Christmas Letter 1999

Seasons Greeting from the Reyersons!

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s been another year. Seems like it was a few weeks ago that I sat here wondering how to sum up 1998 in a few paragraphs. A wise man told me once that the years really start to hurry once you have kids, and I cannot dispute that one bit.

As for this year, it was fun and challenging at the same time. It’s been fun watching the kids grow up a little, become more independent, start preschool and make new friends. It’s been a challenge to deal with the things that most folks don’t like about the average 4 year old. I’ll let you fill in the blanks. With that said, however, I’ll stack our kids up against anybody’s. They’re great kids, and we’re lucky as can be to have them.

The preschool teachers tell us that Collin is somewhat of a “leader”. Seems that a lot of the other kids want to play with him and sit by him at lunchtime. His hand shoots up every time the teacher asks for a volunteer, no matter what the task. I plan to use that piece of information to my advantage a few times in the next ten years or so. Collin also mastered the art of riding a bike like a big boy this year, and you should see him throw a football. I was also shocked to come home one day to see Collin at the table writing his name like he’d been doing it for years. He’s a tremendously fast learner.

Adrienne is more reserved than Collin at preschool, but has made friends with a couple little girls more shy than she is. The teachers tell us that these friendships help build Adrienne’s confidence, and that she has made big steps since school began back in September. At home, she acts out what she learns in school, reading stories to her dolls and stuffed animals. Lately she has been working on writing her own name in an effort to keep up with big brother. Folks keep telling us that she looks like Connie now more that ever. I know my DNA is in there somewhere, just don’t ask me where it is.

Connie is enjoying the newfound freedom that the 3.5 hour preschool sessions bring 3 times a week. She actually gets to “think” when she shops now, something most folks take for granted. We’re also getting a little time together away from the kids. We have neighbors across the street with two boys ages 7 and 5. Twice this fall, we dropped off the kids and went out for a little fun, dinner one night, a movie the other.

My 11th year at Best Buy is perhaps my busiest ever. It ranks right up there with the 3 years I spent at the store in Des Moines. I’m working essentially the same number of hours, but they’re the “right” hours (no evenings, just a few weekends). No matter how busy I get, I have the opportunity to do something I hardly ever got to do working shifts in Des Moines: eat lunch. Funny how quick you can put on a few pounds once you get 3 squares a day.

For all the Hawkeye fans out there, I must say I was sorry to see the Hayden Fry era end, but was even sorrier to watch the 1999 Hawks stumble through the worst season in the past quarter century. They looked like a fraternity football team on its third keg of beer. Yuck. I am, however, looking forward to the basketball season, where Mr. Alford and all the new faces may sneak up on a few teams writing off the Hawks as an easy win. Go Black and Gold!

Well, that’s just about it from here. Be sure to stop by if your travels bring you to the Twin Cities. Our house is just a few minutes from downtown Minneapolis and we’d love to see you. We hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits, and we wish you all a happy and safe holiday.

Warren, Connie, Collin and Adrienne