Super Cool Rocket Launching.....

Video provided by Jon, audio provided by Seahawks game on the radio...

Tony

2011 and the new year has begun..

All the snow is melting, the falling flakes have turned to falling rain and school has started again. It seems this year's Christmas break was perfect for the kids and families. We enjoyed having a lot of relatives and friends over to visit and stay with us in the new house, I just wish there was less of a pile of "sugar" and cookies left on the kitchen counter. Cheryl even cooked dinner for 14 people all on her own, serving her specialty, chicken enchiladas. The boys raked in the typical amount of loot and goodies, Cheryl scored two major items off her list and I got a Cuisinart food processor. It has already been put to good use. Jon has entered the realm of delayed gratification and will be flying to Bozeman, MT this summer for a week of adventure and fly fishing with Cheryl's Uncle Jim on the Galatin River. A family tradition for those who turn double-digits. We will join him a week later for a full family week of Montana-ness. Gabe scored two miniature catapults we discovered at Lowes. It was a build it yourself kit that we thought only had one in it but ended up having two catapults. The construction was a bit advanced but once together they were put to good use. While the glue dried he distracted himself by driving his new remote controlled 4x4 on the ice covered sport court. Once the drying process was complete, the battles began. A visiting friend, "little buddy", and Gabe went head to head launching wine corks (the softest/lightest projectile we could find) at each others stand up enemy targets, also included in the kit.

Matthew's siege-works experience and superior military tactics won over. (Cork in flight by the chair.) During the battle Gabe repositioned his launcher near the fuzzy "Cliffs of Despair" attempting low angle trajectories. While Richard the Pirate stood just above his fallen comrade. A late, but still special surprise, gift arrived to an amazing amount of interest. A drawing pad and book with step by step illustrations on how to draw dragons and mythical creatures seems to have captured the imaginations of both boys.

Gabe has already drawn two full creatures but has yet to bite his tongue off in the process.

2011 started with a bang, literally as we rattled off a few 12 gauge shells in the driveway at midnight, sorry neighbors. We played random games for a while finally settling on an entertaining round of Cranium. We missed the ball dropping in Times Square (on live Internet feed) due to the competitive nature of the night and due to the lack of TV we also missed the fireworks at the Space Needle. Still the night was a success and the New Year still came on time as scheduled.

I have yet taken time to read all the Christmas letters but anticipate a night by the fireplace sharing them with Cheryl. Thank you all for a great Christmas and may the new year bring you all unimaginable blessings.

Tony PS Here is a photo of a shirt Chery recieved from her aunt.