Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It's been another wonderful year for our family. As ever travel has dominated our leisure time, with fantastic trips around Asia. We went to Disneyland in Hong Kong, went on the Flyer (ferris wheel) in Singapore, rode elephants in the Golden Triangle on the Thailand/Burma/Laos border, snorkeled in the clear blue sea of Phi Phi islands, and visited Haikou, China with some friends from the UK.

This year's summer vacation took us back to the US to visit Boston, then onto New York City where we took Ian to Times Square and Central Park to see the dinosuars at the Museum of Natural History. We also spent 3 wonderful days on Cape Cod celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary at the resort we were married while back in Boston Steve was able to catch his beloved Red Sox in action on a perfect summer evening at Fenway Park.

Steve also got to hike the trails around the Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai in an exciting trip in upcountry Thailand in April, while Barbara and Ian visited Ireland visiting the lush green hills and beautiful waterfalls of Wexford county.

At school Ian graduated to the next campus and now enjoys new classes in cooking, Tae kwondo and Computers (don't they start early now?!). He's quite a character at school and is loved by all the Teachers as he's always smiling and full of energy. Ian is now swimming and his recent efforts in the 'big pool' means he is only a few short weeks away from being quite an expert.

Barbara took a Pilates Teaching Course earlier this year, studying hard for both written and practical tests and is still enjoying Yoga and Pilates lessons every week to stay as fit and healthy as she can. Steve, despite suffering a broken foot in August competed in his first Triathlon on the island of Phuket earlier this month.

For Christmas this year we will be in the cool mountains of the Khao Yao National Park, arguably our favorite place in Thailand. We're looking forward to the morning mist at sunrise across the jungle valley on Christmas Day! For New Year, we head to New Zealand for a 10-day vacation on both the North and South islands.

To each and every one of you, have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends around the world and a terrific supporting family and we lead a blessed life here in Asia. This has been truly a wonderful adventure that is not yet over though we plan to return the US in 2010 and hope that we can continue to stay in touch with so many of you despite the miles that seperate us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Party time .....

Ian had a couple of party's this month. Firstly we see Ian with Isabella where Ian went dressed as a Prince to match the Prince & Princess theme. Looking ever so handsome in his 'tux' Ian decides it time to pull a funny face for the camera - what a gem! But doesn't he look cute with with Isabella?

Next Ian's school held the annual Christmas show. The stage was set for several classes to each sing their songs. When Ian's class came up, Ian got a bit of stage fright and didn't manage all the words to the song that he'd been signing at home all week long as he practiced. However, once Ian warmed up to the crowd he soon turned to playing the 'class clown' - can you see him up on stage in the photo above being ever the entertainer and the one trying to be different!

Ian also met Santa and was a lucky boy as he received a special book all about Christmas. We see a very happy Ian and Mom posing together at the end of a terrific schoool christmas schow.