Happy Holidays!

We hope this Holiday season finds you happy, healthy and joyful.  Since our 2004 Holiday Greeting we have gotten engaged, married, and traveled to Europe.  Laura has traveled to Washington D.C., read far too many books, and has finally gotten free of middle school.  She is ecstatically enjoying her life as a freshman at Henry Sibley High School. With three different dramatic roles to play (Acting class, the school play and Upstage) as well as dance classes, tech work and an overload of homework from her pre-AP English and Chemistry classes, things can get a little bit hectic, but she enjoys every moment of it. She also loves talking on the phone too much with her boyfriend Brennan.

Mary has moved into 7th grade at Friendly Hills Middle School.  She loves to read and share her extensive collection of Manga books.  She has been in two plays, taken up tennis and spent her summer learning to cook.  Now she is learning how to adjust Dan's fish curry recipes for normal people.

Laura, Brennan and Mary are finishing up a run of "The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood" with the Upstage Workshop in St Paul with Brennan as the Wolf, Mary as the Skunk and Laura as Mother, Grandmother and the Frustrated Tree. Yes, Frustrated Tree and if she is to be believed, it is the best role ever.

In July Mary and Laura had a blast traveling to England, Scotland and Wales with their mom. They were thrilled to finally see Europe, and loved every place they explored, including Bath, the Scottish Highlands and (of course) London! They had an amazing time soaking in all the plays and culture they could in three weeks, and have been known to randomly begin speaking in a British accent. They returned home just in time to rest up and recharge for the wedding and then off again for the annual McCreary week at Bay View Lodge.

Our wedding, held in the backyard, was a beautiful event.  I can honestly say I would not have done anything differently.  We got married on a sunny, warm August evening, surrounded by our family and friends.  Mary and Laura gave away their dad while my friend Jackie and Dan's brother John witnessed the event. 

Dan and I spent an amazing three-week honeymoon in France and Italy (amidst the Northwest Airlines strike).  We spent time in Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome.  While the brochures from the bike tour portion of our trip identified the tour as a beginner level, we found the wind, rain and hills when traveling uphill a little daunting.

After taking 3000+ (yes I did say 3000) pictures we finally decided that Dan captured the best images of  Europe.  It took some coaxing but the girls and I convinced him to put the "Best 200 photos of France and of Italy" on the website for all of you to view.  We give special credit to Dan's sister Sue and her husband Brian for being brave enough to invite us over and view all of our travel photos. 

Dan is finishing up a contract at the Department of Education where he has been instrumental in developing a data warehouse.  He has become very interested in the concept of Semantic Web Technology and will be speaking at a conference on the topic in spring of 2006.  He still plays Frisbee with his brother, brother-in-law and nephews when time permits. 

I am still with Midwest Family Mutual managing Underwriting and Research and Development.  I have been active in a monthly book/wine club with my friends and can now say I have enjoyably read the first four Harry Potter books from cover to cover.  Our perennial gardens continue to need care and the cats complain when ignored.  I am enjoying my new "step mom" status - and am continually amazed by teenager thoughts, insight and intuition.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends and good cheer!

-- Enjoy

Ann, Dan, Laura and Mary Holiday Card