Christmas2006

Hello,

Our favorite time of the year once again! We love reflecting on the many joyous times of Christmases past and enjoying the blessings of the present. We hope that your blessings approach or exceed ours.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Here's what we've been up to in 2006:

Eric's company, Altruist Financial Advisors LLC, continues to grow exponentially. As of the end of 2006, he has about $69 million in assets under management.

Melissa continues as a part-time nurse at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.
Vacations: We spent two and a half weeks at our family's cottage in NW Michigan on beautiful Crystal Lake. We also spent a week at our favorite summer camp, Camp Michigania (where we were glad to be joined by Morgan's friend, Tyler).
Renovations: Our home renovation begun in spring 2005 continues and is nearing completion!
Entertainment: We got a new 40" LCD TV to replace our 20 year old 19" CRT model. Quite a difference! Eric now uses (not enough) his new recumbent exercise bicycle when he can. Eric likes using his new rice cooker — perfect rice every time!
Athletics: Our son Morgan participated in soccer (MVP of Univ of Michigan Soccer Camp and Co-Captain of his middle school team), swimming, basketball, tennis, and Tae Kwon Do (purple belt). Our daughter Lisette played soccer and softball and swam "competitively."

Six years after his last 100 mile bike ride, Eric rode 210 miles in two days, averaging 15 miles per hour. The event was a bike tour in Ohio called TOSRV. This was the eighth time in the past 28 years that Eric had ridden in the event — first riding it in 1978.
Scouting: Morgan continued his involvement with the Boy Scouts and advanced to the rank of Second Class scout. Eric continues as an extremely enthusiastic Assistant Scoutmaster. This year Eric received the following recognitions from the Boy Scouts: Community Organization Award, Boy Scout Leader's Training Award, and Wood Badge. Eric completely redesigned the troop's web site.
Good movies seen: The Terminal, The Falcon and the Snowman, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Along Came A Spider, Serendipity.
Good books read: This year Eric read (I read a few of these to our children -- most of the rest were read in my car via "books on tape/CD"): The Illustrated Man (Ray Bradbury), Until I Find You (John Irving), The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson), 2001: A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke), Digital Fortress (Dan Brown), Holes* (Sachar), The Water Method Man (John Irving), One of Ours+ (Willa Cather), The Yearling+ (Rawlings), The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Benjamin Franklin), Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck), Contact (Carl Sagan), Kira-Kira* (Kadohata), The Tale of Despereaux* (DiCamillo), The Inferno of Dante, Julie of the Wolves* (Craighead), A Day Down Yonder* (Peck), Crispin: The Cross of Lead* (Avi), Criss Cross* (Perkins), The Light of Other Days (Arthur C. Clarke/Baxter), Whales on Stilts (Anderson), The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (Edgar Allan Poe), Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind* (Fisher), 2061: Odyssey Three (Arthur C. Clarke), A Wrinkle in Time* (Madeline L'Engle), 3001: The Final Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams), The Grapes of Wrath+ (John Steinbeck), The Story of My Life (Helen Keller), A Bell for Adano+ (John Hersey), The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle* (Lofting), Angels & Demons (Dan Brown), The Killer Angels+ (Michael Shaara), Little House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingalls Wilder), The View from Saturday* (Konigsburg), Little House on the Prairie (Laura Ingalls Wilder), The Man Who Fell to Earth (Tevis), Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Levitt and Dubner), God's Debris (Scott Adams), The View From Saturday* (Konigsburg), The Moon is Down (John Steinbeck), Lord of the Flies (William Golding), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde), The Song of Hiawatha (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), The Pearl (John Steinbeck).
* Newberry Medal Winner
+ Pulitzer Prize Winner
Critters: Eric had the pleasure of holding a beautiful tarantula in his hand! Lou, the beautiful wild Peacock, blessed us with his presence at our home virtually every day for about six months. His calls during the mating season gave our woods the feeling of a jungle. When he wasn't hanging out at our house, he was hanging out with the local wild turkeys.
Milestone: Eric reached the 22 gallon threshold of lifetime blood donations this year. He hopes to eventually catch his dad, who is at the 33 gallon level.
Milestone: Eric attended his 25th high school reunion.

Smile & Be Happy!

Eric & Melissa Haas

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This page last updated 12/25/08