Hey hidy ho de do.

The only Hurricanes we got this year were the new NHL hockey players. And the drinks at our Mardi Gras party.

We adult-types celebrated our 10th weddin' anniversary by escaping (alone) to a mountain cabin for a few blissful days, while G'pa/ma Haynes gamely remembered why they only had 5 kids. The jacuzzi under the stars was a groove. Andrea "kilt-watched" at the Scottish/Highland games at Grandfather Mountain. Thom's been practicing 'heaving the telephone pole' in the backyard.

Alex (6) and Ethan (5) are our pride and joy. Both are quite creative artistically. They love their 'giga-pets', which are constantly beeping... augghh! -- we wish one of the pets would live longer than one day. Alex is in first grade, and greatly enjoys soccer. His current league is indoor -- no out-of-bounds, the balls just carem off the boards. Ethan has a wonderful preschool teacher, and he looks forward to real school, and team sports, like his big bro enjoys. He is a dynamo roller-blader, and appears to have an imaginary pal called 'John Bone'. They both swam lots this summer in our neighborhood pool -- quite the daily desire.

Thom is learning to play piano using a software program and a MIDI keyboard. The boys have a kids' version of the SW, and express occasional interest in it. Still, they'd rather raise a din with our old trumpet. Andrea hereby publically proclaims '1998 will be the year I learn to turn on the PC'.

Thom helped the local library start a 'magazine exchange' where people can donate and/or take for free, used magazines.

Andrea continues to teach Sunday school for her church, and learned to make Baklava. She had a big birthday this year, which Thom managed to commemorate with a large tombstone to the front lawn: "Here lies Andrea's youth -- Too soon, Went south!". Her part-time Occupational Therapy work continues to be challenging and enjoyable.

We enjoyed Thom's 20th high school reunion, especially since Thom didn't win "Most aged". Thom found coaching Alex' tee-ball team to be rewarding.

We got to see both our brother Mikes, and Thom's sister Carol on her way to the Bahamas. Hopefully we'll be done finishing our new attic guest room soon (hint hint). We got some skiing and beach mini-trips in, softball/basketball leagues.

We're still at 1005 Smokewood Dr, Apex NC 27502, 919-362-7749. Thom at work: 919-543-5255. You can e-mail us at haynest@us.ibm.com. It's a work-in-progress (slow...) at Thom's web page: www.cs.unc.edu/~haynes You'll find travelogues there about Thom's trip to Taiwan and Japan, and his survival of his first (and last?) marathon (the Marine Corps, in Wash DC, October). The far east trip was part of taking his IBM Update Connector application worldwide. Thom can still get you about 20% off retail for an Aptiva home computer.

We're not even going to MENTION the Indians... except to welcome back Kenny Lofton!

Please let us know what's happ'nin in your lives!

Love, ... and Ozzie the 11-yr old Wunderkat

=== notes after Xmas... ===

We bought a $15 White Pine for the tree -- its smooth to the touch, harder to hang ormanents off, but really pretty! Kids got many transformers, beanie babies. Their big presents were a digital tablet input device for the computer (with KidPix SW), and a clock radio for ALex, tape recorder for Ethan. Colored yellow red and blue of course. Lotsa Legos.

Thom got a ToughTool, 21-in-1, cool. And many winter shirts, a Phish tape... Andrea got two gardening books.

We got Dad gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, and Macarena Grill. And 32MB of RAM memory.

Mom got a beautiful handmade pottery plate from Andrea for her birthday. Mom got us the game 'Sorry!'. Santa brought us a labyrinth game. Andrea bought us 'Dirty Minds'.

Ham and squash casserole filled our bellies. We watched the kids rollerblade thru the woods before M & D drove home.