The Kleppingers' 2013

Grace and peace to you all!

This year we're trying something a little different: instead of the paper cards, and photo card, and letter, we're moving online, which we hope will give you a fuller view of our year, more opportunities to share pictures and video, and invite your reactions and comments too.  We know this is a little different, so please let us know what you think so we know how to improve next year.  

And of course, if wouldn't be a Kleppinger family Christmas letter without a family picture from this year, so…:

And so, without any further delay, here's all the news from our family, starting with the big news first!

Fergie!

It's simply not possible to tell our story of the year without introducing our newest family member, Fergie.

We found her in February at the Fairfax County Humane Society dog farm in Centreville, and took her home the very day we met her.  (She was named by the FCHS staff--apparently all the dogs who come in together share the same first initial--and the kids told Eric in no uncertain terms that she HAS a name, whether it reminds one of a multiplatinum star or a duchess is immaterial, it's not to be changed.)  She's a 46 (ahem, now 48)-pound bundle of love and fun--a blend of Dobermann, black lab, apparently some boxer, and who knows what else, who was found as a stray down in Page County in July 2012.  By everyone's best guess, she turned two on October 1 of this year, so she still has plenty of puppy energy but also loves curling up on the sofa with Mary and getting scritches from the kids.  Oh, and riding in the car: All you have to ask is, "Fergie wanna go for a ride?" and you have a friend for life.

We've posted more pictures and stories of Fergie on our blog, so you can be sure to find more there, including an introduction to Fergie, and a tongue-in-cheek report of her first three months with us.  Eric also built a sermon around her this summer; click here to hear about Canine Theology.  She's richly blessed our family already, and we're so excited to have her in our lives.  We've already noticed an uptick in visitor traffic to see us since we have a dog, so hey, join the crowds and come see her!

Our Family's Year

This year was a tremendously busy one for us as a family--not only from our sharing our home with Fergie, but also with all the other activities and adventures we undertook.  Such as?  Well, aren't you inquisitive!

A 19-year tradition had a hiccup this year: there was no Chili Bowl XIX!  Unfortunately, just that weekend, a bug swept through the house, knocking most of the family out of commission for 48 hours. Undeterred, we are already making plans for Chili Bowl XX--two decades of chili!

On a far, far better note, the four of us (for the first time) elected to go to Canaan Valley, WV, to share in the Troop 688 annual ski weekend.  Sarah chose to learn snowboarding, and was doing really, really well: until she lost control on one slope and twisted an ankle.  Hors de combat for the rest of the day, she joined Mary, who was reading in the lodge.  We posted video of this weekend to our blog--check it out!

Over the winter, our clothes dryer finally died, which gave Mary the opening she was looking for to completely redo the laundry room.  Several weeks later, we had it all completed--we did almost all the work ourselves, having tradesmen in just for the electrical and duct work.  Check out our story about it, here!

Probably our biggest single family adventure, though, was our one-week Disney Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy for Spring Break.  We had days at sea, time in St Thomas, a day in San Juan, and a day at the Disney island, Castaway Cay.  This was almost perfect for everyone: the kids made friends instantly, and were gone from awakening until midnight (or later, right David?), leaving Mary and Eric to essentially have a weeklong cruise by themselves.  The four of us kayaked together on St Thomas, and explored various parts of Puerto Rico, and made terrific memories.  The kids now want their next cruise to be even longer (!), and to be maybe over in the Mediterranean.  (We'll see, says the college budget.)  Click here for our photo album from the week!

Summer wouldn't be complete without our annual visit to Uncle Rod's for the Fourth, and a week in Vermont with the cousins and the rest of the family at the end of July into August.  We also took our second week on the Outer Banks with the Schiponos, and it was unanimous: Mike did a great job picking our beachfront rental, when we can walk out our deck to a view like this:

We were in Southern Shores, just south of Duck and right where the bridge comes across from the mainland, so everything (including Duck Donuts) was close at hand.  Very enjoyable, very relaxing!

We also closed out the year with a return to West Virginia: well, at least some of us did.  Eric, Mary and Sarah brought Fergie to a cabin we rented near Seneca Rocks, WV, in early November (David, we forgot, had a Scout camping commitment that weekend--apparently Eric cannot actually read a calendar).  Sarah and Fergie had a great time exploring the trails through the ravines, down to the ponds and back.  A great relaxing weekend, and we learned Fergie doesn't mind three-hour car rides!

Sarah's 2013

Our baby girl isn't so little anymore: not only inheriting tops from Mommy and able to share shoes (occasionally), but also moving into South County Middle School as a seventh grader!

Before leaving Silverbrook Elementary, though, Sarah had one last run as a Girls On The Run participant with Eric, where Mary finally actually saw them both racing.  Then it was on to Pamplin Park, south of Richmond, for a rainy, soggy day shared with Eric on her last field trip (to study the Civil War battle that happened there).

2013 was a great year for making changes: Sarah took up a new sport, snowboarding, during our ski trip visit to Canaan Valley in February.  (Watch the video of her first solo run with Daddy here.)  She also began wearing braces, and over the summer elected to have her ears pierced:

Our growing girl also had evolving tastes in activities, leaving her Girl Scout troop after seven years but taking up a new interest in mission work, spending a week in Richmond with the Jeremiah Project team from her church and several others.  She took up the guitar this year, taking Guitar I in seventh grade and practicing around the house.

David's 2013

David ended his freshman year at South County High School and began life as a sophomore.  He remains active with his Scout troop, and over the summer had a chance to serve as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader for his troop's week at Camp Rodney in July, after which he presented on the week to the fall Court of Honor:

Hard to believe he now stands taller than Mommy.  He also remains active with his church and youth group, including singing in the youth choir and spending a week with the senior high youth group in Pittsburgh in July, helping rebuild a Korean War veteran's home and roof.  A busy summer: during his time in Vermont, he helped in the renovations of Great Grammie's house, and helped Grampa as well, installing a new mailbox for him.

He also took up a new hobby, target shooting, including showing Aunt Jen that he knows his way around a range. And in the fall, he volunteered to be part of a team of students from SCHS who conducted oral histories with WWII veterans at the WWII Memorial downtown.  He interviewed a man who was aboard the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor--amazing!

It may be difficult to accept, but our little boy is getting ready to spread his wings and look at colleges.  In the fall he took the PSATs and a practice SAT and ACT…and has begun receiving mail from colleges, so let the games begin. He remains certain that he will go to college out of state, but is beginning to wonder about a wider range of choices than Arkansas for archaeology.  Tune in next year to see how the thinking has evolved!

Eric and Mary's 2013

In 2013, Eric and Mary celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with a marvelous spring weekend in the Virginia countryside at the Inn at Little Washington.

Between tea in the courtyard by her favorite flowers, to strolling in the formal gardens, to the sumptuous meal (and a special welcome on the personalized menus), it was a wonderful way to celebrate our first two decades.

Mary has finished her ninth year with the American Bankruptcy Institute, and this year had several travel opportunities, including New York City, Detroit (in November!), Newport (RI), and Hershey--but unfortunately the kids couldn't come this time.  The ABI annual spring meeting this year was the last at National Harbor, as ABI welcomed Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.  Family visits were highlights too: in June, Mary and Sarah travelled to Maryland to celebrate Elizabeth Tarrier's baby shower, and in September we welcomed the Tarrriers here just before Mary headed north at the end of that month to help finish the preparations to sell Grammie Keenan's home.  Finally, a deeply enjoyed visit from Laura Ellingson over Mary's birthday capped off a great year.

Eric continues serving as the Deputy Budget Officer for the FBI, leading an effort this year to rebuild the budget for 2014 to reflect the new sequestration cuts (and, yes, working despite the shutdown in October).  In January he had an opportunity to visit Harvard for a one-week executive education course, meeting many new colleagues.  He had several new drumming opportunities, too: he has been invited several times to fill in with Burke UMC's LifeSign service.  Here's the view from the "back office":

In September, Eric and Glenn Cook visited Houston, helping Glenn's mom with projects around the house, sampling Goode Company BBQ and taking in an Astros game.  It had been far too long since Eric had done either.