Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka from Big-Wave country,

Our household has survived another exciting year, much like your house we are sure. Hopefully, this finds you and yours healthy, happy and prosperous.

Bailey started driving this year (good thing we’re here on an island) and Andy has spent many hours coaching and mentoring (no screaming … yet, though she wouldn’t say so). Luce won’t get in the passenger’s seat unless forced to do so. Actually, she does pretty well with only a few flubs here and there and the occasional deer-in-the headlights frozen panic. She has enjoyed another fantastic year w/ the band and her friends there are awesome. She hosted a Japanese exchange student that is learning English. It was a harder week than we planned but Aya and Bailey got along great and after only a week, the goodbye tears flowed abundantly. Bailey LOVES the food here, though Spam isn’t on her most desired list … yet. She also added a couple of extra holes to her body … we won’t elaborate.

Hunter has spent the year much like many others, mucking stalls and taking the reins, spending her Saturdays volunteering and taking lessons at the Therapeutic Riding Stables. If she doesn’t have dirt under her fingernails and manure on her boots, she ain’t really happy. She rode in her first Rodeo (it was for the Stables, so not much bronc ridin’ going on) and got to show off for her Nanna. School has gone pretty well and she, like her sister, has made some great friends. She got to go on a nice long hike around Ka’Ina point (NW corner O’ahu) and got smoked by dear-old-dad, but she’s getting stronger every year and we plan to take on some hiking on Kauai and in Yosemite in 2010. She hosted First Annual Gilbert Halloween House as the Resident Witch, scaring all the kiddies. She added a pair of holes to her ears (and railroad tracks on her teeth) but promises not to be like her older sister in that regard … though Hot Topic is her favorite store and black clothes are everywhere. She’s STILL waiting for surfing lessons and is a strong enough swimmer now for mom and dad’s ok (small waves only, of course).

Gracie is growing fast and has legs that would make Twiggy jealous … and her mom. She has feet to match and we Luce is soon to be looking up to all of them. She spends much of her time outside hanging from the Monkey Bars, which has helped her in her gymnastics endeavors. She does ‘ok’ at the other areas but on the bars ‘she’s STRONG’ in the words of her coach. She is still quite rambunctious but like the others she can focus for hours at a time on the littlest of details. She gives Luce a run for her money with her OCD … i.e. she has to have not 1, not 2, but 3 pencils every time she sits down to do homework. She has learned to swim and takes great pleasure in going down the twisty-water-slide.

Lucy is way too busy … she is now the PTO President. They love her b/c she is so direct and honest and b/c she really gets things done. She still helps in Gracie’s classroom and goes to all the extra-curriculars. She still takes time to hit the beach each week and she now has a personal trainer who seems to take pleasure in watching her sweat. She took some time out to go see ‘Ace of Cakes’ here and later took Grammy to Maui. She also did time as tour guide this summer, to like 7 sets of visitors, a job she promises NOT to pursue in the future.

Andy is still too busy at work but it’s going well and he enjoys teaching and most of all taking good care of our soldiers. He gave his first guest-lecture at a General Dentist Conference here and was very well received. He made the promotion list … Captain’s Bars off, Gold Leaf on. He has been trying to learn Spanish but it is very slow going and the Hispanic ladies at work are really frustrated with his progress. He took Grammy to the Big Island (Hawai’i) and they enjoyed the volcano helicopter ride and the difference in scenery. Like most dads, he spends all day Saturday as a taxi service for the girl’s activities, but wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Andy and the girls joined the throngs at midnight for Harry Potter VI. It was a real shocker for the little one b/c Andy forgot to tell her that Dumbledore dies. Also, Andy finally took the girls swimming with the dolphins. They have this awesome Dolphin Trainer Training Center here (did you get all that) and they fund it by selling sessions for you to swim with them. It was pricey but oh so worth it. Gracie got to spend time in the water with them standing on a small dock but Bailey and Hunter actually got to swim around for about 45 minutes. As the commercial says … ‘Priceless!!’ Bailey and Hunter went to the midnight show of New Moon (Twilight) but Andy sat that one out … guess why?! We all got to go back to the mainland again for Thanksgiving (thanks aunt Linda and uncle David) and feel the cold and see the fall colors, though almost gone, but still a wonderful change, and spend time with family.

We are so thankful that we have weathered these tough times well. We are eternally grateful to all our soldiers and to all those that support them. Our very best to all of you and remember … No Ka Oi, Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makihiki Hau! (All our best, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

Andy, Lucy, Bailey, Hunter, and Gracie