Happy Holidays to all!  I thought I would sum up 2005 so everyone could catch up with what was new with us if they wanted to. <br><br>

Jay applied for a different job inside Idaho Power and got it so he is with the IT group instead of the helpdesk.  Of course, he is busy all the time because he takes at least one class a semester at Boise State. <br><br>


Natalya has been a busy kid this year.  She started 4-H with her dog, Francesca, and her chickens, July and Mick.  July won Peoples Choice at the Canyon County Fair and later won Reserve Champion Large Fowl, Junior at the Idaho Bird Breeders show in October.  July is really cute.  She is a white crested black polish hen.  Natalya also showed her puppy Francesca at some of the local matches and placed both times in large novice junior classes.<br><br>

Natalya also received honors on her ISAT Test in the spring has she achieved High Average and High scores on many of the subjects.  She continues with her school at the Idaho Virtual Academy. <br><br>


Firebird has had a lot of success.  Three titles were finished this year: Sterling got his Field Championship, Francesca got her Junior Courser, and Hartly got her Rally Novice (an obedience degree).  LeeLu went to
some shows and took a Hound Group one, Veteran, and two Best Veteran in Shows in Seattle in August at the specialties. Zephyr, co-owned by Juls, picked up a major and some breed wins as well as ASFA points.  Vaska and Micah also picked up ASFA points and Vaska started ahowing this and ended with a breed win.  Micah and Vaska are co-owned with Melissa.  LacyLu made us all proud by getting her JC and one leg for her SC this year.  She lives with Adrianne and Ian.  She's also a SuperStar with her picture in the San Francisco Chronicle.  Of course, I am over the moon with my puppy, Matisse.  He caught his first blacktail in February out in the rough Idaho desert. <br><br>

Instead of dance this year, we all thought karate would be good for Natalya.  She started  going to Tae Kwon Do.  She started in Tae Kwon Do in August and already has tested for and obtained three color belts!  She also won a big trophy for third place at the fall mini-tournament for her form.  I thought it looked like great fun so I joined in November and tested for my first belt on December 3. Well, if anything, it is good exercise, even if I am hopelessly uncoordinated!<br><br>


Other than that, the dogs are all going strong, including 11+ year old JR who still plays with toys.  The youngest is 3 now, Matisse (aka Little Dirtbag) and is looking great.  He might follow his Breed winning brother and sister into the ring this year. <br><br>

The birds are fun.  We have the 4-H chickens as mentioned above and the egg flock of 4 hens and 1 rooster. We have a pet pheasant, two Russian Tumbler Pigeons, a canary, and Ummmm HOW many finches?  <br><br>


Best wishes to all, Jay, Corrine, Natalya, the hounds (JR, Hartly, Rita, Sterls, Francesca and Matisse) and various birds