Merry Christmas from Jihad Joe

In this season of peace, Sam is quite pleased to have had a marshal Christmas. In the photo Sam is sporting his Kaitana Japanese sword(Aunti A and Mike), his authenic wooden bow(Cousin Freddie), his toy gag gift gun(Mom), and his Razor electric war chariot(Dad). Not included, but should have been, are the camo binoculars(Nana). A real family effort. In the unlikely event that teenage Sam becomes a violent criminal, I trust none of you will produce this picture in years hence as evidence of our negligent parenting.

Merry Christmas from Ana - Pretty in Pink

This was Ana's Pink Christmas as to her delight she received a host of fuzzy pink things to wear. Now I realize that the contrast between Sam(weapons) and Ana(fuzzy pink things) is stereotypical, but I swear since the beginning Maria and I were very careful not to impress traditional gender based behaviours on the kids. Call it nature, not nurture. Isn't it nice how things work out despite us parents!

Ana Selected to Maryland Olympic Development Program

Last week after a series of tryouts Ana was selected as one of top 40 girls soccer players her age in Maryland to join the Olympic Development squad. She will be training in this program through the winter and spring and will play in the Region I tournament in early summer. There are four Regions across the country which are structured to identify and develop future international and olympic soccer players. This is recognition of all Ana's hard work and determination over the last few years. Practice, training, and matches every week, year around for the last three years. Way to go A!

Happy Holidays from the Clements

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Rather than writing one of those oppressive bragging Christmas letters, we decided to use our Christmas cards to direct friends and family to the oppressive bragging blog we started this past year. Indeed it was a wonderful year. As you can see below, Sam and Ana are growing up fast, Scott and Maria are working hard, the cicada's came and went, the election season is over, and the expected terrorist attacks on Washington didn't occur. There were a few minor bad things and challenges during the past year, but we didn't really take any pictures of those things so you'll just have to be satisfied with hearing about the good stuff. We sincerely wish all of you a joyous holiday season and hope to see you in the year ahead. If you wish to be added to the email list that will notify you when we post new entries to this blog, just leave us a message in the comment field below.

Working Girl!

In 2004 Maria had a super first full year as a real estate agent selling almost $4 million in properties and making some good friends along the way. She was recognized as a top producer in her firm for the month of June. Scott's starting to think maybe he should have skipped going back to work!

Flasher

This last week we received a note home from school that there was a strange man who had flashed a couple of the middle school girls on their way home from school. Like responsible parents concerned for the mental well-being of our children we thought it best to discuss the event with them just in case. When we asked Ana what she would do if this happened to her, she indicated she would tell her assailant, "You know, you really ought to try self-tanner!"

Halloween Hoodlums

Ana, Sam, and Sam's friend Alex geared up for Trick-or-Treat. Of course at 12 years old, they are more interested in the Treat part and donning actual Halloween costumes is really just too much of a bother. So S&A went straight from the practice pitch to the "hi can I have some candy" pitch. Our favorite Halloween joke this year comes from Jerry Seinfeld. When an older boy goes out for Trick-or-Treat and the nice lady asks him, "What are you supposed to be young man", he replies "I'm supposed to be done already so just fork over the candy so I can get going".

Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice

Well, our sweet little girl is growing up, and she really is still sweet, unless of course she's on the soccer pitch. Then, well... This past week Ana moved to a new soccer club, The McLean Courage. So in the future you'll see her in green and white rather than blue and white. Ana scored five goals in her first two indoor games with the new team, albeit against weak competition.

In the Huddle

Sam finished up his first football season this past week. His Germantown Panthers lost a playoff heartbreaker in double overtime. I had a great time helping Sam learn the game since he's playing the position I used to. I'll never forget Sam working out in trash bags to make weight and the mass of bruises on his arms during the early weeks of practice. I don't remember being so tough when I was Sam's age. Sam's getting geared up for basketball this winter and we're looking for a new baseball team so he can return to the mound in the spring.

Sam Seals-off the Hole...

This photo is from Sam's first league football game against St. Francis on September 11. The South Germantown Panthers won the game 14-0. A print can be ordered from the site linked to the heading of this post. Also see picture 032.jpg.

In this weekend's sports action Ana's Bethesda Riptide team won 2-1 with Ana scoring on a first half blast over the keeper's head from the right side of the penalty box to the far post. The Riptide are 2-0 on the season. Sam's football game and Ana's Saturday match were rained out thanks to Ivan.

Sports Update II - Triple Threat

The Bethesda Soccer Club Riptide finished their pre-season tournament schedule over the Labor Day weekend winning their division in the Washington Fall Classic at the Maryland Soccerplex. Ana had a solid tournament scoring three goals and creating a fourth by taking an illegal tackle just outside the box with a Riptide goal on the ensuing free kick. Ana scored on a one-on-one breakaway holding off the defender while striking to the far post, on a one-touch into the net on a cross from the right, and on a header into the goal on a crossing shot. Notice the deft right handed push-off in the photo!(but don't tell the ref).

Sports Update I - Sam Straps it On

Continuing a long Clements family tradition, Sam began playing football this fall with the South Germantown Football Association Panthers. Also continuing the family tradition he is playing center on the offense in addition to nose guard on defense. We'll have some photos of the action in the coming weeks.

Changes - IV School Daze

Ana and Sam leave for their first day of middle school and looking very happy about it.

Changes III - Back in the Saddle Again

Scott returns to the corporate world this week. He'll be joining the ADT Security business of Tyco to lead the Federal Systems Division which provides security solutions and systems to federal government agencies. The division is headquartered in Alexandria, VA just around the south side of the Washington beltway. I just hope my brain hasn't addled too much over the last year.

Changes - II From the Country to the City

We decided to try living in "town" for a while. So we picked a place with no yard work or fix-ups, with sidewalks, and walking distance to shops and restaurants(including Krispy Kreme I must add). With only a few years left before the kids are off to bigger things, we want to spend our time being active with them rather than trying to get them to mow the yard. So far we love it and we'll see how it settles in. Our new mailing address is

307 Oak Knoll Drive
Rockville, MD 20850

Phone numbers and email addresses remain the same.

Come visit us. Tricia Hartner gets the prize for first visiting friend.

Changes - I

We've had lots of good changes in the last few weeks which we'll share in the next few posts. First, goodbye to Glen Road. We lived here for three years and the kids each grew about seven inches and finished elementary school. Our soccer field became the practice field for Ana's Riptide team during the Washingtion sniper attacks, we watched the Twin Towers fall, and survived for ten days without power(and water) after hurricane Isabel. We lost Salto, but gained Eroe and Eddie. Maria began her real estate career. Scott was fortunate to have a year off from work, but unfortunate to have lots of home fix-up projects! We think we'll buy a new house next time.

Good News from Iraq

A bit off of the family events topic...If you're interested.

As a follow-up to the last post on our Iraqi visitors, the headline link takes you to a blog that summarizes some of the good news out of Iraq that reflects the hopeful spirit of Taghreed and Surood. The good news happens as broad stream of small discrete events that don't make an easy headline like a car bombing. Perhaps the stream can become a torrent that will wash away the terror. I hope.

Mr. Ambassador

Congratulations to our friend Craig Kelly, his wife Kim and their children Cameron and Evan. Yesterday Maria and I were privileged to attend the swearing in of the United States' new ambassador to Chile, Craig Kelly. Cameron has been one of Ana's soccer mates for the last three years. During that time Craig was Executive Assistant to Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom you see in the photo giving Craig and his family a send-off. I've greatly enjoyed living vicariously through Craig's adventures around the world for the last few years. It certainly encouraging to see someone of such intelligence, integrity, and humour represent our country and succeed in the high levels of our government.

Hopefully the next time I see you I'll have retired!

Evil Eye
For those of you with an entomology fixation, our visiters from Brood X have come and gone. It turns out they are favored, and plentiful, dog treats. Crunchy! Photo credit to Maria.

Dead Animal Parts - I

Deerfeet
Our family friend Ed Rankin helped Sam with a fun project to add more animal parts to his bedroom collection which currently includes snake skin, cattle skull, petrified fish, dog testicles, and what else I'm not sure since I haven't looked under his bed lately. Last fall Ed contributed four deer paws from his hunt so Sam could make a deer paw coat rack. (I know, it sounds like we've moved to West Virginia. But as of yet that hasn't happened.) After the paws spent the winter and spring tied into shape buried in rock salt, they were finally ready for mounting last week. So Sam worked with Ed to fashion a backboard out of a walnut plank harvested from Ed's yard. Ed is a first class wood worker and so was able create something beautiful in an hour that would have taken me weeks to do poorly. However, I did provide moral support by sitting in a chair and consuming an ice cold imported beer.(Now its really starting to sound like WVA,except for the "imported" part.) So we'll look forward to your next visit when you can hang your hat on Sam's newest furnishing. Thanks Ed.

Climbing at Red Rocks Redux

Climbing at Red Rocks 

As many of you know, last fall I spent two weeks climbing at Red Rocks just outside of Las Vegas. I just received this photo from Dave Anderson, one of my instructors who is also an outdoor sports photographer and an extraordinary adventurer. Its the best picture I've seen from the trip. I'm teaching the kids to climb this summer! Additional photos from the trip can be seen at Ofoto by clicking the above heading for this post. Thanks Dave.

Launch of The Clements Family Weblog

Family and Friends:

http://smmgclements.blogspot.com

This is another of our feeble attempts to be hip and to use technology to maintain contact with our far-flung family and friends. We've tried the website ( http://home.comcast.net/~smmgclements/ ), and we did get thousands of hits, but I think they were all from me maintaining the site. So, we thought we would give this a try since its easy to update by any of us(SAMS - Sam, Ana, Maria, Scott), its more dynamic, all of you can participate with feedback comments("Cool", "You're Nuts", etc), it can be updated from anywhere(e.g. on vacation, and you will automatically be notified when there is something new to see.

So in effect, this is like one of those irritating Christmas brag letters(which we do like to get), except that it comes year around! Sort of like family SPAM.

Now for the good news. We'll probably tire of this in a matter of days, weeks or months; so that pain won't last.

So, here we go. We'll try not to bore you.

P.S. I think the system will send you email when there is a new post and I don't think you need an RSS/ATOM news reader, all though you can subscribe to this blog if you have one. Also, this is a private blog so it can't be viewed by anyone that we haven't invited. Let us know if there is someone else we should invite.

Link