Seasons Greetings, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Feliz Año Nuevo, etc. etc. from the Spanoudis Family (Southernmost Branch) to all of our family and and friends around the world. We hope you are well and enjoying the season.

Year's end finds us well, reasonably happy and healthy after another busy year. And yes, despite four hurricanes, we are still in Florida. We were fortuitous in investing in storm shutters just before hurricane Frances hit. Our only damage was shredded shrubbery and the piles of leaves stripped off of the mahogany trees.

The kids have been growing by leaps and bounds, and we're already staring up (slightly) at one of them. The others may not be far behind.

Nick is now 14, and is a Freshman at Stoneman-Douglas High School. He is now a typical teenager. Or at least we think he is. We can't seem to get him off of the phone long enough to tell for sure. He has returned to swimming after a 1-year break, and has developed a swimmer's physique, including an impressive wingspan and a pair of size 12EEEE paddles. He still likes the breast stroke but looks most impressive splashing about when he does the butterfly. Nick has also continued with his music studies, and has mastered quite a few impressive pieces, but his favorite is still Beethoven.

Cathy is now 11, and is enjoying Coral Springs Middle School. She is doing well in the busy environment, and made the straight-A honor roll. She is shooting up also, but is not quite up to eye level. She and Steve are still participating actively in the YMCA Indian Princess program (The "Hopi" Tribe). This past spring she went on the class field trip to Washington DC and Williamsburg. Cathy has switched from the Violin to the Clarinet, and is in middle school Band. Both she and Nick have year-end recitals.

Alex is now 8, and is at Country Hills Elementary (yes, with 3 kids in 3 different schools. Joanne has certainly earned her chauffeur's license by now). Alex and Steve are active in Indian Guides (The "Iroquois Tribe"). In the spring Alex was trying out on drums and Xylophone, but his favorite activity at the moment is probably Soccer. He is playing in the city under-10 league and learning the game as he goes.

We had a busy fall camping season, Steve camped with Cathy and Alex at the Circle F Dude Ranch in October, and we All (even Joanne) joined the Hopi and Iroquois tribes for a campout and rodeo at the Westgate River Ranch in November, spending a very pleasant weekend with our freinds.

Joanne and Steve went "back to school" this year and began studying Spanish. It seemed a shame to live six years in Florida and still not know the local language. We are making slow but steady progress. Joanne continues to participate in Quota, International, which raises and distributes funds to aid the deaf and hearing impaired.

Our family travels this year were local. We spent two weekends early in the year visiting the land of the mouse, and had a great time. This summer we spent an extended weekend staying on Ft. Myers beach, having a great time, and leaving exactly 1 week before Hurricane Charlie flattened much of the surroundings. The kids enjoyed extended time on the beach, building massive sand castles, and finding out that riding a skip-board along the watrer's edge is harder than it looks.

Joanne and Steve took a more extended vacation in June, flying to Las Vegas, then driving around Nevada, Arizona, and Utah to visit Hoover Dam, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful trip. One of our best memories was a 1/2 day horseback ride into Bryce Canyon. We have many pictures of Joanne riding her mule "Tonya Harding".

Steve's work at Motorola took him travelling about the eastern US this winter, followed by another trip to Asia. This one included China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia for three weeks in April. While it was a great learning experience, he was happy to get back home (and to have food that was not looking back up at him). He did, however, have the opportunity to see many new things. Joanne's Sister Debbie took a new job, and is now also working at Motorola.

Joanne's mom Bernice came to spend three months with us this summer. She was able to enjoy some time with the kids, watch the 2004 Athens Olympics on multiple cable channels ( vs. 1 channel in Trinidad), and have her much-awaited lunch at Emeril's in Miami Beach. Steve's brother Chris came to spend a (hot) week with us in August, but got in some good beach time, some bike riding (between Florida thunderstorms) and a swamp buggy ride in the everglades. Steve’s Aunt Marylou and Uncle Pete came for a Thanksgiving visit, and his parents are scheduled to visit in December.