Merry Christmas!

Family photo by person who we love who's name will go unsaid. Follows is our Christmas letter.

As a family, we traveled to Mishewah Family Camp. This past year sets the bar high for future years. Simply amazing swimming weather, lots of good eats, wonderful cabin stay, relaxing, and fabulous times with old and new friends alike. Join us next year?

Running continues to dominate Anne’s life. She completed her first marathon of 42.2k in 3:48, but she found she really didn’t really like the distance so completed her first ultra, 55.9k in six hours. Many other running and triathlon races took up many a weekend. A highlight being second at Haliburton 26k Trail race. She would have had first but she got a little distracted by the bear on the trail. Anne enjoyed being part of the Saugeen Triathlon Club’s Board of Directors this past year but in leading several learn to run clinics has found she has a heart for encouragement and will be a coach with the club next year. She continues to work as a registered nurse at the Chesley Hospital to fund races and running shoes. To occupy herself on the night shift sewing has become Anne’ s resting hobby. Maya’s closet benefits . Just to add another sport, Anne has started cross country skiing.

Luke continues to enjoy his computer consulting and repair business in Walkerton, which continues to gain businesses and home clients. His competitive side did not allow Anne all the glory, did some running this year and won a medal for a 24 minute 5K fun in Owen Sound, one of his main goals. Involvement at Hanover Missionary Church increased, with Luke accepting a seat the ministry council there, which acts as the board. It’s something new but also something he is really enjoying so far. Luke still maintains his interest in rally car racing and once again attended the Tall Pines Rally in Bancroft this year.

Maya baby girl isn't so much our baby girl anymore but an opinionated, expressive, seven year old. She continues to attend grade two french immersion at Dawnview Public School. All of a sudden one day, seemingly like magic she started reading both English and French. A whole new world has opened to her. Although she still loves being read too, her current favourite being the Junie B. Jones books. Mondays she has piano lessons; we only have to threaten her occasionally to practice. Surprisingly she prefers theory over actual playing. Mondays also mean ballet. A highlight of last year included participation in a festival where her class achieved 89% for their rendition of “baby elephant walk”. Tuesdays are Brownies. In typical Maya fashion has opted out of the regulation uniform and would rather wear the older brown dress uniform. Other highlights include new swimming levels and the ability to go down the slide at the Hanover pool. She accepted personal challenges of riding her bike from Walkerton to Hanover, and riding from Port Elgin to Southampton. Amazing what the promise of ice cream can do.

Everest continues to be our adventurous, thrill seeking three year old. No one is to big for Ever to tackle, no really, he will try and take you down. We are taking bets on how long it will be until he breaks a bone. There is simply nothing that boy is not interested in doing- especially if it means a drastic vertical jump. We have gotten quite good at calming strangers fears for his well being. To channel all this energy Ever completed the fall session in gymnastics. We are rather proud and relived Ever potty trained rather easily- right on the same schedule as Maya did. Frankly all he had to do was get sick of us forgetting to change his diaper. Ever was disappointed he didn’t grow enough to ride a tricycle this year- short genetics but consoled himself by playing endless games of trucks, motorcycles, and crashes. Anne and Ever get into frequent ‘discussions’ on the merits of bicycles vs cars. At age 38 months we think Ever is weaned from nursing.