The New Year brought new snow - and the kids enjoyed every minute of it!   As you can see, Hannah did too.   Believe it or not, this summer she turned FOUR!  The kids are doing really great taking responsibility for her with food & letting her out and she even enjoys having them around sometimes!  Must be something about knowing they'll feed her.. 

We tired quickly of all the snow -- but of course, it wouldn't be Ohio without a last minute Spring Snow!  We spent a lot of time (& MONEY!) this year trying to get the house prepared for all the seasons -- solar window film, replaced some windows, put in a back-up furnace system into the attic, did some additional electrical, lots more painting, added another patio section, spent LOTS on landscaping & planting some trees for (future) shade...  There are many days Michelle figures it would be cheaper to just move back home to Cincy! 

FAMILY NEWS:    We were able to visit with the Edwards & Collins last Spring and beyond the joy of being somewhere WARM, we just had a blast being with all our friends!  We spent over a week in Las Vegas and (as you can see on the left) we toured Hoover Dam, took all the kids to Old Nevada and M&M World, and just did some hangin' out.  It wasn't so hard to leave knowing that we'd see the Edwards again in June / July when they came to Ohio to visit with us for almost a week...  Our other big travel was to hang out with Daddy while he was working in Columbia, MD.   We commuted into DC for a few days and also did some awesome kid stuff in Baltimore!   The kids just thought it was pretty cool to hang out at the hotel in the pool and get spoiled by the "Breakfast Lady"  LOL!  The other big family news?  The family is expanding!  "Baby Bean" is due in early June, but we're fairly confident that this will be a May baby!  No word yet on the sex of the baby, but we CAN guarantee that there is only ONE baby this time!!

HARRY NEWS:   Harry tied up with his client in Columbia, MD  (US Foods) and in keeping with the food theme, headed for a return gig at Brinker in the Dallas, TX area!   The main thing he "accomplished" this year was living to his 40th birthday!  (Nope - neither the kids, dog OR Michelle managed to do him in yet!)  We had a nice little gathering for him and many folks (thanks!!) sent in some pictures & memories for Harry, along with suggestions on how to face his 40th year, which all went into a great journal book for him to treasure.   He was extremely touched that many of you would take the time to do that - so again, THANKS!  (And for those of you thinking to yourself - "oops, I had that together to send it & now it's too late..." NOPE - it's NEVER too late :) !!   Go ahead & send it to him!!

MICHELLE NEWS:   Michelle went out west this past August to attend another scrapbooking convention (CKU-Albums).   She got to spend almost a week in Utah with Sheila - and they were even still talking at the end of the week!  And of course, the main news is the pregnancy.  This one is not going as easily as the twin pregnancy -- she's been VERY sick and tired and the ob is just trying to get her to a point where she can function.   Harry has been very good about avoiding saying those three dirty words.... "advanced maternal age". 

PATRICK NEWS:   Patrick is in kindergarten this year and has three main loves:   Rescue Heroes, Hot Wheel Acceleracers, and DINOSAURS!  Each trip to the school library means yet another dinosaur book - hopefully they won't run out!  He played Spring & Fall soccer and seemed to really enjoy himself, although he has mentioned that he would like to try football next year.  (Sigh....)  Patrick is our sensitive soul - but yet what a ham he is!  Here he is "tipping his hat" after a trip to the driving range with Grampa... and he's often the one asking for the camera to come out so that he can make funny faces & poses for posterity!

KEVIN NEWS:  Kevin is also in kindergarten this year and his three main loves are:  Hot Wheels Acceleracers, food, and tormenting Patrick.  Kevin also played Spring & Fall soccer, and by fall he really started to get the hang of it!   We were all so excited the day he made a goal, too!  Looks like Kevin is going to be a little squirt - he was excited to just break the 40 pound mark the other day!

We hope that you had an enjoyable 2005 and that as the year ends and a new one begins, you find yourself surrounded with friends, family and good fortune.  We're sure that our 2006 is going to be rather interesting with a new addition to the family, trying to get some travel in before Michelle is "home bound", and the boys moving from the Kindergarten Village on to first grade in the "regular" elementary school!   So feel free to keep in touch with us via the website, and also for more mundane day-to-day items, check out the blog, too!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & A SAFE & HEALTHY NEW YEAR 2006 TO YOU ALL!!