We have never written a holiday letter, but the blog makes this task a bit easier.  Christmas sort of feels like Thanksgiving because we find ourselves at the end of another year feeling grateful for our health, family and friends.

The Astalos family highlight has to be mom and dad’s (Ron and Kimiko) 50th wedding anniversary.  It’s officially on Dec. 28 but all the kids decided to make it to Port Huron, Michigan to celebrate the week before Thanksgiving.  We realized it had been 17 years since all seven of us had been together.  It was a great reunion.

Keana is in 6th grade and enjoys art, theatre and music.  She’ll audition for her 12th production in January (the school musical) and  is currently in her second year of piano lessons.

Cayman is an active 2nd grader.  He is proud to tell you he reads at a 4th grade level.  He started guitar lessons but spends far more time on Guitar Hero than the expensive electric guitar we bought him.  He plays all sports, and dad coached his basketball and flag football teams this year which Cayman thoroughly enjoyed.  Cayman took first place in his very first triathlon this summer…a chip off the ol’ block.

Cayman is “riding the bull” in the front of the boat, Keana has her eyes shut tight on the far right side of the boat, Sheryl is getting blasted with whitewater next to Cayman, Lynn is digging in behind Sheryl, and our Japanese exchange student Miwa is enjoying the ride in the back of the boat.

Following a weekend rafting trip down the South Fork of the American River, we spent two weeks in Maui in August at our family condo in Napili Village.  It’s nothing fancy, but we’ve been going there for 11 years now and we all love it in Maui…how can you not?

Sheryl has enjoyed 11 years of being a full-time mom and has a part-time interior design business with her mother.  In February, they completed the design of a 10-room hotel in Santa Cruz, CA called Bella Notte, The Inn at East Cliff.  It was a fun challenge.  She also enjoys volunteering at school and will be heading up set design for the school musical for the third time.

Lynn has been at Cisco for six years, managing global communications for their professional services business.  He also owns a boutique marketing agency and does marketing consulting on the side.  He finds a twisted pleasure in competing in Olympic and half ironman triathlons, ultra marathons, and any event that includes the swim, bike or run.  You can read more about it at www.iswimbikerun.wordpress.com including his big event for 2009–a 125-mile run over 6 days across the Rocky Mountains.

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2009!

Love,

Lynn, Sheryl, Keana and Cayman