2004 recap

I've never written one of these letters before. Enjoy reading them, but only I have the urge to write them. They're so fun, even if we don't lead the most fascinating lives.

I completed my 17th year with RT, his 5th as Ops Mgr in the Fab Department. Travel is infrequent enough to be enjoyable, & included exotic trips to Greenville, Greensboro, Charleston, Chattanooga, Birmingham, & Little Rock. Enjoyed playing with the kids, watching games & recitals, washing cars & teaching W the joys of yardwork.

C is now home-schooling all 3 kids, and every year has done an even better job. She teaches Pre-K at our church's Waumbaland, prays regularly with close friends, meets weekly with a friend to organize for school, and attends local home-school support group meetings & activities. She has exercised more this year, including running during A's twice-weekly ballet practices.

W is in 6th grade, his most academically challenging year so far. He's taking Science & English at the Living Science Academy in rustic Cherokee County, and continues to shine playing violin...he & C saw violinist Joshua Bell perform with the Atlanta Symphony. W often cooks the evening meal. He loves read, roam the woods & creek, but didn't get to play golf with dad enough. Because of his July birthday, W is often the youngest on his baseball teams. This year for the first time he even moved up an age group...having just turned eleven, he was one of the better players on a team of big 13 & 14 years olds! W played in 46 games, reached base 74 times, and scored 49 runs. He caught 46 innings and pitched 52 innings, throwing 1004 pitches to 279 batters (dad is the scorekeeper!). Highlights included a bases-loaded triple to put a game out of reach, and numerous diving catches and double-plays.

A is turning into a young lady...8 years old, in the 2nd grade. She was invited to join an advanced ballet group, giving C the extra day to exercise. A loves to read, swim, playing & sleeping over with girlfriends, and is into Build-A-Bear and the American Girl craze. She loved her summer knitting camp. She's great to have sandwiched between the two boys.

Six-year old M is our Renaissance man. He's been drawing for years, but wants to keep up with his older siblings, so he learned to read and write...before starting Kindergarten. He's also picky about his wardrobe, and types stories & lists on the PC, knits, swims, and rides his scooter & bike. He joined dad on the golf course for the first time this year, and played his first season of baseball. After the season ended, he decided he liked baseball, and set out practicing to become better. Now he's catching, throwing, & hitting line drives, and is ready for a breakout year in 2005.

We wound things up in June with our first NP small group, but have managed to keep in contact with each other reasonably well. We loved the old group because we all came together having never met before, & were able to learn & grow from the wide variety of strengths everyone brought to the table. This fall we started in with a new group, comprised of some old friends as well as some new ones. Things have been great so far.

Highlights this year included...D & W went to the Jan 2nd Clemson win in the Peach Bowl with most of C's family. We all enjoyed ice skating in Centennial Olympic Park. We attended two Alliance Theatre plays with our small group, put on by our group leader's company. Easter is always a big time in South Carolina, with a big egg hunt and cookout, in addition to celebrating our risen Savior. D's father & brother went with him & W to the Masters. In May D & W went with L & M E to visit the B's in Virginia, & spent several days sightseeing in Washington DC...even taking in an Orioles game in Baltimore. C, A, & M went to South Carolina in June for birthday parties, while D & W attended Father's Day weekend Braves games & golfed, & saw the Olympic Torch Relay pass through Atlanta. D ran his 17th Peachtree Road Race this year...with W, who ran his first. Then we went straight to Turner Field to see the Braves/Red Sox game, donned our new T-shirts, & both caught batting practice home runs. The annual July Myrtle Beach trip included over 40 extended family members. The summer also included trips to minor league games in Rome & Chattanooga, as well as witnessing Barry Bond's 693rd career home run. The fall included a trip up Stone Mountain and a fun East Cobb Fall Festival with our new small group.