So ? How many vehicles can one family have? In addition to what we started the year with (1 truck, 2 cars, 3 motorcycles, 1 boxvan, 1 trailer) The Higginsons have added a Chevy Duramax 4x4 Crew Cab Pickup ( Bob), a Toyhauler trailer for the family, 2 Quads ( Vicki & Berlin), and1 Motorcycle, ( Jack). I’ve very familiar with everyone down at the DMV.
We didn’t go on are usual “Over the Border” vacations this year.. we kept in pretty close to home. In May, we all went to NYC. We took in the finer points the city has to offer… Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, The Bowery, Fisherman’s Warf, Harlem, Times Square…You know.. the good stuff.



We also hit Museum row, Rockefeller Plaza, The Paul Frank Store, and several other shopping icons for the girls.





The kids had a blast, and really enjoyed spending time in the city they have seen so much of in T.V. and film.
Lots of other adventures this year too….. Bob has convinced Vicki that she too should enjoy all the desert riding Bob does with his motorcycle club, hence the vehicles mentioned in paragraph #1.
This year we went on 3 rides as a family… Pismo Beach, Evans Flats, located in the Serria Nevada mountains, and Sunfair Dry Lake, near Palm Springs. There was a considerable gap between rides 2 and 3 while Bob recovered from his broken leg he suffered at Evans Flats.




Vicki said the broken leg wasent as bad as the knee high, HOT PINK colored cast Bob wore for 6 weeks. She still is rolling her eyes at that one,

Berlin on the other hand, is nearly indestructible on her Purple Camouflage Quad. Flips, Rolls, Endo’s… nothing seems to phase her. She rides that thing 15 hours a day.. and uses much of the available gas…. She scares the crap out of everyone, but has yet to break the skin. A few bruises is about all she has to show for her wild times. Lucky girl…

Jack is starting to jump his bike, and is racing in his first Grand Prix in Adelanto Ca. this coming Feb. He’s turning into quite a good rider and will soon be passing the old man….

Vicki is the Official, “unofficial”, head of the Wives Quad Brigade. She takes all the wives out riding with her, and if their is any wine tasting within a hours drive, they split camp and hit that too….. She seems to be enjoying things more than she expects too…… I have given the kids strict orders to LEAVE MOM ALONE, while on these rides, Think that has anything to do with it?

Sports went well this year, as Jack and Pookie did very well in Baseball / Softball. Berlin wants to pitch this year, so extra effort is going to go into her program to get her on the mound. Jack doesn’t need all that much Coaching now anyways, he’s 10 now, and “knows everything”…..
I’m sure a lot of you are wondering how work is in this tough economy. Well , its tough!
Luckily, Vicki works for us, and not the competition. We have transitioned into allot of Custom Home work . Rich folks always have $$$$$, right? Well, its true, and the Custom Work has kept us busy through the 4th quarter, right into 2009. Without Vicki’s vision, we would be on the breadlines with the other contractors. As it is, I think we are off 30% from our best numbers of fiscal 2007. No too bad, considering the amount of companies we see going under. Once again Vickums, great job!!!
We did have tragedy in our lives this year though. Max, our beloved Guinea Pig, passed into the afterlife this year. He was a sweet little rodent, and is sorely missed.
Not much else has changed. The “Tuscan” house makeover mentioned in last years letter is slated for 2009. Jack and Berlin are in the tops of their respective classes at school, Vicki is still the #1 Class Mom at Don Juan Avilia School, and Bob is still slacking around the house, Like I said, not much change.
2009 should bring more challenges and good fortunes to our company, a return to Cabo san Lucas with our good friends the Christenson Family, many more good times with Bob’s motorcycle club, and the Yankees returning to the World Series.
We plan on spending all the money we can, as quick as we can before Obama takes it from us anyways….
Join us in this effort!!!!
Merry Christmas from the Higginsons.