We are trying to go green and save some recession dollars by doing a blog instead of a Christmas letter. You can check it all year long to see what we are up to!
Paine: is still out at the Hanford site doing his part in cleaning up nuclear waste. He just returned from a golf trip in Texas with my brother Gregg and his nephews Rob & Lee.
Dirk: In 7th grade, has lots of friends, likes hanging out at Gramee & Papa's house, playing XBOX, doing well in school, watches football with Paine and horse races with Papa, & has a wicked sense of humor!
Alex: A high school SENIOR this year! He is still teaching skateboarding at the Kennewick Parks Dept. and has started a new business. Go to http://www.glassartbyalex.blogspot.com/ to see his bio and all the galleries/stores where he's showing & selling his wares.
Gayle: Braces came off in October! Still working at Dream Dinners http://www.dreamdinners.com/
and Tapteil Winery http://www.tapteil.com/
Teaching beading classes at http://www.crownjewelbeads.com/
I love all my jobs and bosses.
Having fun with all my girlfriends once a month at http://www.womenwhowhine.blogspot.com/
Our neighborhood has had many fun events this year. Go to http://www.willowbrookcc.blogspot.com/
We are all enjoying having my parents and grandma close by. Nana & I go to bible studies together. We all attended the Paden Family Reunion at Crooked River Ranch, Oregon in July. Gregg's family and Uncle Bill came here the following week and we took the jet boat ride up the Columbia River to Hanford Reach. We went cruising with Papa Jack in his Edsel during the Cool Desert Nights event in Richland.
Paine and the boys went river rafting twice this year- once in Idaho and again on the Tieton River in WA.
For my dad's birthday in August, we all went over to Tacoma to the Emerald Downs horseraces, the Museum of Glass http://www.museumofglass.org/ , (click on Live Glassmaking /Hot Shop), the zoo and over to Roselyn (famous for Northern Exposure show).
Thanksgiving dinner was in our home this year with the whole family. Jack, Jimee, Willa, Bruce & June Gillespie, Melissa, Brian and Katie Borel came over from Woodinville.
Paine & I will be going back to the Green Gables Inn for our 19th anniversary in Dec. Hopefully I'll have some snow pictures to add next week.
Have a wonderful Christmas. We thank the Lord we have friends and family like you.
Blessings,
Paine, Gayle, Alex, & Dirk
