Christmas TimeDear Family and Friends,

It’s been another fun and joyous year in the Cox family. We’re still enjoying our Lincoln home and finally feel as though we’ve settled in.

In April, after over a year without a canine companion, we added Bauer to our family. He is a Lab-Rottweiler mix (the best we can tell), and is a puppy through and through (read: He will destroy anything in his path if left unchecked). Still, he’s a pretty good listener and tries to behave most of the time. Bauer and Christopher have adjusted to each other quite well and we predict a great future friendship.

Christopher is, as always, a very happy kid. Yep, he’s a kid now, no longer a baby, as he often reminds us. We’re treated on regular occasions to long stories about the truck, the dog, the ball, the spider, etc. It’s a very fun age, and we’ve just about survived the supposed terrible twos unscathed.

In October, we made a well-deserved, if slightly frivolous purchase… We bought a boat! Barry had been asking for years and Laura finally agreed that we lived close enough to a plethora of lakes and rivers to make it worthwhile. It’s a 20’ Regal (motorboat) that has a cabin in the front, and can be turned into a floating tent for summer camping trips. Since it was the end of the season, we’ve only been out a few times, but we loved it. Even Christopher has become a salty sailor, once he got used to the big wakes, (and Daddy got used to driving the boat more smoothly over them). If you want to catch a ride, just give us a call!

Barry still enjoys working for the City of Citrus Heights, and is currently enjoying a well-earned and definitely needed sabbatical for the month of December. The city keeps him busy and on his toes, and he is enjoying checking out for a few weeks.

In the spring, Laura moved into a new role at work (same company, same telecommuting), and its been a busy year. The good news is that she was able to go back to a 4 day a week schedule mid-year, allowing for more family time. She is also currently enjoying a well-deserved 3 week vacation, so it is party hardy time at the Coxes.

Thank you for all of your letters and cards – We love hearing from everyone. We wish you all the most joyous of seasons and the best year yet in 2008.

With Love,
Barry, Laura, and Christopher

PS – A quick note on phone numbers… Please keep track of our home phone number (916-543-3667), as our 408 cell phone numbers will soon change and we don’t want you to lose us!