2004

Well, there went another year. The boys (Chance and Dax) continue to amaze us with their unique personalities and perspectives. We are enjoying introducing them to sports like snow skiing and soccer. Susie continues to enjoy combining a part-time career as an engineer at the state while getting to stay home with the boys on Tuesday and Thursday every week. Travis moved from the government sector back to the software industry and now works for Motive, Inc., a leading provider of management software. Motive had its IPO just four days after Travis joined the company.

 

This fall brought a hectic schedule with Chance's soccer practices and games, gymnastics for both boys, roller hockey for Travis and the beginning of another marathon training season for Susie. When his work schedule allowed it, Travis provided a supporting role as an unofficial assistant coach.

 

Here are a few highlights for 2004:

 

January: Chance and Susana (Susie’s mom) learn to snow ski in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

 

February: Susie runs the Motorola Marathon in 6 hours.

 

March: Travis and Chance return to the Ruidoso slopes with the Maddox family.

 

April: Travis replaces his 14 year old Honda Accord with a new Nissan Murano.

 

May: Dax turns 3. Time for another road-trip. This time to Port Aransas, TX for a weekend with friends. (8 kids and 8 adults!)

 

June: Travis travels to New Mexico to join other family celebrate the wedding of Jaymee Lu Barkmeier and Steve Murakami.

 

July: Travis joins his family in South Dakota to say goodbye to his grandmother, Mary Helen Scott.

 

August: Celebrating 12 years of marriage, the whole family goes to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.

 

September: Chance starts soccer.

 

October: Chance turns five. Travis joins his Uncles (Dan and Tim) at the Scott farm in South Dakota for what might be the last hunting trip at the farm house. Travis also spends a few days with Jason and Becky Barkmeier in Mitchell.

 

November: Susie runs in the Bison Stampede (Half Marathon) that Motive sponsors benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Chance runs his first Turkey Trot (one mile) on Thanksgiving Day with his mom. Later that day, Travis and Susie host both sides of the family, including Heather's (Travis's sister-in-law) mother and brother, making a total of 12 adults and 2 kids. Justin, Katie, Vale and Kyla join the fun by stopping by on their way home from their Thanksgiving trip to Fort Worth.

 

December: We are looking forward to a peaceful Christmas at home.

Here's wishing you . . .
                        
peace . . .
                                                                    love . . . 
                                   
joy. . .

The Hildebrands

Here are some links to old Christmas Letters:
[1997] [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001] [2002]
[2003]

Travis, Suzi, Chance, Dax, Scout