December 21, 2003

Merry Christmas!

We hope this letter finds you ready for the holidays and enjoying the season with your family and friends. We are waiting for Noah’s Grandma and Grandpa Cloyd to arrive by Christmas sleigh any minute now! They are driving from Texas to spend the week with us. We are looking forward to the extra attention for Noah and free babysitting for a couple of parents’ nights out. David and his fiancé, Tetyana Bisyk, will be traveling from Brooklyn to join us on Christmas Day. (They are planning New York nuptials for May 2004.)

We have spent the year focused on Noah and watching him grow. He just turned 17 months old last Friday. Like a typical little boy, he is fascinated by trucks, construction vehicles, fire engines…you get the picture. He also loves books (which he calls “boose”) and enjoys being read to. He is especially fascinated by Tim’s bicycling magazines. A chip of the old block, perhaps…

Easter time found us in Texas. Michelle and Noah stayed for 10 days and got to catch up with several old friends. Tim joined us a few days before Easter. Noah was photographed in the bluebonnets and his grandparents were proud to show him off to their friends. Tim’s brother and family traveled to Texas to meet little Noah as well. We had fun going to Fort Worth and having a cookout together.

Tropical Storm Bill joined us on vacation in Pensacola, Florida during the week of July 4^th. Luckily, we were also met by Michelle’s parents, brother David and Tetyana, so we were able to tolerate the extended rains in good company. While together, we celebrated Noah’s first birthday two weeks early.

In September, we attended Tim’s 20^th high school reunion in Bartlesville OK. We spent about a week with his mom and enjoyed the change of pace. Grandma Kirksey enjoyed watching and playing with Noah. She was quite impressed with his skill and determination in coffee table climbing.

In March, Tim had knee surgery and has been getting back into cycling after a few months of rehabilitation. He’s been spending his lunchtime lifting weights and elliptical training. Recently, he bought some new running shoes to revisit an old pursuit. Tim continues to work in the Center for Bioinformatics at UNC Chapel Hill as Manager for Laboratory Information Systems.

Michelle wonders where the year went. Noah began attending Parent’s Morning Out one morning a week at our church’s preschool. It is a treat for both of us. Michelle has continued to seek out new mom friends and finally found a playgroup that suits them. She enjoys taking Noah on walks and bike rides. In 2004, Michelle is looking forward to more volunteer opportunities at our church.

Best wishes for a happy new year!

Tim, Michelle and Noah

kirksey@nc.rr.com