Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us here at The Rectory!  It was another year chocked full of fun and excitement around these parts!  Everyone is healthy, happy, and ready for Christmas!  Below you'll find some details on what we've been up to in the past year...(now would be the time to grab that egg nog, sit back and enjoy!)

Ashley turned 8 this year and is growing up way too fast!  She's in 2nd grade, just loves school and is doing great!  She's in Brownies, does Indian Princess with Daddy, and plays on a basketball team with Allison this year.

Allison turned 6 this year and is getting to be a big girl herself!  She's in 1st grade and is doing excellent!  She says her favorite classes at school are playground and Math!  She's in Brownies, started up Indian Princess with Daddy this year, and is also hoopin' it up!

Andrew turned 2 this year, and had a Cookie Monster and Elmo birthday party!  He'll be 3 in March, and is a ball full of energy!  He' keeps Laura on her toes most of the time, but is a sweet little boy.  Well, not so little, and not always so sweet, but that comes with being two!  He loves to "rassle" with Daddy enjoys head-locks, side suplexes and body slams!  He is a counting machine, and is destined to star in the remaike of "Rain Man".

Laura is still going strong on the pursuit of her nursing degree. She's doing great and still busting the curves at Durham Tech!  All while juggling the kids, their activities, and housework...  Simply another amazing year!

Mark's had fun this year with the girl's Indian Princess tribes and activities!  He also helps coach the girl's basketball team, and "rassles" with Andrew as much as possible!

We got a trampoline this year and all the kids just love to jump and play games on a daily basis!  They also love when Mommy or Daddy jumps with them!  It's been big fun!

Okay, well, that's some of the highlights.  More details, links to pics, etc are below!

We spent last Christmas at our home in NC, and then afterwards, headed to Missouri to visit Grandma Sue, Grandpa Don & the rest of the Priest clan. 
Andrew turned TWO in March and we helped him celebrate with Cookie Monster and Elmo!  He loved his party, all the presents, and most of all, the cake!!!
The Easter Bunny came hopping our way early this year, in March, leaving behind much chocolate and many eggs that needed finding!

In early April of this year Laura and I got to escape for a long weekend to Myrtle Beach!  It was a good break and good chance to at least recall the days before the kiddies came along.  The weather was a bit nippy while we were there, but that didn't stop Laura from making the most of it!
Also in early April, my "little sister" Krissi welcomed her second child Carson to the Andrews' family!

Later in April, I managed to head to the mountains to do a little fishing and camping with my buddies Charilie, Larry, and Chip.  After a wet start, and having to move our tents out of the Nile River, it turned out to be a great trip!  I can still taste Larry's hobo dinner!

In early May, Ashley and I went with our Indian Princess tribe to Camp Seafarer, which is a YMCA camp in the Eastern part of NC on the Pamlico Sound.  We went down the zip line, shot some arrows, road our bikes around camp and had a blast!  Ashley and I also hooked the third place bass in the fishing contest!  It was a great weekend hanging out with Ashley and her friends!

In late May, we headed back to Bear Den for another family camping trip with the Conrad's.  We explored Linville Caverns and Falls, did some spelunking, and Mark even got to show off his hillbilly dancin' skills!  It was another great trip chocked full of family fun and adventure!

In late June and early July, we made a summer visit to Mark's home in Missouri.  Mark had his 20yr high school reunion and got to catch up with a lot of old buddies!  We also had fun catching up with the Priest fam!

Later in July, Laura and the kids visited Laura's cousin Tonya and her fam who recently moved from Ohio to our neck of the woods, near Wilmington.

In late July we all went to Kings Dominion amusement park with Laura's folks and sister's family.  After a little coaxing from Daddy, the girls became roller coaster addicts!  Their favorite coaster was the Anaconda which has a huge first drop, a couple loops and many cork screws!  Talk about fun!
 

Allison turned 6 in late July.  This year she had a Lizzie McGuire camping party!  A bunch of her friends came over and played in our tent, played some games and of course had some cake and icecream!

In August we took our yearly vacation to Panama City.  Once again it was a great time full of fun, sun, rest and relaxation!  As usual it was hard to finally leave and come back home!

Later in August, Ashley turned 8.  This year she had a bunch of friends over for an inside campout sleepover party!  They acted out a Mystery Kit skit and had a grand time!

October in NC means one thing...The NC State Fair!  We went with Laura's folks John and Andrea this year.  The kids had a blast and we all got our share of yummy and unhealthy food!

For Halloween this year, Ashley dressed up as a Winx girl, Allison was an NC State cheerleader, and Andrew was Bob The Builder!  They all did a good job at bring Daddy home lots of candy!

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 even more of that next year!!!

We hope you have a happy and blessed holiday season and prosperous 2006!!!