December 1997

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope that this holiday season finds you happy and healthy. We have had a great year this year (our 11th year together) and have much to tell.

I suppose the best place to start is with the kids, as they are our main focus outside of work and sleep. Trey is now 4 ¾ and has really matured a lot this past year. Maybe being a big brother had something to do with that. Trey is always keeping a close eye on his sister Kelsey, and guards his belongings and his "turf" with his life! He is in the "big kids" room at SMU Preschool and really enjoys playing with cars & trucks, working wooden puzzles, and pulling the wagon outside. He's been active this year in Gymboree, his Sunday school class, and a children's choir. We've been told that he has wonderful musical ability. Trey was released from speech therapy this year. He had surgery recently to get a third set of ear tubes and have his adenoids removed. As a special treat, he really loves riding on Dallas' new subway, or on the trolley with his Dad. He and Allen went skiing in March.

Kelsey is now 15 months old (on Dec. 20) and is a real joy to be with. She is quite talkative and a much more demanding child than Trey. She began walking at 11 months and is into everything, as one would expect. Our cat Mitzi hasn't yet forgiven us for bringing home another little person who pulls her tail and drools on her occasionally. Kelsey is a good eater, a good sleeper, and lots of fun. After nearly two years on the waiting list, she was accepted into SMU Preschool in June. The kids at school adore her. She already has eight teeth.

Allen is still at SMU, working in the Business Information Center, beginning his ninth year there. He has become a volunteer trolley driver at the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, an organization that operates five trolleys year-round in one of Dallas' historic districts. I surprised him for his 37th birthday in August with a surprise party on board a trolley with 20 friends and family present. The party celebrated the birthdays of Allen and a longtime friend, John. Allen served as president of the United Methodist Men at our church this year, and will again in 1998. Working, church committees, kids, and his consulting business keep him pretty busy.

Just last month, I began a new job at SMU in the Maguire Center for Ethics, an inter-departmental office (privately funded by one of SMU's benefactors) which relates the field of ethics to other topics such as religion, medicine, law, politics, journalism, etc. Each year, the Center hosts a large colloquium. Most of my job has to do with organizing every aspect of that conference, from speakers to the 40,000 invitations we send out (and the concurrent mailing lists) to setting up the registration database. I enjoy the challenge and the less stressful atmosphere, not to mention the fact that I'm just a minute or two away from the kids and Allen. We're an SMU family! I still ring in the handbell choir at church and serve on a few committees and weight train when time permits. The passing of my grandmother shortly after Christmas last year saddened all of us.

Our travels this year again took us to Tybee Island, Georgia with all of the Gwinns over 4th of July weekend and to Nashville to visit my family for a few days in August. A highlight of our trip to Tennessee was a visit to the Saturn automobile plant. Trey was the youngest person ever to tour there (we had to get special permission). We were all quite impressed. Allen bought a new Saturn last Spring. Kelsey and I surprised my sister Julie with an unannounced visit to Nashville in May to help celebrate her 30th birthday. Allen, Trey, Kelsey and I spent a short weekend in October visiting Jefferson, Texas and staying in an historic bed-and-breakfast. It was fun looking around in all the old shops and eating at their annual "Taste of Jefferson" food festival.

We had a good year in 1997, and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that 1998 will bring. I wish all of you safe, happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.

With warmest regards,
Terri & Allen & Trey & Kelsey Gwinn