This has been a year full of changes and challenges. In the Spring we finally purchased a second automobile, which has made life much easier now that we don't have to juggle "the car."

Family Update

In April, Harold took on new responsibilities at work. He began managing the Software Development Team at Novell. Then in October he seized a wonderful opportunity and left Novell for a company in Salt Lake named CallWare Technologies, Inc. There he is integrating telephones with Novell's networking software. His brother, Robert, is leaving WordPerfect and joining CallWare after Christmas. Harold really enjoys his new employment!

Harold is presently helping in our ward nursery. He also has kept busy being our resident handyman--finishing our food storage room, repairing a leak in the basement, beginning to finish the garage, and other misc. repairs.

Holly enjoys tole painting with the Toomey sister-in-laws and working on scrapbooks with her sisters and mother. She is the secretary for the ward Primary and is training to be a Land Search Examiner (from home) for the company she used to answer phones for. She is expecting child #3 in June.

David (6) is a great artist! He created the graphic on the front page of our letter this year. He enjoys kindergarten, piano lessons, and is fascinated by dinosaurs. David is always rearranging the songs he learns to play on the piano--he likes to jazz them up. He is becoming quite a good big brother and plays well with Jonathan.

Jonathan (2) is our affectionate monster. He is always making a mess, yet always has a kiss and hug for Mommy and Daddy. He likes to draw and loves cars, balls, bikes, and especially WATER. He'd take a bath five times a day if we let him. He likes counting "1,2,3,6,7,8,9" and singing the "ABC's"--he does get some of the letters right. Jonathan also claims to have a baby in his tummy, just like Mommy.

The Year's Best Memories

At the end of June we went to California for a family vacation and Harold's brother, Jerry's wedding. We went to Disneyland, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and Sea World. This is still a tremendous memory for David.

In October, David got his first pets for his birthday--FISH. We still enjoy them today.

Thanksgiving brought quite a few of the Toomey family together. Don, Rebecca, and Harold's crews, and Joe, and Marcia all gathered here for a

large feast and a lot more pies than any of us expected (12 pies to 19 people).

At the beginning of December we took the boys to the Bountiful Temple open house. David says he's definitely going to get married there. Jonathan's only thought was how exciting the bus ride was from where we parked, to the temple, and back to the car. Oh, yes, he did notice that there are a lot of Grandmas and Grandpas in the temple--anyone with white or gray hair.

The snowy winter has been delightful for the boys. Harold and David made a sled-run from the top of the hill, in the back yard, right down to our sliding glass door (about 60 feet).

David's Editorial

"This summer I bought a Mickey Mouse wind-up toy, a pen with Aladdin and Jasmine on a magic carpet that moves back and forth when you tip the pen. At Sea World I bought a shark with candy in it, and a Dolphin, which I named, Holly.

We saw penguins, sharks, and fish, and whales. And they splashed us, and I cried because it was cold."

Jonathan's Editorial

"Santa is coming!

htyyyyyyyytttttttttttttttttttttttttttsntttgghggggggggggbbbbbbbbbb."

Final Note

We have fond memories of you and think of you often. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With love,

To view the original scanned "Toomey Times" Christmas Newsletter, click on the scanned pages below: