We hope that this Christmas will bring a cheerful ending to a challenging year and a great beginning to a happy new one. (And not to be remiss, Best Wishes as well for a Happy Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Ashura, Eid al-Fitr, Eid’ul-Adha, Omisoka Yule, Saturnalia, Bodhi Day, Yalda and the death of the prophet Zarathushtra, or just plain Festivus).

This holiday season is especially joyful, with the arrival of Aurora Grace Seraphina Geer just a few days ago. Parents Stephanie and Harlan, and sister Naomi and brother Declan are all very happy and doing well. As her grandparents, we are overjoyed, and looking forward to watching her grow as we have her siblings and cousin Penelope.

It’s been a year full of happiness for us, and much of the credit goes to our two wonderful granddaughters, Naomi, who turned seven, and Penelope, who celebrated her fifth birthday, and grandson Declan, who is now every bit a 2-year old. Naomi is busy with sports (basketball and soccer), Girl Scouts, and her art - she is incredibly creative and clearly has the art genes from Harlan's and Sandy's families. Declan is a 'Teddy Bear' at his daycare, and a blur as he explores everything around him. He is mastering life skills such as pinball. robotics (“obots”) and correctly opening wine bottles under the tutelage of his grandfather 'Bopa' (that's the German Opa with his own spin).

Granddaughter Penelope is with her mom (our daughter) Sarah and father Adam in Amman, Jordan. They will return to Virginia next summer - their 18 months to date have included exploring Jordan and visits to Sri Lanka, Egypt, Israel, France, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Pretty neat for a curious young lady who is only 5. Sandy visited with them in April, and Dennis will be heading to Jordan in January.

We grownups are doing well. Sandy is busy with Naomi and Declan, and backing up their mom with her years of experience. One highlight of Dennis's year was his 50th (!) reunion at the Air Force Academy. Our two ‘guvvies’ (Harlan at the US Senate and Sarah at State) are doing well. Sarah’s husband Adam, an Emergency Medicine physician, 'commutes' from Jordan to work and Stephanie is very busy as a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse (and mom!). Devon is gearing up to begin a program in radiological technology – looks like we’ll have great medical care as we slowly (but gracefully!) fall apart. We are very, very proud of them all.

Our love to everyone

Sandy, Dennis, Devon and Mooshi (our cat)