Christmas Update
You know how the phrase “I’ll never do that” seems to come out of your mouth when you’re young and then you end up eating those words later? Thankfully, the words don’t taste so bad.

I swore I’d “never” do one of these Christmas update letters but here we are. Last year we left our intrepid heroine (that would be ME) in post-holiday bliss, strung out on Oreo truffles and left-over Egg Nog. Then around rolled 2007 and the clock started ticking….

Springtime saw the return of “The World Traveler” with trips to Amsterdam, Athens, and California. Whew! Subsequent months brought travel to Reno, back to California, a jaunt to Atlanta, and at the time of this writing I’ve been back from Melbourne (Australia, not Florida) for five days. When I’m not in an airplane, I seem to be on the road taking someone to practice, or to a game, or to some other event, but you won’t catch me complaining. Especially since I have my Bunco Babes to visit with on a regular basis! I was busy the entire first part of the year putting together a reunion/retirement party for a very good friend and enjoying the company of some old friends. Gosh but it felt good to sing again, and act too as I managed to squeeze in a play (in my spare time) to end my year.

Spouse saw some changes this year as well. He leveraged his management and IT experience along with his education (more on that in a minute!) into a new job with the Federal Government. As the Team Lead for IT Infrastructure he spends all of his days in meetings, telling bottom-feeding contractors (guys and girls just like me!) what to do. Before getting the new job, Spouse utilized that management experience to plan a family vacation, taking us all down to Disney World in July. Despite temperatures that would make desert animals weep, and humidity levels so high that scuba equipment would have made breathing easier, the family had a lovely time. We got very up close and personal with about half of the population of Brazil, all of whom were also enjoying Disney World at the same time. Spouse is still coaching soccer, as the head coach of M’s U-10 travel team and as the assistant coach of Tadley’s U-8 RecPlus team.

Stretch has blossomed into a very confident young woman. An honor roll student at Leonardtown High School and at fifteen, she is now playing travel soccer with the Fury and on the High School Junior Varsity team. She’s proven herself to be a leader both on and off the field, as her school team ended with a 12-0 record and outscored their opponents 78-1. Stretch seems to have found her niche playing defender and (My heart is healthy, luckily!) GOALIE in a pinch. She also plays lacrosse, and was named one of the JV squad’s most valuable players in her first high school lacrosse season. The coach has been grooming Stretch for a spot on the 2008 Varsity team; so perhaps that will be news in next year’s letter! (Oh how the mighty have fallen…) Stretch has also really found her voice, and although she uses it mostly on her cell phone or yelling across the house at her parents, siblings, or boyfriend… she is also a member of the high school's elite singing group “Laydies Fayre” and just this week learned that she has been named to Maryland’s All-State Honors Chorus. She is the only sophomore in her HS to achieve this honor and we look forward to hearing her singing come March. In her spare time (she is SO like her mother!) she has taken on a part time job at the local Hallmark store, and loves the work…and the money.

M is now in fifth grade…one small step away from Middle School and her parents are NOT READY! She just turned 10, and is enjoying quite a busy life as well. She plays clarinet in the school band, sings with the Hollywood Singers, is enjoying her second season with the Wildcats (another goalie, God help us all) and also plays lacrosse. Her lacrosse team won the SMGLL championship at the Lax-a-Daisy Draw Tournament in spring of 2007, and the Wildcats have racked up some impressive tournament victories and winning seasons in both spring and fall. She has also enjoyed a year in both All-County and Tri-County chorus and is a Junior Girl Scout. This year, she and Mommy even camped out! For those of you who know, Mommy doesn’t camp…it’s amazing what “Maddiegirl” can get people to do.

Tadley is in second grade, yet his reading and language arts scores say he’s at least two years older than that. Seriously, that boy can read! Of course getting him to sit still long enough is the challenge! After a season playing pigskin football, and wearing pads that weigh as much as he does, The Boy went back to soccer and RecPlus with Daddy as the assistant coach. He’s always the smallest guy on the field, but he’s determined! His grades are great, and this year Tadley and Spouse have earned a little together time in Cub Scouts. They are planning their Pinewood Derby entry….so anyone with experience, please feel free to email! Tadley sometimes gets the short end of things, being dragged to his sisters’ games…so it’s good that he gets to be the superstar sometimes.

In August we added TWO members to the Oosterink clan! Our grandson joined the horde on the 13th, and we are having a lot of fun with our wee Jakey. He’s become quite the little love… smiling, cooing, and laughing out loud. If I’d known how much fun it is to spoil them and send them home, I’d have had grandbabies FIRST!



Our second addition came in from thousands of miles and an ocean away. SM is the daughter of one of my work contacts and she is our imported daughter until June of 2008. She’s here on student exchange, but she has integrated nearly seamlessly into our busy family! She’s also an honor roll student (straight A’s!) and is on the track team this winter. She’s enjoying the myriad of holiday “stuff” that we’re doing and we’ve taught her the rules of soccer (like she had a choice?). She also took ballroom dancing during the fall, so we got our own expert while watching “Dancing with the Stars” and she wowed everyone during Homecoming! We fill our Sunday evenings watching “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers and Sisters” together every week. We’ve enjoyed a couple of visits from SM’s parents since her arrival, and she’s heading out for a weekend trip to New York City with other area exchange students.

With all of this going on, you’d think we’d be done right? Not so fast! Spouse and I BOTH graduated this year, earning Bachelors degrees from the University of Phoenix. Four years of schooling have come to an end as I finally got my BS in Business, and Spouse got his BS in Information Systems Management. While he will be starting a Master’s program in 2008, I plan on starting up a hobby…or a habit!

Spouse’s mom, K, is enjoying her apartment at “Casa de LOUD” although we’re quite sure she could do with a few less children and about a hundred fewer decibels. She has faced some pretty stiff health challenges this year, but seems to be weathering the storm (and enforced retirement) with her usual style and grace. We’re so very fortunate to have another set of hands around here. K helps manage the chaos, mitigate the stress, and celebrate the victories with the entire family.

We hope that 2007 has been as filled with joy for you and your family…and just think...if we get to see you, you won’t have to read this entire novel to know what’s happening with us. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and love to all!