Happy Holidays 2007!

It’s been a year of travel for us. This included short trips to the Renaissance Festival in Apache Junction in March, Sedona in April, and Flagstaff in December. We went to the Mitchell Cousins Reunion in CA in August, and got to visit with cousins Cheryl Smith, Michelle Mitchell and Shauna Clark whom we hadn’t seen in 30 years! We also went back to Virginia Beach to celebrate Smoot’s brother, Rick’s 60th birthday in September and saw more family. Smoot took several business trips, to Portland, Chicago and New York and in October joined his brother in Norfolk, VA to give a presentation at a veterans’ reunion about their father’s experiences in WWII on the submarine The Redfin.

But the biggest trip was our marathon 3 week, 17 state and DC, almost 4,000-mile family history and visiting driving vacation in June and July. We flew to Austin for Joe and Mickey’s 50th anniversary, saw lots of friends and family then drove to Burnet, Cisco, and Corsicana, TX, Bentonville, AR, and Ottawa, IL where I was able to do genealogical research. On the way we stopped in St. Louis, MO to see the Arch and in Springfield, IL to see the new Lincoln Museum. Then came the family visiting. We were able to see my family, Madeline & Billy in MD, Ben & Denise in NC, and Catherine & Gayle in their brand new home in SC, and Smoot’s family, Mr. Mitchell, Suzanne & Rob and Rick & Marilyn all in VA.

We had family visit us when my niece Bev brought her children Ava and Nathan to see us, our menagerie and my collections in October. We had important family events. Our nephew Theron & Monika added Natalie to our family on October 8 and our youngest niece, Emily turned 30 on October 26. We got to visit with friends too. In January, Chris & Frank Williams came to town and in August we chatted with Leonard Johnson at the airport.

We took part in several Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix events such as singing in the UUSO-themed Cabaret in March (I was one of the Rockettes of Ages!), walking with our church group in the Gay Pride parade, singing at the special music services at UUCP in May and in Chandler in June, singing in long-time pianist Ed Grobe’s tribute in June and helping organize the 10th anniversary presentation for Connie Jahrmarkt, our choir director, in November. We also hosted a baby shower for Heidi Parmenter, our church administrator in May.

We experienced sadness when our 16 year old dachshund, Anya died in February but also happiness when around June 1st our Red eared slider turtles finally produced a living offspring, aptly named Baby! Our menagerie, 3 cats, 3 turtles, 1 bird and fish, continues to entertain us.

I’ve continued working on family history with the help of some great people, some of whom are distant cousins. Family is everywhere! Smoot is still with WebMD, enjoying working from home and playing golf whenever possible.

We celebrated our 57th birthdays, Smoot on June 20 and me on August 26, and our 34th anniversary on August 4. The years have really flown by! And we joined Connie and Richard for Thanksgiving, eating outside, something I’ve never done before. On Dec 15, a group of 32 people went caroling from UUCP. It was fun but after almost 5 hours of driving and singing, we were pooped. And on Dec 29, Smoot and I hosted the traditional After Christmas Choir Party at our house. We had 30 people for the potluck. Needless to say, our house was full! We had a delicious dinner on Christmas day at Pauline’s with Connie and Richard. Then on Dec 31, we helped with and attended the UUCP New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. It was great fun with lots of good food and music.

All in all it’s been a busy but productive year. We hope you’ve had a good 2007 and will have an even better 2008. And now for

Our pictorial review of 2007

                                        Chris & Frank visited on Jan 29 The Rockettes of Ages at Cabaret on Mar 10. (I’m on the left.)

Cabaret Renaissance Festival on Mar 24

         Heidi’s shower on May 5 Newly hatched Baby Turtle on June 1

Lunch w/ Otis & Carey on June 10                                  Smoot's birthday on June 20.

Joe and Mickey’s 50th party in Austin on June 22 Leonard & Fran in San Marcos on June 23

Leonard, Angela, Smoot, and Jency after belatedly celebrating Angela’s and Smoot’s shared birthday.

On Jun 24, we got to meet our newest great nieces, Aubry and Liv Mitchell.

Calvin Bain, a Carl cousin during a visit to Bentonvlle, AR on June 29.

We celebrated July 4th with Suzanne & Dad in Annandale, VA.

We also got to visit with Brenda.

Visiting Madeline and Billy in Federalsburg, MD on July 6.

We were able to have a quick visit with Rick and Marilyn in Virginia Beach. On Sun, July 8, Rick and Smoot played golf.

Denise & Ben in Huntersville, NC on July 9 Gayle & Catherine in their brand new home in Pendleton, SC

The Mitchell Cousins Reunion in CA took place Aug 17-19

My birthday, high tea at The Phoenician resort on Aug 26.

We celebrated Rick’s 60th birthday in Virginia Beach, VA on Sep 22.

Smoot and Rick gave a presentation at the Redfin reunion on Oct 13.

Nate, Bev & Ava visited us in Scottsdale on Oct 26.

Thanksgiving with Connie & Richard on Nov 22.

At the Rotary Club holiday dinner with Sandy and Robert Blackwell on Nov 30. (Smoot’s showing off his Santa golf tie!)

                                                At the NAU holiday concert on Dec 1.                                        Caroling on Dec 15.

Christmas Day at Pauline’s with Connie and Richard

After the After Christmas Choir Party at our house on Dec 29. I’m starting to clean up and Smoot is back at his computer!

We visited the Railroad Park on Dec 30 with its lighted, smiling locomotive and a ride on the miniature train. (I’m wearing my conductor’s hat!)

At the New Year’s party, we wore our Lord and Lady Dracula costumes and Smoot played bridge. A fun end of an eventful year!