2006 Holiday Letter!

Happy Holidays!!

2006. Another year winds down in the Szumko household. It would be remiss to say that this year was like any other. It has, in fact, not.

Life proves to be very interesting and exciting. Here is top-ten list of things we’ve done to keep ourselves busy (in no particular order):

1. Jameson Ivan Szumko was born on July 2, 2006. A night or two of hard labor for Christine yields great results. Stefan’s breakfast was interrupted for the actual birth. To this date, Jameson has a hard time doing analytical calculus, but he is on his way to rolling over and sitting up. The introduction of solid foods is proving very popular. Alex has adapted well to big-brotherhood.
2. Alex has a personal encounter with a sea anemone while visiting the Pacific Coast of Northern California near Mendocino in February/March. Sea lions were exciting too. Beaches were great to run on and collect rocks. They sure do grow trees big out there.
3. Stefan creates a Volkssporting Club in Ann Arbor, encouraging over 400 people to come out and walk in Washtenaw County, Michigan, over two events. Five events are planned for next year closing in on the goal of holding a Volksmarch, a family-oriented 10K walk, in each of the eleven Washtenaw County Communities by 2010.
4. Alex assists Stefan at the Leslie Science Center Summer Day Camp and various other programs there. Jameson helps to lead hikes while Alex demonstrates craft projects at the bi-weekly Tiny Tots program.
5. Christine is bought out by the United States Air Force. She’ll be looking for a new job next year as she leaves with 8.5 years of service on July 18, 2007. We are all excited about the prospects and possibilities.

6. Alex had many firsts. He bought his first scooter ("two wheeled" vs "three-wheeled," of which he is very proud) and learned to ride it. In September, he attended first University of Michigan football game and later experienced tent camping for the first time. Both prove to be popular events we hope to repeat soon.

7. Alex attends his last day of preschool at the Discovery Center. He looks forward to spending more time at home with Stefan and Jameson. He also plans to participate in many classes including: gymnastics, swimming, German, and piracy.

8. All enjoyed many visits over the summer, including Uncle Mike, Grandma and Grandpa Baker, the Lutzer Clan, and others.

9. Christine becomes addicted to creating pictures books of family events on shutterfly. Stefan fosters his addiction to selling the family collection of unneeded stuff on eBay.

10. We celebrate Christmas for the first time at home. The Szumko clan in Michigan will be attending—nine including Jameson. Christine hopes to successfully re-produce her father's traditional sticky bottom cinnamon rolls.

Plans have been made for 2007, which promises to be another year, if not better. We will be taking the big “Szumko Expedition of 2007” during the break between service in the Air Force and employment at a yet-to-be-determined source. We’ll spend 4-5 weeks traveling to the beach of North Carolina, the Smokey Mountains, random places along the East Coast to include the Washington DC area, as well as Rochester, New York, and maybe to Niagara Falls and into Canada. We are also hoping to head out to Lithuania to celebrate Mike’s marriage to Jurate.

Happy Holidays from the Szumkos!
Christine, Stefan, Alex, and Jameson