Happy Holidays from the Dybvigs!

Well,it’shappenedagain,anotherperfectlygoodyearhasslippedpastuslikewewereSecretServiceagentsguardingaWhiteHousedinner.Ouryearkickedoffwithabang,literally,asinthefirstweekofJanuary,ouroldestsonBobtookhismaiden(andtragicallyfinal)flightonhisbottlerocketpoweredlawnchairthatwasintendedtotakehimintoorbit.Unfortunately,itonlysenthimscreamingintothesideofthecity’swatertower.Wechosetorememberhimastheastronauthedreamedofbeing,andnottheproofofDarwinismwhichisapparentlyhowthelocalnewsmediaandmostofourneighborsseehim. Our(now)oldestsonChuckfinishedhisbehindthewheeltrainingjustlastweek,andisabouttogethisdriver’s

license.WeremainhauntedbythewordsofhisDriversEdteacherwhotoldusthathedriveslikeaprogolfer.Wearen’tsureifthatmeansheisgoodatlongstraightdrives,orifheisathreattolocalfirehydrantsandtrees.HisyoungerbrotherJakecontinuestoauditionforjustaboutanyrealityshowthatwillhavehim.JustlastweekIhadtohelphimphotographatattoohehadgivenhimselfwhilebuildingamotorcyclethatdepictedanelaboratecakehehadbakedtocommemoratethebirthofhisfictionaloctuplets.OurmiddleboyBriancontinueshissomewhatoddquestfortheworldrecordinnumberofnickelsswallowedinanhour.AndIhavetosay,eversinceweinstalledthatfancylow‐flowmetaltoiletinthekids’bathroom,thehousesoundsalotmorelikeVegas.Aspredictedinourlastletter,mymostrecentwifeLizandIdidgetmarriedthissummerinMankato.AfterabriefCostaRicanhoneymoon,weeachsettledbackintothegrindofwork,mestillwithmysmallPRfirmandherwithherUnionwork.Inherfreetime,Lizcontinuestomakeallsortsofmintycreationswithherdentalflossneedlepoint.IspendmyfreetimemakingmotorcyclehelmetsoutofcantalouperindsforexporttothirdworldcountiesandamalsocurrentlyrunningforgovernorhereinMinnesota.AndwhatwouldoneofourholidaylettersbewithoutanupdateonCousinLen.Youmayrecallthathesecuredamailorderbridetwoyearsago,andthenlastyear,theyhadamailorderbabydelivered.Well,thisyearhewascontenttoorderapairofgrayslacksonline.Gottosay,hereallylettheoldDybvigfamilyholidayletterdownthisyear.MayJesus,Allah,Buddha,Mohammed,Krishna,ChuckNorrisorwhateverothergodyoupraytothisChristmascontinuetoblessyouandkeepyousafeinthecomingyear.

Nate, Liz, Chuck. Jake, Brian and Bob the Almost Astronaut.