draw and easily makes friends where ever she goes.  She took ballet and enjoyed dancing but didn't like the lessons.  So, she quit.

Rachel turned 3 years old and , for the first time, realized the significance of having her birthday on Halloween.  You get to dress up and everyone give you candy!  She enjoys her days with our nanny (Annie who has been with us for 12 years now) and loves to swim at the YMCA.

This year brought a health scare for Elizabeth's mother who spent most of the second half of 2009 under treatment for breast cancer.  thankfully, there is no evidence of persistent cancer and she is feeling very well.  Just before thanksgiving and days before his 87th birthday, Duke's father died of complications from chronic lung disease.  We were grateful for the chance to spend time with him before his death and that he died peacefully with his wife and other family members at his side, singing to him.

Our family traveled to North Carolina this summer and enjoyed swimming in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  We also enjoyed our now traditional new Year in Door County.  Duke moved to a new department at Abbott to supervise work on a new (for him) lab instrument.  He will get to expand his collaborations with different groups at Abbott and have an opportunity to become more directly involved in drug development.  Elizabeth is continuing her medical practice with Aurora Medical Group.  the transition from private practice to corporate employee has been somewhat rocky and is still a work in progress.

We look forward to sending out our 2010 Christmas letters reasonably sooner that next summer.  We hope 2010is treating you well.