It's that time again.
Time to tell you all the stuff we did this year.
The boys are still very active in many ways. We all went skiing at spring break this year. I can tell that
it won't be long before I can't keep up with the boys. While they each have their unique ways
of learning, they both are progressing rapidly. They both played T-ball, although Dax's ball
season was cut short due to a broken arm that resulted from a fall from a bunk
bed. Chance's season was extended
into June when he made the All-Star Team. It was incredible to see this set of young boys who could throw, catch and hit.
Dax started kindergarten this past summer at the charter school
where Chance went last year. The
school has only two K/1 classes; one that Dax is in, one that Chance is
in. This year the boys studied economics and had to apply for jobs
in the NYOS Calendar Factory. Chance was a color specialist and Dax was a
paper passer. The school really
believes in helping the kids understand why they need to learn things and how
what they learn applies in the real world.
In the fall, the boys also played soccer. We were lucky to have Dax back on the team he played with last year. Chance played with his friend Matthew who has been on
his soccer team since he started playing three seasons ago. Travis helped Matthew's Dad coach the boys
to an undefeated (if we took score, that is) season.
Chance also started Tiger Cub Scouts this year and has really enjoyed
being a part of the pack. Travis
took the boys to the Dell Diamond (where the Round Rock Express plays
minor league baseball) for a special ball field camp out. As for me, I took the boys (yes, me, the
mother, the non camper) on Chance's first pack camp out. While Travis was on his way to go hunt in South Dakota, the boys and I camped
together without the Dad for the first time. The event was made easier by the pack's
organization of food. Since
our friend Matt helped me put up the tent, I really didn't have to do much but
survive.
Speaking of surviving, I survived another marathon. This year I broke 5 hours, with a
finishing time of 4:56:54. I'm not
sure how much more I am capable of improving, but I am still trying. Travis did
a few long bike rides including a long bike ride to Fredricksburg, the 100 mile Outlaw
Bike Ride and other races that I don't remember the names of.
Travis and I together did a race called the Urban Assault Challenge.' We basically biked all over town, doing
important tasks like pushing each other in the lake on a super-sized rubber
ducky, having a three-legged race while wearing old clothes, and riding
tricycles around an obstacle course.
The amazing part about it was that we end up 21st
overall.
Travis and I also traveled to London for my birthday. We spent a quick five days there. What really made the trip was that we
rented bicycles and rode all over the city. We got to go places we wouldn't have known
about and cover a lot of ground, while working off the fantastic Indian food we ate there.
As for Travis, he is still at Motive and while the company has had its ups and
downs, he is still hanging in there.
And me?
Everything changed this year for me when I was given an opportunity to
return to work full-time as the director of the Air Quality Division at Texas
Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
In this position, I am responsible for directing the development of
Here are some links to old Christmas
Letters:
[1997]
[1998]
[1999]
[2000]
[2001]
[2002]
[2003]
[2004]
[2005]
Travis, Suzi, Chance, Dax, Scout