Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays!

This is an embarrassment, I had no time to write notes in cards this year and little time to even send cards. Today, December 26, 2007, I received an email that I have not updated this page. So here I am looking at a Christmas message from 2004!. Well I'll try to update this weekend. For the time being, as of yesterday, there are officially three teenagers in this house. Emilie turned 13 yesterday. She has a new cat and a fish from Santa, likes school and all things Japanese. For a quick review on the rest of us - Maris is now a junior in High school, wants to become a photo-journalist. Justin is a freshman and has gott'n into guitar. Mom, Chris, has and enjoys a  new job at a surgery center doing mostly eye and pain stuff. Mark is too busy at work but still finds time to brew a batch of beer occasionally and take care of the Schiess House. The kids are all taller than three years ago but I thinks the adults have shrunk. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year.

November 27, 2004

Well it's not Christmas yet but, as you can see, we are getting ready on this Thanksgiving weekend. It's been a good family weekend, some shopping, dining, a good meal, good beer!, fire in the fireplace, and Christmas music in the background as we set up our tree. This is more work than in the past as this artificial tree has become alive shaking and shedding it's ornaments. However the culprit has been found to be our new kitten 'Po'.

December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas – Happy Holidays 2004

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again and that another year has gone by. We hope that this letter finds you well and able to enjoy this holiday season. We are all doing well.

Chris started back to work in November. She now works at a dermatological surgery center three days a week. The family has had to help out a bit more and adjust to the new schedule, but it’s all been good. She still has time for her volunteer work at church and school and help the kids with school and their activities.

Mark has had a good year. He is still busy with odd hours at the hospital but still finds time to keep his brew pot boiling and his fermentor bubbling. He won “Best in Show” at the Indiana State Fair’s Brewer’s Cup this year with his “Maris Brown Ale.” In honor of his accomplishment, He brewed his beer at the Broad Ripple Brewpub and they had his beer on tap this fall.

Maris will be 14 in January. She tried out for the Volleyball team this year. She made the first cut, which was exciting, but had to settle for the team manager position. Getting a team sweatshirt with “SCHIESS” on the back was priceless! We‘ve been planning out her freshman year and looking forward to next year at Carmel High School.

Justin is 12. His transition into middle school has been smooth. He is an ‘A’ student. Although his PlayStation still takes most of his interest, he spends a lot of time watching the History channel and the Discovery channel. He is starting to sound more and more like Mark, a chip off the old block?

Emilie is 10 today. She still has that creative and energetic spark. She was in 4H this year and won reserve champion for her “awesome apricot oatmeal squares.” It was a Kodak moment for the Schiess women, who do not typically shine in the kitchen.

We celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary this year and became official AARP members. We spent our ‘Spring Break’ again in St. Pete. We also took two trips to Mac’s Island, on the AuSable River, in upstate Michigan this past summer and fall – Great family times. We have yet to catch any big fish there but the peace and quiet made it all worth while.

We lost our older cat, Lester, last spring. We lasted 3 months before we adopted a new kitten from the shelter. His name is “Poe”, and he’s a pistol. More Schiess Family updates are always at www.schiesshouse.com/schiess.htm

May you be blessed this holiday season. We also wish you a happy and healthy New Year.


Happy Holidays,

Mark, Chris, Maris, Justin, and Emilie

 

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