Charlie and Ellen's Xmas 98 web page

Hi Everyone,

Here we are at the end of 1998. This year, I decided to put together my first XMAS letter web page. The basic premise is to provide more information than what was in our XMAS cards. AND, picture highlights with links to the full size image.

12/19/98 Whoops, our scanner broke so we don't have all the pics yet. But, keep checking back.

ENJOY

We took a trip to Florida to Disney World. We had a wonderful time with the kids and Cory and his girlfriend, Erica, came along. We had dinner with Chip and Minnie! We met Donnie, Tracy, Daniel and Melinda and her hubby, Robert at Magic Kingdom. It was fun to hang out going to such favorites as Its a Small World and Lion King.
Cory and Erica went to Universal Studios while we went to Magic Kingdom. But, they hung out with us at Sea World. Especially to see the Shamu whale show and get drenched. And, feeding the dolphins was a highlight too.

The Brown reunion was held in St. Augustine at an RV/trailer camp. It was very nice and very hot. But that didn't slow us down, there was a pool nearby. Lauren had a great time, she loves the water, we were afraid she would grow gills. Tony is a bit more cautious, but Dad is working on him and he had a lot of fun too.

We went to the Burdsall reunion a couple of weeks later at Starved Rock Lodge in Illinois about an hour or so east of Peoria. It was a beautiful place and we all had a wonderful time. Pool there too. Lauren worked some more on her gills.

In April, Charlie and his friends went on their annual manly canoe trip to the South Branch of the Potomac River in West VA. This one was a little wet - it rained all day on Sunday! The river got higher as the day went along. Cory and his friend, Matt, went along. They must have been hot cause they went 'swimming' two times on Sunday!
Cory is 20 and doing great with a 95% for his first year at Electricians school. He really likes the school. We are very proud of him, he just got a promotion where they gave him a truck and he is doing jobs on his own. His dad puts him to work every time he comes to visit! So far no power failures!

Ellen and Charlie were active in community theatre again doing two plays. Charlie did Co- Master Carpenter with Ellen's sister, Barb for "Dandelion Wine" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" while Ellen returned to Costume Design with her close friend Lorraine on Joseph. We even got Ellen's parent's to help on the show! Dad helped create a jell cell door. Mom sewed several dresses. In the fall, we did "Kiss of the Spider Woman" which Barb (Charlie decided she was ready) was the MC and Ellen and Lorraine costumed. Charlie helped on the set some but had to do a lot of kid care! Even with all that going on, Charlie did manage to play Ultimate frisbee on Saturdays, he just brought the kids !

In August, while Ellen was busy costuming, Charlie took the kids to Assateaque Island along the Atlantic shore. They had an excellent time except for the horse flies.
And then on Labor Day weekend, Charlie and kids were invited to our friends, Dave Starrette and Kay Collins, house off the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay and went jet skiing and crabbing.

Ellen went on a junket with Barb to Las Vegas in September after finishing their set construction and costuming of the the 'Spider Woman'.
She visited Hoover Dam and her brother Charlie met them for a few days. Charlie checked out the casinos and sent the sisters to a burlesque show and a magic show! Charlie hit the jackpot playing video poker: $1250 ! He was elated. They had a great time.

In October, we took the kids to the Pumpkin patch and we had a big Halloween party. About 60 people showed up which was real nice to see since we live so far away from DC metro area. Charlie was the Hippie Dippie Trippie man with loud-colored flowered pants and vest and headband. He almost won funniest! Had a few votes for scariest!

The kids are growing fast and a delight to watch and play with. Charlie, Grandpa and some friends built a fort structure with swing set. The kids love it. Grandma and Grandpa love to watch Tony and Lauren play, and they love to perform for Grandma and Grandpa. Tony likes to tackle his sister, so far Lauren thinks its fun!

1998 has been a wonderful year for us. We are fortunate to have three wonderful children who keep us very busy and amused!
We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and very prosperous 1999.

Love,

Charlie, Ellen, Cory, Lauren and Anthony Brown

We took a trip to Florida to Disney World. We had a wonderful time with the kids and Cory and his girlfriend, Erica, came along. We had dinner with Chip and Minnie! We met Donnie, Tracy, Daniel and Melinda and her hubby, Robert at Magic Kingdom. It was fun to hang out going to such favorites as Its a Small World and Lion King. Cory and Erica went to Universal Studios while we went to Magic Kingdom. But, they hung out with us at Sea World. Especially to see the Shamu whale show and get drenched. And, feeding the dolphins was a highlight too.
The Brown reunion was held in St. Augustine at an RV/trailer camp. It was very nice and very hot. But that didn't slow us down, there was a pool nearby. Lauren had a great time, she loves the water, we were afraid she would grow gills. Tony is a bit more cautious, but Dad is working on him and he had a lot of fun too.
We went to the Burdsall reunion a couple of weeks later at Starved Rock Lodge in Illinois about an hour or so east of Peoria. It was a beautiful place and we all had a wonderful time. Pool there too. Lauren worked some more on her gills.
In April, Charlie and his friends went on their annual manly canoe trip to the South Branch of the Potomac River in West VA. This one was a little wet - it rained all day on Sunday! The river got higher as the day went along. Cory and his friend, Matt, went along. They must have been hot cause they went 'swimming' two times on Sunday! Cory is 20 and doing great with a 95% for his first year at Electricians school. He really likes the school. We are very proud of him, he just got a promotion where they gave him a truck and he is doing jobs on his own. His dad puts him to work every time he comes to visit! So far no power failures!
Ellen and Charlie were active in community theatre again doing two plays. Charlie did Co- Master Carpenter with Ellen's sister, Barb for "Dandelion Wine" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" while Ellen returned to Costume Design with her close friend Lorraine on Joseph. We even got Ellen's parent's to help on the show! Dad helped create a jell cell door. Mom sewed several dresses. In the fall, we did "Kiss of the Spider Woman" which Barb (Charlie decided she was ready) was the MC and Ellen and Lorraine costumed. Charlie helped on the set some but had to do a lot of kid care! Even with all that going on, Charlie did manage to play Ultimate frisbee on Saturdays, he just brought the kids !
In August, while Ellen was busy costuming, Charlie took the kids to Assateaque Island along the Atlantic shore. They had an excellent time except for the horse flies. And then on Labor Day weekend, Charlie and kids were invited to our friends, Dave Starrette and Kay Collins, house off the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay and went jet skiing and crabbing.
Ellen went on a junket with Barb to Las Vegas in September after finishing their set construction and costuming of the the 'Spider Woman'. She visited Hoover Dam and her brother Charlie met them for a few days. Charlie checked out the casinos and sent the sisters to a burlesque show and a magic show! Charlie hit the jackpot playing video poker: $1250 ! He was elated. They had a great time.
In October, we took the kids to the Pumpkin patch and we had a big Halloween party. About 60 people showed up which was real nice to see since we live so far away from DC metro area. Charlie was the Hippie Dippie Trippie man with loud-colored flowered pants and vest and headband. He almost won funniest! Had a few votes for scariest!
The kids are growing fast and a delight to watch and play with. Charlie, Grandpa and some friends built a fort structure with swing set. The kids love it. Grandma and Grandpa love to watch Tony and Lauren play, and they love to perform for Grandma and Grandpa. Tony likes to tackle his sister, so far Lauren thinks its fun!