It’s hard to believe another year has passed, and there you sit in your lazy-boy chair watching out the window for the mailman to deliver this letter. Christmas letters—such a wicked tradition! Here is a warning, to an outsider, our year probably seems as exciting as watching them stock shelves at Wal-Mart. But as that overused phrase goes—it is what it is.
As a reminder: Emily is now 11 and in 6 th grade. Yes, next year is Junior High!!! Tate is 9 and in 3 rd grade and Jaymie is
6, and in 1 st grade. That means Cindy is home alone for the entire day—first time in 11 years!
We bought a pop-up camper at the end of last summer and actually got to use it this year. We went to Bear Lake with
Cindy’s brother and his family. It went pretty well except for the flood from the water heater. Oh well. The water was so high there was not a lot of beach, but we enjoyed the down time. The next camping trip things appeared to go well until we went to leave and the van battery was dead. Friendly neighbors solved the problem. Our last excursion was with members of our Church on an overnighter. Lots of fun including what I am sure will become an annual pop bottle rocket launch.
All of the kids are taking swimming lessons now and this year a former student taught them one-on-one. It was a great summer for swimming. Each of them is getting better, but it would help if they got in some practice over the winter.
For Halloween we had a witch, monster and monster bride. Oh, and an adult witch and cow. It was my Wisconsin roots coming through.
The kids all love to read. Jaymie has been reading like crazy to try and be the top reader in her class. Competition seems to be a motivation for her. Tate got gift cards to Barnes and Noble from grandma and Aunt Suzy had a great time picking out books to buy. As for Emily—we just can’t get her to bed on time because she stays up to read.
All three are also taking piano lessons. Every other Saturday brings the trek to piano lessons that are about an hour away. On top of that Emily is taking ballroom dancing classes at school and has started the violin in orchestra.
My travel has been limited--fortunately. I do the annual trip to the marketing teacher conference which was in San Diego this year and to National DECA which was in Orlando. A trio of girls placed 2 nd in the nation which was exciting. I headed back to San Diego for another DECA conference this fall. I’m writing curriculum materials for a social media marketing class and will start writing a new marketing book in the spring. My sports marketing book is now a web-based book as I see that as the future for textbooks. Who knows for sure . . .
During the summer The Mocco’s visited and the family and I played tour guides. Sure good to see WI friends! This fall
Drs. Rich and Marcia James stopped in to visit. He was my advisor at Whitewater. Imagine pulling a pop-up trailer across the country behind a 64 ‘Vette. Yes they did!
Cindy enjoys helping in Jaymie’s classroom once a week. She recently took her turn with Fairly Tale Friday by reading
Polar Express. She is also working her way through the house patching the walls and painting everything. Once a week there is a twist to dinner since the kids take turns cooking on Friday’s. Next time you talk to Cindy ask her what she does with all her free time since the kids are in school. If you do--may you rest in peace.

Scan for entertainment!
That’s about all for this year. Next year there will be swim lessons, camping, some travel and . . . OK, so it’s not a wild and crazy life. But it is a good life. We have been blessed with good friends, health and a happy family. When things get challenging we are guided through the tough times by our faith in the Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Stop and visit if/when in the area. Contact me at ReachMe@TheMarketingTeacher.com
and
Cindy at CindyMcCauley@Yahoo.com
.
2012