We hope this holiday greeting finds you and yours safe, warm, and in a festive mood!  After our recent ice storm and power outage, we're especially thankful for a warm house and having great neighbors ready to lend a hand! 

We've done a bit more than just cuddle around the fireplace this year, so sit back and enjoy this year's run-down of what's been going down in our neck of the woods.  If you've kept a watchful eye on our web site, The Rectory, you already have a pretty good idea of what you're in store for.  If not, well are you in for a treat! 

Our two little angels are getting to be big little girls!  Ashley turned 5 this August, and Allison turned 3 in July.  Both girls are attending pre-school and enjoying all the fun and learning!  Ashley goes 5 half days, while Allison goes 2 half days a week. 

They are pretty good sisters...most of the time!  Here's some things they like to do: 
- play Barbies (sometimes they even let Daddy play too!), 
- put on make believe shows with their stuffed animals for us, 
- jump on the beds, 
- streak through the house prior to bath time, 
- go to the park to feed the ducks and catch some fish, 
- feed Whitenose, their pet goldfish, and 
- ride their bikes. 

Both girls played soccer this year and I was the head coach for The Wildcats in our subdivision's pre-K league.  They tell me even Pele had to start at some age. 

Laura's had another busy year, spending a lot of time with the girls and working on a variety of fun stuff up at the pre-school and church.  In her spare time, she enjoys tending to the family's every need.  Me on the other hand, I've spent another year 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: 

 
We spent last Christmas at home, and then afterwards, headed to Missouri to visit Grandma Sue, Grandpa Don & Company. 

You might recall from last year's year-in-review, my "little sister" Krissi was expecting just before Christmas, and sure enough, she was accommodating enough to wait until we arrived in Missouri to deliver little Jackson. 

In February, Mark Roberts, a great buddy of mine, passed away.  Mark was and is an inspiration for all that knew him of how to enjoy and make the most of all life has to offer! 

In May we took our yearly vacation to Panama City.  We were able to stay 2 weeks again this year and really enjoyed getting away for a relaxing break!  I think we've been looking forward to our next trip in the spring since we left! 

May also brings the annual May Day gathering at The Greenehouse!  Paul, Christy, & Grace always throw a great all day party, and this year was no exception! 

In June we took the girls to a Durham Bulls baseball game.  They got to hang out with Wool E. Bullie, while I was coaxed into a post-game corn-on-the-cob eating contest!  Despite ample crowd support, I unfortunately came up short…way short!  I'm much more of an endurance eater than a speed eater! 

July brought the annual Independence Day celebrations including fireworks and a festive flag waving bike parade through our subdivision. 

Allison turned 3 in late July.  She had a Barbie birthday party and did some gymnastics.  She just had to have a chocolate Barbie cake, and Laura came through as usual!  Following her birthday, Allison was tasked with making some "charitable donations".  You see, she possessed 3 pacifiers, referred to as sassy's...one pink, one yellow, and one blue.  Her first donation was the pink sassy, which she left under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy to pick up for a crying baby that had no teeth.  The next night, she put her yellow sassy in a plastic egg and left it outside for the Easter Bunny to pick up and give to a crying baby bunny.  The first two donations went fairly smooth, but the last donation was a little harder to come by.  Thus the blue sassy remained with us a bit longer, until a month later when Allison was finally able to leave it in her stocking for Santa to pick up.  You see a crying elf was keeping the reindeer awake night and day, and without sleep, they would be unable to pull Santa's sleigh, and thus Christmas would have to be canceled.  So thanks to Allison, Christmas appears to be a go! 

Ashley turned 5 in August.  She had a huge princess party.  She and all her friends dressed up, made jewelry, and had a blast.  They had almost as much fun as I did! 

Laura and I escaped to Hilton Head for a weekend in August.  It rained almost the whole weekend, which Laura said provided the perfect atmosphere for shopping! 

In September, I teamed up with Capt'n Bundy and all the fine folks at B&B Pecan Processors to play in the Greater Goodness Grows golf tourney.  Thanks to Mr. 3-wood Bundy and the rest of the team, we managed to bring home the GGG Booty this year!

Laura's mom, Andrea, turned 30 for what seems like the 30th time this November!  Travelin' Great Grandma Mayak and Auntie Linda came down for the big party, and for a nice long visit.  They finally had to return to Ohio after being diagnosed as addicted shopaholics!

I was able to sneak away for another enjoyable weekend of camping and fishing this fall with fishing buddy Charlie Ward.  We caught some nice scenery and foliage in the mountains, as well as a few nice fish! 

For Halloween this year, Ashley & Allison dressed up as butterflies!  Batman was also seen attempting to tame the frisky and sharp-clawed Cat Woman... 

And another October tradition, the NC State Fair, once again provided its share of deliciously unhealthy food, rides of questionable safety, exhibits you just have to see to believe, and a great time for kids of all ages!

In early December our area was hit by a massive ice storm.  Trees were snapped in two everywhere, which had power out for the majority of folks in the area for a couple days to a week or so for some.  The kids were a bit cranky as the TV didn't work, Laura was upset she couldn't make any cookies, and I was irate with the computer down!  But as the first night and thermostat fell with no power, it was clearly heat that we all wanted most!  Thanks to the Tibbetts (our hospitable neighbors with a heat pumping gas stove in their bedroom) we all had a warm night’s sleep!  With their assistance, we were really able to make the most of the time without power.  The kids had a blast playing together all day.  The adults all bonded clearing the trees and debris from each other's yards.  Luckily we didn't have to impose on the Tibbetts too long as we got our power back the 3rd night.  It's good to know you have good neighbors, and it's good to be warm! 

The last item on our agenda we began back in the June timeframe, but won't put the finishing touches on until a forecasted completion date of early April 2003.  Laura is spearheading this effort with as much support and assistance as the rest of us can feasibly provide.  It's an approximate 9 month project, but with Laura, you can usually add at least two weeks to that!  Ashley & Allison are looking forward to welcoming another sibling to the family tree! 

For even more eye-popping footage of our every move this year, feel free to browse around The Rectory's Complete 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 peace and justice in these times of international turmoil and for our military personnel both home and abroad who protect and fight for the freedoms we enjoy. 

We hope you have a happy and blessed holiday season and prosperous 2003!