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ThomasKids.com Christmas 2004 Letter 

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2004

Dear Family and Friends,

Another year past…busy, busy, busy! As I review our year, I realize how blessed we are to have each other and all of our family and friends who are such a big part of our lives. Without you, we would not be complete!

I guess the biggest news of this year is that Danny is now working for Carrier Consulting. He made the move in March, and is enjoying another “side” of the telecom industry. He is keeping his feet wet at Telemobile by continuing with his training seminars twice a year. He is very happy with the move.

Danny and I are continuing our service on the National CFM Board. We have helped start CFM at a few local parishes and that is very rewarding. This fall, we stepped down from our leadership position in CFM at St. Lawrence, and thought we would take some time off :-)  But no… Danny was elected to serve on the Parish Council at St. Lawrence. Who would have thought…a third-year convert no less? And I was offered a “job” to head up the “Taste of the Bay” fundraiser at SLM school. It is a fantastic evening – so mark your calendars for May 21, 2005! I’m also now on the Parent Board at SLM school which I am really enjoying. Danny and I also stepped up our political involvement this year and became precinct captains in our neighborhood. (Guess which Party?)

Shannon is 9 years old (already!) and in 3rd grade at SLM now. She is doing very well. She made her First Holy Communion in May. It was a lovely day and she looked beautiful. She has continued with her Irish Dance, soccer, basketball, Brownies, Indian Princesses, swimming lessons and even tried softball last spring. (She is going to try volleyball this year.) She thrives on being busy and still manages (most of the time) to keep up with school!

Steven is 6 1/2 and started at SLM this year. He is doing great! He played T-Ball last spring and really liked it and played soccer again this fall. He is becoming quite fearless and insists that Danny is going to take him snow-boarding this winter. He is also going to play basketball starting in January. He still is quite the architect with his Legos and enjoys just being at home and playing – quite the opposite of his older sister!

Colleen is 4 now and continues to make me insane. I thought her 3’s were bad, and then she turned 4. Her preschool director said 4-year olds and 14-year olds have a lot in common – rebellion and autonomy! She is quite honestly the most lovable little girl but EXTREMELY stubborn and independent. Now, my dad tells me she reminds him of someone…my mom is looking down from heaven and laughing her head off! Anyway, Colleen is my musical child, something she inherited from her Grandma Maureen. She is always singing or talking while playing with her Barbies, stuffed animals, or dollhouse. She is in preschool 3 days a week, and also a Kindermusic class, which she loves.

We took our annual August pilgrimage to Palm Desert. It was hot, as usual, but we had a few thunder and lightning storms that livened things up a bit! While we were gone, we decided to have some work done on the house. We pulled up all the carpet and had the hardwood floors refinished and painted the whole inside of the house – with color! We have lived with white walls for 10 years! It gave the house a much-needed facelift. 

Shannon and Danny went to Lake Arrowhead in March with the Indian Princesses and spent some time in the snow. I went on my annual Mom’s weekend to Palm Springs in March and had a great time, however it took me 3 days to recover! Danny did his annual Mexico trip in June…and he seemed to recover much more quickly than me. Danny and I both had our 20-year High School reunions this summer. What a blast! It was great to touch base with some old friends again.

We had several “family” happenings this year.
    David, Danny’s brother, married Heather in September on Catalina Island. The kids thought it was quite an adventure taking the boat “26 miles across the sea”! And they are thrilled to have another Aunt! We also got to see lots of the extended family on the “Thomas” side. 
    Danny’s parents sold their house in Rolling Hills this year and moved to Long Beach, CA. I think they really like their new “digs”. 
    Jimmy, Danny’s other brother, Shelle, and Vincent moved down south a ways to Poway, CA. It is only about 100 miles, so we can still them pretty often. 
My brother-in-law, John, discovered in the spring that he had an acoustic neuroma (basically, an inner-ear tumor) and had to have major surgery in May. He spent the summer getting balanced again in physical therapy and is doing great. He is deaf in one ear now, but it just gives him a built in excuse not to “hear” my sister.  :-) 
    My Dad will be sworn in as the “big cheese” at the Yacht Club in January. He and Jane are busily planning the Commodore’s Ball. 
    My Aunt Eileen, Cousin Patti Davis, and Cousin Clare Cunniffe all visited So. California this year, and it was so great to see them all!

Whew…and we wonder why the time FLIES by! God bless you all in 2005 and God bless America.