Well, every year DH, who henceforth I will refer to as “Yankee Bill” (I know, we are in Yankee Land, but when we were in the South he picked it up as a nickname with his motorcycle crowd. You know how many guys there are named Bill who ride motorcycles?? It gets confusing) writes our Christmas newsletter.
I know some folks don’t like the newsletter. I personally like to read them and hear what is going on in folks lives. We put our letter on one side, and a collage of pictures (this year of the kiddos only) on the other side. It is our way of keeping in touch with the many friends we made in our travels through the military.
Here, for your reading pleasure, is this years letter–edited to protect the identities of the innocent 🙂
And if you are on our list and haven’t received yours yet, don’t worry, most of them have yet to reach the mailbox. You will get it eventually.. . . . ..
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Christmas Greetings from the FrugalUpstate House,
Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. We hope this holiday finds you well. Coming up on our 2nd Christmas as a New York family. We are all healthy and happy and making big plans for Santa’s visit!
To bring you up to date on our activities during 2006, here’s the Reader’s Digest version.
We rang in the New Year with Yankee Bill’s boss and his son – we invited them in for our traditional, end of the year, Surf-n-Turf dinner. Yummmmy! We followed that with a neighborhood-gang gathering at a neighbors house – Princess made it until about 10PM, but Buddy was going strong until after the Ball Dropped!
In early January, Yankee Bill and Jenn joined a few other folks to form a new chapter of the American Legion Riders Motorcycle Organization.
In February Jenn took to the stage again for a community theater production of “Blame it on the Movies” – of course she stole the show! Immediately following the show – Jenn packed her bags and flew to Texas for a week plus visit with her big sister’s family and their new baby.
In March we had a nice gathering to celebrate Great Nana’s birthday. Jenn got word (through the local grapevine) that there was a professional theater forming in town. She did some investigating and was able to network with some of the organizers and has since become instrumental (and an indispensable volunteer) in the formation of the theater – much more on this in next year’s update!
At the end of the month Yankee Bill met with old Army pals for the NASCAR Races at Bristol, TN. Cold and snowy – crew members were making “snow angels” on pit road…BRRRRR!!! Jenn’s sister Bick shipped out for and all expense paid, year-long trip Iraq – hurry home safely young soldier! God Speed.
We started April with 2 birthday parties in one night – Yankee Bill’s friend Barbie and fellow Legion Rider LL. Princess turned 5 on the 6th, Jenn had her b-day on the 10th and we welcomed Yankee Bill’s sister’s first-born – D, to the world on the 11th. We welcomed a new addition to our house in the form of a sidecar for Yankee Bill’s Harley – Princess has quickly become Papa’s new riding buddy.
Starting in May we set up “camp” for the summer at a local campground – we had adjacent sites with Nana and had some fun times around the campfire throughout the summer. June came and Princess graduated from Pre-school and we witnessed little D’s Baptism.
At the end of June our area experienced some of the most devastating flooding in anyone’s memory – we were fortunate, but many friends were not so lucky…some are still trying to recover.
We had the pleasure of a visit from Virginia friends (CSM B and Family) for a few days around the 4th of July. They were nice enough to sell their second Harley to us (CSM’s wife wanted a new one) and we added yet another member to the family. CSM B and Yankee Bill had a lot of fun riding around the area.
Mid-July Nana hosted “Family-Christmas” here in town and Yankee Bill whipped up a delicious Low-Country Boil for the clan. Yankee Bill and Princess rode the sidecar bike in a parade, with the Legion Riders. At the end of the month, Yankee Bill and some of the guys trekked down to Pocono for a NASCAR race and linked up with some of the Fort Lee, Virginia gang for a fun tailgate party.
More racing in August – Yankee Bill and Jenn drove to Tennessee and met CSM B and wife for a weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. and there was no snow for this race! Upon our return home, we were treated to visit from Granpa Bones and Grandma M.
In September Princess started Kindergarten and Buddy started pre-school (he is very jealous of Princess getting on the bus each morning). Yankee Bill put a uniform back on – yup, he’s officially a member of the New York Militia. The New York Guard is an unpaid volunteer force that backs up the National Guard, should they get deployed out of the state.
In other military matters – Bick’s hubby was “pinned” as an Army Warrant Officer, in October. He starts flight training soon and we know he’ll be glad to see Bick, as she takes her R&R leave from Iraq right after Christmas.
Yankee Bill spent some time Deer Hunting with the “Old House Gang” in November. Jenn flew back to Texas for a big family fling – her baby niece was Christened with many family members in attendance. Yankee Bill and the neighborhood gals, along with Nana and the kids took in the Ringling Bros. Circus – lots of fun!
That brings us up to date and we’re all looking forward to Christmas and a holiday visit from Grandma CiCi – both Grandmas will be in for this year’s Surf-n-Turf feast Christmas weekend!
Until next year – keep up the prayers for our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines!
Our love and best wishes – Yankee Bill, Jenn, Princess & Buddy
What a nice Christmas letter! I haven’t gotten up the courage yet to do one of those. I just don’t think I could come up with enough news to share. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Wow he keeps track of all that. I could tell you what has happened, but not when! Personally, I love getting Christmas letters. Helps us keep up to date with old friends!
Well, the way Yankee Bill does it is to go back through his planner. Most of those sort of things (trips and all) have to be written down and planned in advance, so they are in there :). We have always liked to travel and visit, it is one of those things that we save money in other places so that we can enjoy doing it. . . .
I am another one who hasn’t had the courage to do that yet.
I read yours though and it is wonderful. I am envious that you are doing theatre. I can’t wait to get back to it, but since the kids I haven’t been able to carve out the time. I am hoping maybe when they are a little older…I can dream 🙂
You know, you read so many things in magazines etc that say “Christmas newsletters are tacky” but everyone always says they enjoy ours. Maybe they are just being polite :). But in todays day and age, sometimes that is the only way we can catch up with what some of our friends and family have been doing. I always get excited when I get a nice fat Christmas card that actually has a note or a letter in it from someone. It is so much more exciting than the ones that are just signed.
I bet it would be easier for you all to do than you think. Why don’t you make a new years resolution to try next year?