We’ve been receiving a number of Christmas cards recently. Many of them are the standard card with the only the senders signatures scribbled in them. This has recently (or has always been) the most common card received. But I really enjoy the ones that come with a personalized note or something extra inside. Just yesterday, we received a card from some friends in Denver that had a small Christmas mix CD in it. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Maybe I will do that someday, if we ever send out cards.

My mom sends her cards with an update on the family that I think many enjoy receiving. I know that some of her friends have started doing the same exact thing, and those are a great way to catch up on what everyone has been up to. Here’s her update from this year, if you are curious as to what everyone in my family has been up to:

How quickly the years pass! Merry Christmas to everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the hustle and bustle of this special time of year. We have been blessed with MANY happy times with family and friends in 2007 and hope the New Year brings many, many more.

What better way to start 2007, by cruising around the Hawaiian Islands with the Hemmelgarns to celebrate Claire’s 50th birthday! Such a beautiful place to spend a normally cold and snowy Cincinnati January! We also traveled to Chicago in February for a friends wedding, Pinehurst in July to Condo shop with the Hemmelgarns, Norris Lake in July for a long weekend with friends, Purdue University in October to visit our niece Lauren, Kansas City with a huge group of Bengals fans for the third year in a row, Minster Ohio for the annual Oktoberfest, and Claire took her her annual girl’s trip in April with her sisters to Ft. Lauderdale.

Ed Sr continues to enjoy running and ran his 11th Marathon in May. Claire is working in a third grade classroom this year with four very active and challenging boys.

Tim received his Masters Degree in Engineering Management at the University of Dayton with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He bought a very nice three bedroom house complete with a huge deck and jacuzzi. After many shopping trips for furniture and supplies, he is out once again and living on his own.

Ed Jr and Kim purchased their second home this time in Denver, Colorado. They are really enjoying all that Denver has to offer, especially the snowboarding, mountain hiking, and music at Red Rocks. We actually get to see them more now than when they lived in Kansas City because Ed Jr, who is working from home for his old company, can actually work from home in Cincinnati too!

We have started our home renovations projects. We took out our patio and added a huge wood deck complete with seats and tables! We added a special angel fountain area just for Bryan! It has been almost a year and five months since he passed away, but we are constantly reminded of him! He sends us many, many signs and we know he is always with us wherever we are!

Best Wishes for a very happy and safe Holiday Season! Love, the Paffs