Thursday, December 22, 2005

2005 Christmas letter

Our 2005 Christmas letter. Links to previous letters are at the end. Pictures from the letter are in previous posts.

Merry Christmas!

We have been blessed in many ways this past year. I have been a full time house-husband most of this year. I appreciate the opportunities I have had to be involved in the kids life on a day-to-day basis. Helping the kids with homework, volunteering in Tim's kindergarten class, driving on field trip driving, score keeping for Kristin's basketball team etc. has really gotten me in touch with their lives. Still, I am ready to return to a career working outside the home and I am confident that will happen in 2006.

Michele has been working since March for ADP. She implements Payroll systems for new customers. People like to start new payroll systems at the start of a new year, so the Holiday Season is Michele's busiest season in this position. Busy season is actually barely controlled mayhem that keeps her working weekends as well as very early mornings. Other than that drawback, her job is going well. Michele is really well qualified for the position and is already considered a senior and valued member of her team.

Tim started Kindergarten this year and is one of the most popular kids in the class. As for his ability to pay attention and stay on task....
did I mentioned he is well liked? Tim played T-ball this summer and looked really cute in the uniform.

Grace has really blossomed academically this year. Her third grade teacher is thrilled with her work and her interest in reading has exploded. Grace had a flare up with her arthritis (JRA) that required treatment and physical therapy. We are thankful that it has all calmed down now and she doesn't have any remaining limitations because of it. Grace also had her tonsils out in November. Grace and I spent a lot of quality time with Doctors etc. this year. We are hopeful there will be fewer medical issues next year.

Kristin had another great year in soccer and just started basketball for the year. Sixth grade keeps her very busy since along with her regular homework she has major projects: a country project, a science project, social studies projects. Kristin loves computer games and TV as well as spending time with her friends, so it is a major challenge to focus on her long term assignments. We hope she learns from both her successes and failures. Kristin and Grace had a special two week “Camp Granny and Grandma” in the summer where they visited with both sets of Grandparents and enjoyed Southern California's activities. It is such a blessing that their Grandparents enjoy and are able to spend time with the kids.

Our best wishes for Happy Holidays, a Happy New Year and a Prosperous 2006.

Love,

Ralph, Michele, Tim, Grace, and Kristin

Links to previous letters:

2004 Holiday Letter

2003 Holiday Letter


2002 Holiday Letter

2001, 2000 Holiday letters are missing

1999, 1998, 1997 Holiday Letter links

Grace's Physical Therapy Picture


The other kids had pictures of their sports (T-Ball for Tim, Soccer for Kristin); Grace wanted a picture of her sport which this year was physical therapy. Posted by Picasa
Kristin's soccer picture, I put this on the Christmas letter. Posted by Picasa
This one turned out cute from the Oakridge play area (after the Santa pictures) Posted by Picasa

Grace and Santa

 Posted by Picasa

All the kids with Santa

This was the Oakridge Mall Santa. Nice Santa, good beard but you couldn't take your own pictures. They wanted all the picture profits.Posted by Picasa

Tim and Santa

Tim trying to convince Santa he'd been nice this year. Posted by Picasa