Annual Christmas Letter to Friends

December 4, 2010

Once again it is time to greet our family, friends, neighbors and whoever it is hiding behind the bushes – come out here now:

As the frozen white death falls from the sky, and the annual tradition of weeding out the broken holiday lights is finally complete, it is time to gather around the image of a fireplace on the DVD player with a cup of eggnog (ok, who drank all the rum?) and share our lives again.

So what has 2010 brought me this year?  Beer.  Really, what more could a man ask for?  My Christmas present from the kids last year was a beer making kit, and I have successfully made five batches now, and am continuing to learn about and enjoy this hobby.  Ever since I found a great deal on a kegerator from one of Diane’s clients I have been hoping to get it set up so I can have my own home brew on tap.  Other than brewing and drinking, I continue to work at The Design Knowledge Company and like it a lot.  I still am working with the band, and did another successful band camp, and still play with toy soldiers.  Yes, I’m a modern Renaissance man!

Diane’s year has not been quite so good, having been in the hospital a couple of times.  As she likes to put it, this has been her ‘rebuilding’ decade.  And she has been rebuilt.  I never thought I would be married to a cyborg, but she know has a completely new titanium knee, and is finally able to walk without pain for the first time in many years.  The Real Estate market is still down though we hope it begins to recover soon.  She was elected to be the Vice President of Membership of The Women’s Council of Realtors, and is expecting lots of trips to Columbus for meetings this coming year.

Becky took the big step of quitting her job at Coon Rapids high school to go completely freelance, and has not regretted it at all.  While still doing work for Sorenson’s video relay service, she is also interpreting at Le’ Cordon Bleu Academy, and may go full time there soon.  She and Lou are still together, and his puppy Burr-d loves her to death.   She still lives up in the snowy wilderness of Minneapolis and enjoying her life.

Jon had a bit of a rough year, with the school deciding he needed a little time to get himself together.  Luckily he took this to heart, eventually getting two jobs to pay his bills and get back on his feet.  He was able to get back in school for the Winter Semester starting in January, and is determined to get his degree (possibly in Business).  The biggest thing seems to be his head now, as he decided that heredity wasn’t working fast enough, and shaved his head completely bald! 

Katie has also had a frustrating year.  The concepts of going to school, getting a job, and being responsible for herself just didn’t seem to be coming together for her.  With a bit of tough love I told her that as once her current lease was up at the end of November, I would no longer pay ANY of her bills for her.  This finally got some action out of her, though not quite what I expected.  The weekend after Thanksgiving she was packed and on a bus to Albuquerque, where she is now living with her mother and starting a new life.

Erik graduated 7^th in his class from West Carrollton High School, and in the fall started at the University of Dayton in the school of Engineering, studying Computer Engineering.  He is sharing a dorm room with Zac Reed, one of his best friends for over 10 years.  He and Emily are still dating, and he seems to really be enjoying the change to college life.

            Matthew is a junior this year at WCHS and still in the marching band, having loads of fun playing baritone.  Finally reaching 16, he traded in his glasses for contact lenses (like all the rest of the kids) but refuses to admit how much he and Erik look alike.  While he is still in scouts (only needing his project to complete his Eagle), other things are starting to distract him, such as his girlfriend Jordan.

Scout was quite upset when the kegerator required his cage to be moved, and took well over a month to go back into again.  However he took it like a real trooper, and refused to let it interfere with his busy sleep schedule.  While starting to slow down a little bit, he is not looking to relinquish his spot on the couch any time soon.

2010 has been, as always, both a good and a bad year.  Even though it is starting to get quieter in the house with only one kid left, we know that the bonds of family will always keeps us close.  As always, we wish you and yours the very best during this season, and throughout the coming year.

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

Mike, Diane, Becky, Jon, Katlyn, Erik, Matthew and Scout