Let me start this letter by telling you to please read the 2006 Family Christmas Letter. Yes, there was a 2006 letter. And no, you weren't left out! Sort of...technically everyone was left out. I forgot to mail it! That is why we are going electronic this year. There is also a printer-friendly version.

God has been kind to us in 2007. The kids continue to grow up even if we don't want them to and the house is a never-ending to-do list. But we love where we live and enjoy the country even though at times, it is a challenge.

It was a full summer for the entire family. In addition to the kids individual schedules, we managed to take a family vacation with Lisa's mother and sister and their families. We went on a wonderful trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. in late June. It was a fun and relaxing time for all. The kids had a great time playing in the ocean togehter. We actually got the kids up early one morning for a sunrise walk on the beach! Check out the complete trip in our Photo Gallery.

Patrick has been busy this year. He is doing really well in school and seems to really enjoy it. He is still on the track team and quite good at it. He loves the "souvenier" he and Amanda brought back from Breyerfest last summer and plays with Zach all the time.

Patrick went to soccer camp for the 6th or 7th year in a row (I've lost count!) This year Mitchell was old enough to go with him. Although they weren't in the same group, they still had a ball hanging out during breaks.

Keep up with all of Patrick's shenangigans via our Photo Gallery!

Amanda's life continues to be consumed by horses. She started off the summer volunteering for the Kentucky Horse Park. She worked 6 days a week from 7:30am - 4pm and loved it! Unfortuneately, in July, KHP changed their volunteer age limit to 18 and Amanda and serveral friends were out of work. Many of the barn employees lobbied to keep them since they were such good workers, but Insurance policies premiums won out. :( No worries though, Amanda is not one to sit idle when there are horses to be cared for, so she began volunteering at the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. She works with the lesson program during the Spring, Summer and Fall and with the ARC riding program in the winter. As part of the ARC riding program she is teamed up with a horse that she will ride and condition over the winter. Amanda has made a lot of good friends and contacts in the horse business.

When not at a barn, Amanda attends school. She is a freshman at Dunbar High School this year and likes it. When not at a barn or school, she is on the computer making videos and web pages about horses (of course!)

Amanda and Patrick once again had a busy summer. One of the highlights was going to the Rascal Flatts concert. It was Amanda's first REAL concert (she had only been to Clay Aiken and Hanson) and it was Patrick's first concert ever. We had a great time. The concert was actually one of the best I have seen in a long time. We had really good seats so we were able to get a lot of great pictures. Check out the entire trip in our Photo Gallery!

Thomas turned 19 this year and graduated from High School. Over the summer he worked as a Life guard and now works at Kmart. This fall he began enrolled in the Computer Information Systems Technology program at Delaware Tech.

 

 

Wayne is still working at UK and teaching for KCTCS and loves it.  Wayne once again was asked to present at the 2008 Macworld in San Francisco.  He and co-worker John will be teaching a specialty lab. As usual, Wayne doesn't have much free time. What little he has managed to find he has spent remodleing the basement. It is looking more like a living space than a dirt pile, so he is slowly making progress.

Lisa continues to work at the College of Medicine Dean's office and stays busy chaufering Amanda around to her various activities. Amanda joined the Keeneland Pony Club this year, so Lisa has added "Pony Club Mom" to her list of activities. It is a busy club for both parents and kids, but so far it has been really fun.

Well, that pretty much sums up our year.  We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and may God bless you and your family.

Wayne, Lisa, Patrick, Amanda, Thomas

Zippity, Zicki, Buffy, Pooh, Anya, Jake, Dobe, Zach, Lassie, Shelby,
Jinger, Riley, Lola, Fred and a partridge in a pear tree!