MERRY CHRISTMAS

Holiday greetings from the Calls! We hope this note finds you happy and healthy and surrounded by loved ones. We want to take this opportunity to update you on the happenings of our lives. This past year has brought about some changes to our family, and the coming year will surely bring even more.

Charis continues to work at a downtown-Seattle law firm, although she now works in the accounting department. She has thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace and really enjoys the people she works with. She also stays busy working with the 14- and 15-year old girls at church.

Andy is in his final year of his graduate program at the University of Washington. He continues to fine-tune his dissertation, and is getting ready for the job market which begins in earnest in early 2007. He also continues working hard on other research projects, and gets a great deal of satisfaction from his teaching. Andy continues to work with the young men in the Scouting program.

During the year, we’ve been able to enjoy a fair bit of traveling. In March we celebrated our first wedding anniversary in Las Vegas. During the summer, we had a fun reunion in Utah with Andy’s college friends, followed by a brief trip to Washington, D.C.

This year has also brought its fair share of challenges. After a brief battle with cancer, Charis’ mom passed away in November. We were fortunate enough to be able to travel to South Africa to honor her and to be with our family there. Despite the circumstances, it was wonderful for Charis to be reunited with her family and friends, and for Andy to be introduced to these wonderful people. South Africa is a very special place to us both!

This coming year will be exciting for us as we graduate from school, move to another (yet-to-be determined) part of the country, and tackle our next adventure. We look forward to keeping you updated on all our happenings.

We hope each of you has a wonderful holiday season. At this time of year, we reflect upon the teachings and sacrifice of the Savior, and are reminded of the goodness of mankind. We love you and sincerely hope you have a beautiful holiday and a fantastic 2007!

With Love, Andy and Charis

South Africa

CAPE POINT

This is where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. Absoloutely Beautiful.

Andy with his favorite S. African treats - Granadilla Schwepps and Lunch Bar- YUMMY!!!

Just baboons crossing the street as we are leaving the park.

Andy had to stop and touch (and skip rocks) in the Indian Ocean

Cape Town Airport
Walking across the tarmac.1 Time Airlines

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve

We had a great time at this game reserve. It is 2 1/2 drive from Johannesburg and you can see alot of animals. We drove through the reserve all day and saw so much. It was awesome being so close the the animals.

The Lost City

It is a 30 min drive from Pilanesberg so we decided to take a trip there too.

10 Hour layover in London... then onto Seattle

Toni & Charis
Out to breakfast
Charis, Toni, Oskar & Andy

Wimbledon

Tennis Courts

Kirsty & Charis - Out ot lunch in Richmond

Trip down Memory Lane

We had a great time spending time with Toni & Oskar. It was so fun to show them our city, and let them see a little of Seattle.

Of course we has to take them to a Mariner game, seeing as we love going when it is baseball season.

The Throng

We had a great weekend in in Provo, UT. This Fall marks the 10th year since Andy and his friends were freshman at BYU. We had a reunion in Provo, and had a great time seeing everyone again. It's rare to see a group of guys keep in such great contact after so many years.

The Throng - and their families
The Throng

The Throng Wives

Andy & Me on BYU Campus

WASHINGTON DC

THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

We had dinner at the National Press Club. It was so fun to see all the pictures of people who had been there, and people that were honored. When the dinner was over, we decided to go and walk around the city. We were in a prime location, and able to walk to alot of the memorials. We were still on Seattle time, so our night was still young :-)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Andy & Max

THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
We went to an Orioles game while we were there. We caught the train, and made it there and back safely. We have to thank Max for that, had it been left up to Andy and me, we would have resorted to a taxi. It was fun to make our way through the city by ourselves

WA UNION STATION
ORIOLES GAME

THE CAPITAL

Andy , Charis & Max - Dinner in Georgetown.We spent the day at the Smithsonian. The museums were amazing. There just was not enough time to do them all - next time :-)

The Sunstone Capital - From the Nauvoo, IL Temple

The Washington Memorial - During the day.
The Capital - During the day