2009 has been another year of frequent travel for our family, we continue to enjoy our travel trailer, some more than others. We’ve made trips all the way to Disney Land and the wilds of British Columbia. Several trips to local state parks, and a handful of road trips with out the trailer to visit  family on the east side of state.

Nora is 14 now and attending White River High School with Colton as a freshman. She continues to bring home outstanding grades and has a good circle of friends at school and near home. In addition to joining FFA she continues to be very involved in her 4-H club, Classic Riders. While there is a fair amount of horse riding involved, there are also fundraising events and regular meetings. Her new cat Toulouse is the funniest cat and the whole family enjoys his personality. Nora has been busy with advanced riding lessons and spends many hours working with both the horses. (I even added lights to the arena so she can ride after dark in the winter.)

Colton is a junior this year and is starting to give some serious thought about what he wants to do following high school and exploring his future education possibilities. He’s voluntarily taking advanced placement classes that earn him college credits and we are proud that he still maintains an excellent GPA. He will soon enter the world of licensed drivers and Sandy and I are comfortable with that. He enjoyed the trip of a life time this summer helping pilot his uncle’s plane to and from Osh Kosh Wisconsin for the annual fly-in there. His uncle even treated him to a ride in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor. Colton provides excellent care to his fish and his large aquarium is always a show piece in his room upstairs. He’s a big help with farm chores and also enjoys a good social life with a group of young adults we all like.

Sandy had a small career setback last year, with the tough economic times everywhere, her school cut her Para-Educator position and she is currently working as a substitute. While the income is missed, we’ve been rewarded with the dividend of time, and there can be no higher reward than that. Sandy still enjoys her once month get together with her quilting club, and also has fun getting together with co-workers and friends occasionally. And she still enjoys riding our horses with Nora and takes wonderful care of our old sheep, old chickens and old ducks.

I’m still driving truck at Boeing, working close enough to home that I still bicycle to work when weather permits. I still get occasional out of town trips that I enjoy but with every trip I’m reminded how much I look forward to the day Sandy and I can travel together. At home the chores never end, but truthfully I just about always enjoy my work around our farm. I’m still also working for a neighbor taking care of their place and I’m president of the local water company. Working for the water company has forced me to learn many new things and currently I’m in charge of building a huge new storage tank and booster station.

My mother is doing well by herself in Shelton. Her home is well taken care of and her life is busy and full, though recently she lost a good neighbor who was also a dear friend. All my siblings are well and have made it out recently to visit. Sandy’s folks have had medical setbacks this year, Ann had back surgery again, Jack had multiple procedures leading up to a Knee replacement, and Lee has mostly recovered from pneumonia that hospitalized him earlier in the year. Her siblings are well also. All our nieces and nephews are doing well, some in school, some working, some not, but that’s life. You can always find us on “facebook” and I still maintain my own web page, www.gyswyt.com where you can drop in and see what we’ve been doing with frequent photo updates.                 

Love to all. Hans, Sandy, Colton and Nora