Dearest Friends and Family,

 Merry Christmas!  It is the season to remember not only God’s gift to us of His own son but also His gifts of family and friends.  How blessed we are!

 The first part of 2004 was mostly spent waiting for Aaron, our new addition. A whopping 9 lbs. 4 oz., he arrived one week overdue on September 15^th.  After an 8-hour, drug-free labor and delivery, he came out sleeping, and to this day, sleeps 12 hours per night!!  When he’s not sleeping, he’s cooing, “talking”, laughing, pooping, and eating.  Already we can tell he’s going to be a terrific kid, patient and funny.

 Stephen’s the big kindergartener.  Smart and friendly, he’s making friends and getting opportunities to show off his ability to read.  He’s pretty “geeked out” over his new Game Boy, playing Pokemon Leaf Green every chance he can get.  This wee, he lost his privileges for the first time because he couldn’t stop licking his brother!  I’m guessing the urge come from the available space in his mouth due to his missing teeth.

 Andrew is so interesting, talking to anyone that’ll give him an ear.  (Nothing like his mom or dad!)  He loves outside and futzing with anything in his path.  He’s at a new preschool with a lot less kids, so he gets tons of attention.  He loves to watch Scooby-Do, but his favorite show is Tom and Jerry, which gives him contagious, out of control, belly laughs!

 Adrienne is settling in to being a mom of three boys.  Although the boys require tons of energy during the day, she’s getting some great sleep at night.  When the boys give her time, she is organizing the house, reading or quilting.  She’s enjoying meeting and hanging our with “school moms,” not to mention spending time with her terrific aunt’s, parents, cousins, and friends!

 Chris loves to shoot trap and skeet.  He’s always trying to squeeze in a few rounds when he can.  He’s had an unusually longer opportunity to work from home, and as always, spends as much of that time as possible with Adrienne and the kids.  His consulting business is growing and venturing into other parts of the world.

 This summer, our extended family had a blast at a resort in Wisconsin Dells.  We had a terrific dinner at a restaurant called The Field’s (sans kids) and water- parked, water-parked, water-parked.

 At home, we are desperately waiting for enough dry days to complete a backyard project we started in October.  Shortly after the bobcat took away nine truckloads of dirt and left a big gaping hole, it rained.  We haven’t had a good stint of weather since then to finish the planned re-grading and terracing.  I think all hope is gone until Spring, when the hole fills up with spring thaw and allows us, at least for a short time, to tout having a pool.

 That sums it up.  We thank God for 2004 and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

 Keep well,

 Chris, Adrienne, Stephen, Andrew, and Aaron