We are all settled into our new home and are very happy that all of the moving boxes are gone! We finally have a grassy yard and a cedar fence that Rob and our neighbors built. Emily and Alex love our neighborhood because there are so many kids to play with!

Emily will be five on December 13 and is in her last year at preschool. She really loves going to school and has lots of new friends there too. She is writing pretty well and knows how to write most of the alphabet. Her favorite things are singing, coloring and playing dress-up. She likes to dress Alex in her pretty dresses and high heels!

Alex is a growing boy of two! He just moved into a toddler bed and has adjusted well to it although he doesn't take naps anymore. He also gave up his pacifier right after his birthday. Cars are his passion and he already has a fast-growing collection of Hot Wheels. He knows the names of all the race cars and their drivers and he and Daddy watch the races on Sundays. Even though Emily dresses him up, he is still all boy and has shown signs of the terrible twos - NO, NO, NO!

Rob is still with T-Systems and has not yet been affected by Freightliners' downsizing. We are keeping our fingers crossed that his contract will remain for a long time. Rob has been traveling a lot this year - 4 times to Vegas (once for his brother Erik's wedding to Shannon - yeah), the yearly fishing trip to Potholes and a weeklong trip to Orlando for a COE conference. He plans to stay home for a long time to recuperate!

I'm still home with the kids all day and play shuttle driver for Emily. I'm thinking about becoming a Girl Scout leader for Daisy Scouts next year. That should be an adventure!

We lost two wonderful members of our family this past year. Rob's grandparents, Bud and Doris Thatcher, passed away earlier this spring. We all miss them very much. We know Grandpa was smiling when the Yankees beat the Mariners!

We hope all of our friends and family are happy and healthy this holiday season. God bless everyone!