The Christmas Letter

I enjoy getting Christmas letters from friends. Many of the people who write are folks we haven't seen face to face (f2f for the net savvy!) for many years. Still, I enjoy hearing about their children, and increasingly, their grandchildren. I am, however, pretty bad about mailing my own Christmas cards. Each year I think it will be different, but it never is. We write a letter, and even send it out to some folks. But not enough. On days like today I think of all of the folks to whom I wish I would have mailed cards. I should make a list...Kerry, Anne, Mark, Stacy, Val, Sam, Jim, Gretchen and Gretchen...maybe I'll remember next year. In any event, for those who read this, here is our Christmas letter for 2008...

2008 was another busy year for the Himes.

Doug is in the midst of his senior year and taking full advantage of the privileges associated with that status. His college applications are in, we think. He is likely staying in the Central New York area and planning to study engineering. He still plays the mallets in band, chess in local, state, and national tournaments, and whatever the sport of the season happens to be. His soccer team made it to the state semifinals, losing that game on penalty kicks after 2 overtime periods. Back in the winter, the basketball team also advanced into regional play. In golf, Doug played in the sectional tournament on a rainy cold spring day. He has added barbershop chorus to the schedule as well, and is a great bass singer.

Evan is finishing middle school with a flourish. He just finished playing Augustus Gloop in the school musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He scored his first goal in soccer this fall and is working towards his TaeKwonDo black belt. Evan inherited his mother’s love of books and is an avid reader. He has joined the math club and loves to do anything associated with computers and robots. Evan also plays the mallets in band and chess in local, state, and national tournaments. The boys claim to have the “mallet dynasty” at school and Fabius-Pompey will have 8 straight years of Himes men on the mallets in the high school band.

This summer we hosted Tom, a coach with the British soccer camp that both boys attended. It was fun to have another young man in the house and the kids picked up several new English phrases. Maybe some of his soccer skills rubbed off, too. Earlier in the summer we spent a week vacationing nearby at DeRuyter Lake. It is great to be “away” but not too far away. Chris and Craig enjoyed a trip down memory lane at the reunion of the Chesterton High School speech and debate program. The whole family just returned from the National Scholastic Chess tournament in Orlando (Chris and Craig relaxed while the boys toiled over the chess boards, but let them miss an extra day of school to visit Epcot.)

Chris has completed her term as department chair at SU and is now enjoying a year of sabbatical leave. She is doing some research, grant writing, and organizing the family photo collection (or so she claims).

Craig continues to manage his recruitment and placement business from his home office. He coaches the school chess team and does some substitute teaching. This year he made a foray into the political world, serving as campaign treasurer for a friend running for town board. She won, and, so far, has not been audited, so all is well.

We hope this holiday season finds you all in good health and spirits!