Letters to Santa 2009

As they did in 2006, 2007, and 2008 the kids have once again composed letters to that jolly old, red-suited, beard-faced man.

Dear Santa-

I have been very good this year. I hope you've had a good year and here is what I want. I want D-Rex, an Air Hog Switch Blade, a Raider CS-35 dart gun, a Nerf N-Force long sword, a DSi, a Republic Heroes DSi game and a Battlefront Elite Squadron DSi game.

I have helped my friends with their work when they were stuck and cheered them up. I have gotten good grades in school and good report cards. I'm sure I've done a lot of other good things this year, but that is all I can remember.

Thank you.

Alex Roth

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Dear Santa-

Can I please have a puppy dog (I mean a stuffed animal puppy dog), Barbie dolls, more Littlest Pet Shop guys and then a DS, and some Legos, a D-Rex and a Nerf sword to fight my brother (when he tries to fight me, but he doesn't know that). Can I also have ice skates so I can ice skate. And one more thing - a doggie DS game.

I was very very good because I didn't hurt my brother too much this year. I helped my mommy do Christmas cards and I helped my dad pop bubble-wrap.

Love, Ella

2009 Christmas Letter

For those of you who missed reading our Christmas letter for the last few years, you will be happy to know that it is back. For those of you who figured we were done with Christmas letters, we're sorry to disappoint you.

Summing up a year in a few paragraphs is always an interesting challenge. Who is to say what should be included and what should be left out? Well, I am, since I am the one writing this. So there you go.

Since you are probably most interested to hear what the kids have been up to, I'll start by talking about myself. There is not much to say. I continue to work at a Web 2.0 startup, which is challenging and exciting. You can see what it is all about by looking at my profile on the site. Beyond work, I've been making an effort to become an awesome guitarist. I tell you this not because I am anywhere close to being successful at this goal, but because it makes it seem like I'm not spending all my time working.

But enough about me - what about those kids? Let me first tell you about Shelley. She continues to do statistical stuff that I don't understand. Beyond that she runs (another half marathon in May), teaches piano, sings with the NIH Chamber Singers, takes awesome pictures, write poems that sometimes rhyme, and has also discovered that she can draw.

Now for the kids. Ella started Kindergarten in August and turned 6 in October. She loves school and is not yet feeling any pressure about getting into a good college. She has a flair for fashion and can put together outfits that normal people could not even imagine.

Meanwhile, second grader Alex likes to read and play video games, but not usually at the same time. He has started taking piano lessons from the best piano teacher in the house, and is also working on his beat box skills. Basketball has just started, but I won't say anything about it so as not to jinx it.

We hope you have wonderful holidays and a brilliant 2010. We'll leave you with some random pictures from 2009.

Dear Santa - 2008 Edition

As they did in 2006 and 2007, the kids have once again composed a letter to their favorite fat guy.

Dear Santa-

Santa Claus, could you please bring me a princess bobble-head. And, Santa, could you please bring me some princess coloring books, too? And Santa, some feet pajamas, please. I would also like a furry i-Dog that is pink, please. A trumpet, please. I really want some more bath toys please. A box of M&M's that I'll share with Daddy. A hidden Mickey book for Daddy.

I have been very nice to my brother, Alex, this year. One time I gave Alex the controller to play Lego Batman even know I wanted to play it, but I just wanted to be nice. I love my dog better than any other dog in the whole wide world.

My house number is 2823. I love you, Santa Claus.

The end.

Love, Ella

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Dear Santa-
May I please have a AT-TE Lego Walker thingee, an AT-AP, or Anikan's Starfighter for Christmas? May I please have an Imperial Walker and a General Grevious action figure that comes with his fighter? May I please have a green plastic light sabre with a hookey thing?

I have been very good this year. I helped my sister learn to read even though we didn't get very far because we needed to leave (it was a crazy Thursday or Wednesday). I also didn't bother my sister while she was writing her letter to you. I also gave her my hot chocolate when she spilled hers.

From, Alex

An A-maize-ing Time

Everybody should have a friend who runs a corn maze. One of our favorite fall traditions is to visit the Maize Quest Corn Maze, which is owned and operated by our fine friend Hugh. There are so many different attractions and other fun things to do that it is basically what Disney World would be like if it were on a farm in Pennsylvania. Our favorites this year were the Bamboo Maze, the Corn Box, the Pumkin express, and the Super Slide (I may be making these names up). We had more success with the actual corn maze this year, but ran out of time to finish. Maybe next time.

In addition to all the fun things to do, and the great weather (thanks be to Dave), it is also great to see a bunch of our friends, and their offspring. It is quite a group we've put together.

So thanks to Janie and Hugh for hosting what I would say is the best Corn Maze visit yet!

Here are some more shots. Click through for bigger versions.

A Parade, A Carnival, and a Sandwich

It is the time of year again when Adamstownians thoughts turn toward the Carroll Manor Fire Company Carnival. It is hard for me to believe that this is now the 5th year in a row that we've enjoyed the festivities. (See the reports for 2006 and 2007)

This year we went on parade night. The parade consists mainly of various shapes, sizes, and colors of fire trucks from Frederick and surrounding counties. The kids love the parade for the same reason they love Halloween - free candy from strangers. I think the parade is sorely lacking a marching band or three. I'm almost tempted to dust off the old saxophone and organizing a band. Maybe next year.

It was then down to the carnival itself. It was mostly the same rides from years past. The kids branched out a bit though, and went down the big slide thing that is named "Slide". They also rode some old favorites including the carousel and the bugs.

As for the sandwich, well, my favorite part of the carnival is officially the pit beef sandwich. Love me the pit beef.

Wordle Cloud

This is how all the tags from my Flickr photostream look in a Wordle. The bigger the font, the more the tag was used.

Click through to the picture for links to instructions on how to make your own.

Life in a Tent

Back in the day there was a Memorial Day camping tradition, the stories from which have grown into legends. Now many, many years and a week later, I found myself once again sleeping in a tent in the woods.

This time the cast of characters included we four Roths along with two neighbor families, totalling six adults and eight kids. The venue was Cunningham Falls State Park. On Friday night, we loaded our Outback to the brim, and made the short drive north on Route 15 to begin our adventure.

Despite nearly a decade in its bag, I was glad to discover my REI tent was complete and intact, as was my memory of how to set it up. It was not long before we were all settled around the campfire, roasting some dogs, and washing them down with some beer.

Saturday morning dawned with signs of ominous weather. I know this because I was awakened well before said dawn by my light sleeping son who was more anxious than I to begin the day. By the time the bacon was sizzling over the fire, it was clear the weather was not going to cooperate with our plans of outdoor fun and adventure.

We managed to wait out most of the storm in nearby Gettysburg, PA enjoying the adventure of Indiana Jones. It was then back to the campground where the last hour of the storm we spent in The Kingdom of the Crowded Tent - which was more than enough time.

Luckily, the weather broke, and we were able to hike up to the falls which were overflowing with water from the rains and rednecks from our campground. The kids enjoyed the hike, and the boy especially enjoyed the challenge of the river.





After this hike, one of the two families we were camping with, whose tent had not done so well at keeping the outside out, bugged out. The rest of us stuck around for another tasty meal cooked over the campfire. Then the other family also decided to call it a trip, leaving the Mighty Roths as the sole survivors of the expedition. We decided to stay the night, and so I was able to once again see the dawn, thanks to that same son I mentioned a couple paragraphs ago.

We struck camp, reloaded the Outback, and said goodbye to campsite 73. We stopped off at the lake to play for a bit, then headed back home. All in all, it was a good trip.