Reader's Digest Christmas Letter (for those in a hurry)

Alive and well.  Tatiana is now 9, Sébastien 8, and Chloé 4.

Verbose Christmas Letter (for those with more time)

It was another good year for the Lutomski family.  More traveling, camping, hiking, mountain bike racing, and for the first time, caving, canoeing, and horse backriding. 

We again joined our relatives for a reunion in Indiana this summer.  And it turned out to be a "real" reunion.  Not only were we blessed with most of the Tischer clan showing up, but Karen, Karl, & Mary (Lutomski) showed up for the first time.

Cousin Karl Lutomski and his wife Carla come all the way from Atlanta with their two new babies Brynlee and Braxten. 

On the way to the reunion we discovered the Ozarks this year.  What a wonderful place.  (not at all like that Deliverance movie, that was Mississippi anyway, I think...)  Our new favorite place to camp is Devil's Den State Park complete with Devil's Den Cave, hiking and mtn. biking trails, canoeing, swimming, and a bat house with hundreds of bats that fly out nightly!

In the heart of the Ozarks is Eureka Springs where we went twice this summer.  It is an turn of the century (19th-20th that is) Victorian town with bath houses, a steam engine, and right next to Beaver Lake.  Here is picture of the girls shopping (Why do you think they have such a big grin on their face anyway?  They just got out of the "Bead Store".)

Tatiana & Sebastien started piano for the first time this year at their elementary school.  Their school is a special magnet school for music and the performing arts.  While hesitant at first, they quickly began playing melodies within days.  They are now playing several Christmas carols that we plan to debut at Nana's (grandma's) house this Christmas in Florida. 

Tatiana is also singing in the chior and had a wonderful Holloween and Christmas recitals (that Dad was instructed to capture on video).

Tatiana received her first manicure and pedicure at a friends birthday party.  Oh, what an experience.  She had to call Nana and see if she gets her nails done too!

Chloe has finally started Pre-K this year at a wonderful Montessori school in the neighborhood.  Her English is now fluent and she is learning to socialize and other skills of "getting her way".  

Her most popular technique is to sit in your lap, hug you, and say, "i wuv you".  Guaranteed to soften anyone up so she can get you to do anything she wants. 

Chloe seems to have an incredible ear for music.  She is able to repeat melodies from memory weeks after hearing them.  Her older siblings teach her all sorts of new words and melodies (even some that cause her to get a "time out").    

We stopped again in St. Louis to see our friends Beth, John, Ben, & Ella.  Here we are fishing for "magnetic fish" at the Arch (or should I say "Gateway Arch of The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park" that commemorates the westward growth of the United States between 1803 and 1890. Dedicated in 1966.  Now you know why they call it just "the Arch".)

We were there for the fourth of July this year and saw an Airshow right under "the arch". 

Mountain BikingWe all continued our mountain bike racing this year.  Sebastien competed in his first junior race this year in the 10 and under category.  This means they race on the adult course for several miles in stead of several hundred yards like in the Kid's Kup racing. 

Tatiana had a good year of racing but realized she will have to actually train to stay competitive.  Her strength and natural skill won't carry to the podium anymore. 

Chloe completed more Kid's Kup races as well.   Here she is showing off her medal with one of her competitors in Kerrville. 

Until next year, peace to you and yours.  God Bless.

International Space Station News

Some great news regarding your (America's) space program.  Enormous progress has been made in the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS).  Over the past 18 months, we have launched 20 flights between the Russians and Americans. 

On Nov. 2, 2001, the International Space Station marked a milestone in space history -- one full year of continuous international human presence in orbit that has seen the station become the largest, most sophisticated and most powerful spacecraft ever built.

In its first year of permanent occupation, the International Space Station was home to nine long-term residents, including five Russian cosmonauts and four NASA astronauts.

We are now on our fourth expedition of crewmembers on board.  79 people have already been on board the ISS including the world's first "space tourist" (another "first" in space for the Russians). The Station has grown into a 150-ton orbiting complex with more volume than a three-bedroom house.

Now all we need is some leadership in the White House and/or Congress to ensure we can finish the station assembly and keep the 17 nations that participate together. 

Click here to see more ISS Imagery.

In an effort to be closer to the kids, I have moved to the Rice Village/Medical Center area.  My new address is: