1990

GREETINGS FRIENDS,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This is the year we get away from materialism. We are planning a trip to Disney World and have limited each of the kids to only a few thousand dollars or seven metric tons of toys this year. Actually we really don't have room for anymore "stuff", we are chock-O-block full. Everytime we buy something new, we must balance the load and throw out something old. This was a great rule, until I found myself thrown out for a new TV and a Big Wheel.

We escaped Washington D.C. with our sanity, the equity in our house, all four kids, and our ethics still intact. Best of all, despite the best efforts of My Three Sons and one daughter, there were no fatalities on our trip. I seriously considered rigging a seat in the engine compartment for one of the kids. However, after some consideration, I decided it would be a good seat for me to get away from it all

Bobette drove a load of ladys in our new red Vanagan on the womens retreat and somehow ended up in the middle of a cow field facing off a bull that was slightly bigger than the Van. She won the face off with the bull, but is unable to do as well with 4 bull-headed children. The kids are slowly driving her out of her mind. She consistently forgets little things like how many kids we have and what their names are. She also loses things like the car keys, her credit card, and Nicole. I got to accompany her to her 20yr HS reunion. Some of her classmates couldn't make it so they sent their parents in their place.

Derrick is almost a teenager, a pre-person. The sense of humor he began developing a few years ago has gotten so funny and so cute that it makes me want to barf. He's having a tough time adjusting to the 7th grade. We are trying to help him by teaching him the latest guerrilla warfare techniques and streetfighting. But he gets his release when we leave him home to babysit. He introduces the children to the finer points of discipline and tyranny with play executions and tickle torture.

Michael is 9 yrs old now and is growing more confident by the day. He likes to take things apart and leave the parts lay on the carpet where we step on them with bare feet. One of his young friends thinks Michael is mechanically inclined "He really knows his stuff". Well, if he can't make it as a mechanical engineer, he has a solid future as a con-artist or actor. He easily transitioned to his new home, making new friends quickly. School is still not his cup of tea as his favorite day of the year was the last day of school. Always the kid with the brilliant ideas, he convinced Joseph to burn sticks in the charcoal one night on a picnic. Two days later they discovered it was Poison Oak they were playing with. Their eyes swelled shut and faces puffed up making them look like obese chinese kids with bad complexions.

G.I. Joseph is now 6 yrs old and as tough a character as you'd ever want to meet. He played both soccer and T-ball this year and always wanted to know which team they had to 'fight' next. He is always in army fatigues and the T-shirt is beginning to fuse to his skin. Joseph can't wait for World War III. He plays too roughly with his little sister and isn't aware of the retribution she has in store for him. There's nothing like a little sister to make life interesting.

Nicole is still a doll, but a bigger, more talented doll with new tricks. She's learned to scratch, bite, spit, climb, ride a skateboard, break glass with a scream, and cuss out mom and dad. Fortunately, her pig-latin is still barely comprehensible so we're not sure when she cusses. She's still having problems with mechanical equipment as this year she managed to earn her first visit to the doctor by sticking her finger between the blades of a scissors being operated by Joseph. She takes good care of herself and always manages to get even; usually a good slap in the face while asleep evens the score. She pretty much has the run of the neighborhood and knows how to weasel a dessert out of at least two of the neighbors if she doesn't like ours, which is most of the time.

I'm just tickled pink to be back flying and in California. I expect to get some skiing in at Tahoe, and maybe back into coaching and Bible study teaching. I think I've contracted a rare disease that makes you look and act younger. I have this strong urge for red sports cars and gold chains

Remember us in your prayers, and may Jesus bless your 1991.
THE SCHEIDS, 1990