Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008

(Here is the xmas letter I never got around to sending!)

I don’t know that we really need to write about what happened in our lives in 2008 because it pales in comparison to this country electing BARACK OBAMA for president. Oh, that feels so good to write and say! Politics aside, we have once again been blessed with another year of health, growth, travel, beginnings and endings.
Quinn and Logan finished elementary school and are in their first year of middle school (6th grade.) We are continuing to enjoy the relative peace and calm that we’ve mostly enjoyed, but know that any day now, those pubescent hormones will be express delivered and we’ll be navigating in the dark. Or maybe not. We’ll see.
It has been another year filled with fencing tournaments and ballet recitals, with the difference being that it was taken up a notch from years past. The boys competed in two national fencing tournaments this past year, one in Portland and the other in San Jose, CA. They were both annihilated at the first competition in Portland, but rather than walk away defeated and threaten to quit, they dug in and ended up attending an intensive fencing camp to better prepare and train them for San Jose. It paid off and Logan did exceedingly well placing 26th out of more than 100 competitors in his age group. It was a thrill to watch. Quinn didn’t fare as well, but still had a commendable showing. He was clearly distracted during the tournament as he knew that the next day he’d be boarding a plane for Philadelphia to attend a 4-week ballet summer intensive.
With the fencing tournament behind them, Logan and Quinn both left on their own for a four-week stint on the east coast for ballet. Jim and I had mixed emotions sending them off. Of course, we were so proud of their accomplishments and excited for all they’d learn in Philadelphia, but we were also sad knowing that our parental leashes had just stretched to a new level. The boys had a wonderful, tiring, intensive time in Philadelphia at The Rock ballet school, and it was really something to see how much they had grown and matured while away.
With Quinn and Logan already on the east coast, Jim and I flew out after their ballet camp had ended and drove down to one of our favorite places: The Outer Banks in North Carolina. Here we camped for a week and body surfed and relaxed. We were joined by some dear friends and family, and it made our week all the more enjoyable.
We enjoyed having 17 family members here for thanksgiving and this year it was all the more special as Logan and Quinn’s ballet school held their performance of the Nutcracker over thanksgiving weekend, so most everyone was able to be here to watch us all perform (yes, Jim and I once again donned wigs and ascots and played the role of the party scene parents.)
We were saddened to lose Tamara’s grandmother mid-December, but her passing was on her own terms, so it made the loss a little more bearable. The boys will miss her dearly as we have spent a lot of weekends with her and Grandpa Ralph over the past eleven years. She taught the boys how to play dominoes, taught them some ballet, and shared with us many wonderful stories. We spent Christmas eve home and enjoyed a quiet evening and then drove to be with Grandpa Ralph on Christmas day. We had a lovely and relaxing time with him for the holiday. We are now looking forward to the new year and wish all the best for you and your loved ones. Our family website is still active, so feel free to log on for photos and updates at http://web.mac.com/tirminger

Happy New Year!
Jim, Tamara, Logan & Quinn

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