We haven't posted a page since mid-November, so there is a lot to report! First, notice that we are now at
www.snydersR.us [More Information]. Along with this, notice the new banner and photo! Now the news!
The 4th edition of the book everyone has been raving about [ha!] has now hit the bookstores!
Fluency 4 ...
Book Cover for Fluency Fourth Edition
Fluency 4 Whom? Perhaps it should read "Fluency 4 L's Students Not J's Students."
News & Notes
The annual Thanksgiving celebration at Julie and Jim Shadle's in Montana had a major advance this year: Anna and Brian Paradee moved up to Potato Mashing Assistants. Here Brian works under the approving eye of The Old Master Masher.
Doin' the Mash
Our congratulations to Anna Paradee for placing 1st in the vault at 3 state gymnastic meets so far this year!
L found a terrific spruce tree on the Christmas tree hunt. It was narrow enough to fit on the balcony and when decorated, competed with the sunset in color and brilliance.
Dan and Tomoko, Dave and girlfriend, Megan, were all here for Christmas, but we never managed to have more than 3 of them home at a time. Still there was plenty of the usual great food, silly games, outings and even a road trip, albeit no farther than Portland, OR.
Bean Farming, The Game
Megan said she wanted to try lots of tasty Northwest oysters. We suspect Dave may have planted the idea. Of course, it was a great excuse for all of us, but Dan was the winner: He found 3 (!) pearls in one of his oysters!
"Being visited by a friend from far away ... is that not a great joy." Kiyomi Hirose and her boys Ryotaro and Eitaro from Onomichi JP spent the holidays with the Paradee family. Here they are during a stop at our house. We last saw Kyomi and the boys in Kobe, November, 2008.
Left to right, front row: Eitaro and Ryotaro; middle row: Dave, Dan, Stephanie and Brian; back row: Larry, Julie, Tomoko and Kiyomi.
On a trip to Washington DC, L got a personal tour of the West Wing of the White House, compliments of our friend Steve Robinson, who works there. Steve is responsible for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education in US schools as part of the Obama Administration. [Photo courtesy Jan Cuny]
Entrance to the West Wing from the Rose Garden
As we go to press there is breaking news: Dave has a new job!