We hope this holiday season finds you and yours safe, happy, and in a festive mood!  We've had an eventful year, and yes, once again, you're getting ready to find out all about it, but this time, online!

If you've kept a watchful eye on our web site, The Rectory, you already know just about every move we've made this year.  Ashley & Allison are growing up fast, and thankfully looking more like their mother everyday!  They're great playmates and look out for each other, especially when Daddy takes to playing monster!

Ashley turned 4 in August!  She is attending pre-school up the road at our church's pre-school 3 days a week, and is doing great.  She loves to fill the outside of our fridge with the fruits of her labor!  She took a dance class this year, learned to ride her training wheeled bike, and how to swing on her own.  She's getting to be a big girl, just ask her!

Allison turned 2 this year in July.  She is an independent soul, yearning to do things for herself and trying to keep up with her big sister.  She loves to swing, go to the park, and jump on Mommy & Daddy's bed.  She took a gymnastics (pronounced "nastics") class this year and just can't get enough jumping, balancing, and somersaults!

Laura's been doing a great job as the resident ringleader of the Priest Circus.  She teaches the 4 year old Sunday school class and heads up a variety of other activities at our church.  In her spare time, she's been making a childhood scrapbook for each of the kids, and enjoys tending to the family's every need.

Me on the other hand, I've just been just taking it easy...fly fishing, playing golf, geeking it up on the computer, and going to Wolfpack games.

Here's a list of some of the highlights from this year:
 

In February, Laura & I traveled to Cincinnati for Jennifer & Phil Drees' Wedding and had a great time catching up with Laura's friends from high school, and staying with David & Julie Lee.

Also in February, our good friends at The Greene House welcomed aboard their first little sprout, Grace.

In March we traveled to Augusta, GA to help Ken & Christina Knighten tie the knot!

In early April I got to escape for a long weekend of fly fishing and catching up with my college buddy Karl Stuppnig.

At the end of April, Laura's sister Christine & her husband Bill welcomed their 3rd angel, Anna, into the fold!

In late April/early May we took our yearly vacation to Panama City.  We were able to stay 2 weeks this year and really enjoyed it!  This year my sister Krissi and her husband Aaron were able to join us for part of the trip and it was great to catch up with them.  By the way, Krissi & Aaron are expecting their first bundle of joy any time now!

In late May we made a trip to the NC Zoo with Grandma Andrea & Grandpa John.  I attempted to leave the two little monkeys behind, but they're too smart for this old bear.

In June we traveled to Elyria, OH to visit with Great Grandma Mayak and attend a Holy Love pilgrimage.

On the 4th of July, we had a blast!, including our subdivision's bike parade!

In late August, neighbor Larry Tibbetts & I got to catch some celebrity golf action at the JimmyV Golf Classic.  In September, Grandma Sue & Grandpa Don came out for a nice visit, and we went to check out a Senior Tour event.

In October, we had a good ole time at the North Carolina State Fair.

The girls were two pretty pretty princesses for Halloween this year, although Allison toyed with the idea of being Baby Bop.

Also, Laura and the kids made another trip north to Ohio for Tracy & Jeff Reinhard's Wedding .  I stayed behind and played in the Prestonwood Member/Guest Golf Tourney with golfer and fisherman extraordinaire Charlie Ward, whom I also went trout fishing with in December.

In November during the meteor shower, Laura & I got to spend a relaxing (and child-less!) weekend with Karl & Susan Stuppnig in the mountains near Boone, NC.  Ashley & Allison also had a relaxing (and parent-less!) weekend staying with Grandma Andrea & Grandpa John & at cousin Maria's house!

Wow, I guess that's about it.  If not, either we didn't take pictures, or old age is just catching up with me.  Regardless, you can browse all our pictures at The Rectory's Photo Archives.

We've had the pleasure of catching up with a lot of our friends this past year, and look forward to doing more of that next year as well!

We pray for the victims of September 11th, their loved ones left behind, justice for those responsible, our military overseas, and peace in this country and world of ours!

We hope you have a happy and blessed holiday season and prosperous 2002!