This year has been one of big changes for our family. Last year at this time we moved to the Santa Clarita Valley, which is 20 minutes northwest of our home for the last 8 years in Glendale, California. Three months later, on St. Patrick's Day, a sweet little toe-head of a baby, Thomas Harris, was born into our family. Today Tommy is crawling around the home and climbing the staircase at high speeds, saying words like "Mama!" and "Dah!", to his parent's delight, and filling the home daily with his sweet little giggles.

This year Scotty has single handedly helped the dairy farmers of California reach their milk sales quota. Also a very active and talkative child, Scotty has learned most of the lines of his favorite movie "Monster's Inc.", and creates most of the 'toys' that he plays with out of paper towel rolls, rolled up sheets of paper, and legos. Scotty will turn 3 years old in January.

Parker turned 5 in September, and is a very enthusiastic Kindergartener. This year, to the amazement of all, he has expanded his reading skills to the third grade level, and just keeps on reading. Occasionally, he corrects his father's reading errors as well. In his spare time Parker likes to play board games like Chess and Stratego, and video games like Zoo Tycoon, and Metroid.


Lisa and Rich were very excited to purchase their first home this year in Valencia with a yard large enough for the boys to enjoy themselves. Rich actually graduated from the U.S.C. Orthodontic program this year, and is thrilled to be using his skills to actually make money for the first time,…I mean beautiful smiles! Rich was recently called as the ward organist. Lisa is an awesome room parent for Parker's Kindergarten class, and is currently in the Relief Society presidency.

We hope all is well with everyone this holiday, and wish you all the merriest Christmas ever! We love to hear from friends by email at rich_e_mcd@yahoo.com and lisa_mcd@yahoo.com.

Love,
Rich, Lisa,
Parker, Scott
& Tommy
McDermott