Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends and Family,

Note to reader: For the short version see the last paragraph.

The past year has brought a multitude of changes and blessings. Cora Gayle was born November 9^th, our 4^th daughter. She, like the others, is the most beautiful baby we have ever seen. She is growing and healthy and sometimes even lets Holly sleep at night. Cora, of course, sleeps whenever she darn well feels like it which is almost all the time.

We moved to Iowa. It wasn’t a far move, but satisfied the need to have our fourth child born in a fourth state. We loved Missouri and were saddened to part with so many friends. We had lived in Missouri for four years and this is the longest we have stayed in one house, or one state for that matter in 20 years. We were practically locals. But Iowa has lots to offer, mostly corn, but also friendliness and kindness by the bushel. While living in Missouri only one kind soul welcomed us to the neighborhood, but in Iowa, we have met everyone, in fact one neighbor brought us a pie.

Matt became Dr. Webb, but he doesn’t heal people, he is a professor of mathematics education. Mostly he induces stress and anxiety through the nefarious use of word problems. (Ask Grandpa Webb for details) Now he works at the University of Northern Iowa. Go Panthers!

Holly was pregnant for most of the year, but still managed to move her entire household, helped get a house ready to sell, joined two book clubs, took her kids to the library, weekly, and carried an extra 30 pounds around for most of the year. Alright, the real story is she managed to cook dinner, most nights, take naps most days, and always managed to do the laundry, barely.

Mariah is in the 2^nd grade and is a voracious reader. Also, since we bought an old piano she has learned to plink out some tunes and she looks forward to learning more (so are we!). Ruth is our socialite who in her preschool has already managed to find a man to marry. Unfortunately, he is too young to know how threatening it is to see one’s future father-in-law cleaning his shotgun and chuckling. And Lindsay has enjoyed a broken arm and long-lasting unexplainable itching disease. And yet her positive temperament has only increased. This kid has a quick smile and will share her last bite of mile high chocolate pie with you. We love them all more each day.

Summing up, we are more blessed than we have a right to be. And we thank Him who is the source of all of these blessings. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dr. and Mrs. Webb and family