Happy Holidays! We hope 2006 was a great year for you. We managed to visit family and friends, probably did too many extra-curricular activities, and balanced the usual school and work in between. For the second consecutive year, we didn’t move, have a baby, or travel the world. We did, however, continue to slay bats with tennis rackets and run over deer with our van. But, just to screw up your address book again, we recently learned that we’re moving to Atlanta, Georgia! Todd will be the OIC (Officer In Charge) of a C-12 squadron at NAS Atlanta. Since the powers-that-be tried (three times) to get Todd to take orders to New Orleans (“Really, what are the odds of another hurricane hitting here so soon!”), we are considering this a great opportunity. Plus, it’s a good job for Todd (which is Navy speak for “You’d be an idiot to turn this down”). Kelly is still “at home” with the kids (three in school, one to go!) The kids are all healthy, happy, and far too energetic. As is our tradition (and because we don’t do much that doesn’t involve them) we will share a little about them…
Amanda – age 9, 4th grader, future dog trainer/cat trainer/pet store keeper and seller/possible veterinarian (if there’s not too much blood) would love for Santa (who she says “is a real guy, but is helped out by mom and dad”) to bring her prehistoric fish, carnivorous plants, a golden lab puppy, a puppy mood ring, a one way ticket to Quebec to eat flat pancakes, and a one-way ticket to Atlanta. Lessons learned this year include, “The Easter Bunny is really pink instead of plain; Santa uses some kind of magic to deliver presents; don’t bite snakes; don’t attack a bear when you’re younger than it; don’t trust people with axes in their bags; don’t bring your principal a poisonous snake or komodo dragon; and don’t inhale smoke from burning poison ivy.”
Julia – age 7, 2nd grader, future volunteer vet/police officer/or professional bowler, would love for Santa to bring her a Golden Retriever puppy named “Fudge”, an iPod, a microscope and telescope, $2, Monster House, and The Wild. She has expressed a desire to write a book entitled “Things You Can’t Do When Someone Else is in the Bathroom.” We’ll keep you posted on that. She learned this year that, “Falling on your face can sometimes knock your teeth out; you can get a burn from flaming toilet paper; don’t fight with your teacher; snakes can swim, but not if the go the wrong way and get attacked by fish; you can eat carrots RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND!; and don’t keep begging your mom for something you want or she’ll have a meltdown.”
Allison – age 5, Kindergarten princess, future lifeguard, has politely requested that Santa bring her a piano, 12 Dancing Princesses Book, a real dress of Ariel, a Dalmatian puppy with a hole in the present and food so he doesn’t die, a trip to Japan, a pet fish, and an Ariel kitchen. This year, so far, she has learned, “About Christmas, Rainbows, and hearts; Don’t eat a snake or a deer if they are still alive. Also, don’t eat bombs, yellow shirts with buttons, or money.”
Matthew – age 2 1/2, future singer/fish trainer/magician/mountain climber, still really desperately wants more boys around. For Christmas (according to his sisters) he’d like, “A builder thing, his very own pet duck named ‘Brian’, a pretend hammer, air fresheners for his pants, a mini pogo stick, and a marker that only writes on paper and nothing else.” This year, he learned to never let sister Allison near him with a pair of scissors; pointing and grunting (sadly) is no longer effective communication; ladders are notrequired to (for example) climb on bunk beds and spin ceiling fans; tractors are the best things ever invented; and, it’s fun to take your
pants off and run around (especially outside, where all the neighbors will see).
Our home is always open to anyone wanting to visit us. Have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Todd, Kelly, Amanda, Julia, Allison, and Matthew
Todd, Kelly, Amanda, Julia, Allison, and Matthew
