I’m not sure what we did for July 4, but Betsy sent along these photos of the Embreys visiting the beach in North Carolina, so they are accounted for.
As evidence of the fact I was playing tennis, here’s a trophy I won for 4.0 Men’s Doubles from the Columbia Association’s Bastille Day tournament. I think my partner was Dave Yingling, but don’t hold me to it. I played in quite a number of tournaments and USTA leagues through these years before my enthusiasm for competitive tennis waned.
Allie was in multiple summer camps, but one of them was a performing arts camp operated by Toby’s dinner theater and the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. Allie was in the chorus of their production of Bye Bye Birdie.
At the end of July, Barb, Allie and I ventured to the wilds of St. Paul, Minnesota (a new state for most of us) for the wedding of Michael Edwards, son of Nancy. We spent two days in St. Paul with Nancy, the highlight of which, other than the wedding, was a few hours at the Mall of America. Tony Lim and a couple of other Maryland colleagues of Barb and Nancy made the trip.
Barb and Michael at Nancy’s house, day before the wedding 
Barb, Larry, Joanne (?), Tony and Ben 
The amusement park inside the Mall of America 
The happy couple, Michael and ?? 
??, Larry Bonander, Tony, Nancy, Barb, Joanne 
Barb, Allie, Nancy 
I compiled another CD of songs, Allie’s 8e.
In mid-August, Mom and Dad came up to Maryland and stayed a few days with us at the Paddington house. Allie entertained them by reading some Harry Potter, to Grandpop’s amusement.
A week or so later in August, Barb, Allie and I headed to Scotland for a glance at our family roots and some golf for me. I have a separate post with more details of this excellent trip.
Barb and Allie on tour at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh 
The Scots will fry anything! 
On the Old Course at St. Andrews 
A happy couple…maybe because we’re on a golf course but I’m not golfing
We got back in time for Barb to go to her office picnic on Tuesday, August 31, at Centennial Park in Columbia. Lots more photos here.
Barb and Dan
In early September, we visited Gerard and Chris at their house. Allie left a note for Chris in her office telling about her summer.
In September we broke ground on the Pfefferkorn house. Allie and I had a little ceremony to commemorate the event.
On October 2, in advance of Allie’s birthday celebrations, Emery and Leslie came over for a short visit with Allie and Harry.
Later on that Saturday, October 2, we welcomed three of Allie’s fourth grade classmates — Sydney, Kevyn Ann and Ellen — for a birthday sleepover. In the afternoon we went to the Power Plant at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore to see a 4-D Time Traveler ride that was a tourist attraction there for a year or two. It was next to another short-term tenant, Power Dogs. The Time Traveler simulator ride itself was pretty lame but we had a good time posing for pictures out front with various characters.
Kevyn Ann, Ellen and Allie with Harry at home 
Ellen, Kevyn Ann, Allie and Sydney in Baltimore 
With crab 
With Power Dog 
Everyone survived the sleepover and on Sunday we gathered with a larger crew for Allie’s actual 9th birthday party. The party was at Splashdown, the quasi-waterpark at the Columbia Swim Center. You could rent the slide and a portion of the pool for parties if you signed up far enough in advance, which we did. The big attraction at Splashdown was a slide that you climbed up and rode down with inner tubes. There was also a rope swing and that’s about it…but what more do you really need?
Gabby and ?? near the inner tubes 
Sydney on the swing 
Kristin, Paige, Allie and Blair
The Splashdown folks also took care of the pizza and snacks so it made for a pretty easy birthday package from the parental point of view. The girls seemed to have a fine time. I’m trying to remember the names of all of the girls but I’m missing a couple. I could drive you to where they all lived because we used to visit each of them over the years, but their names are slipping away.
Allie and Maddie 
Allie, Maddie, Ellen, Gabby, Kristin, Kevyn Ann, Sydney, Paige, Erin, ??, Blair 
A new birthday was an excuse for a new CD, Allie’s 9a.
Allie’s adventures in music continued with a foray into flute. She took lessons at school and we rented (not bought) a flute for the occasion. It arrived on October 8. Here she takes it out of the box and would have proceeded to play if she knew where to put her hands.
One of the annual theme events at Glenelg Country School was Renaissance day, this year on October 10. Sydney’s mother, Faith, with two older nieces at the school (I’ve forgotten their names), was a veteran of the event and lent Allie a costume. Thanks Miss Faith!
Faith’s niece, Sydney, Allie, Faith 
By October 14, Allie got her braces off and showed off her big new smile. And her retainer. Thanks, Dr. Bonebreak! Hope you don’t mind if we never see you again.
Retainer is a lot better than braces 
That’s our girl!
Still proud of those newly straight teeth three days later.
Allie’s school celebrated Halloween on Friday, October 29, with its annual parade. Parents were invited and photos ensued. Miss Faith came through again with homemade fire-fairy costumes for Allie and Sydney. Thanks again, Miss Faith! We were getting to like her. What’s a fire fairy? Beats me.
Sydney and Allie 
Gabby and Allie 
Allie and her classmates 
Allie’s teachers, in Wizard of Oz theme 
Sydney and Allie, with Brandon and his mom in back 
Waiting for the parade; Sydney’s had it 
Parading
Sunday, October 31, was Halloween for real. Allie spent it with Blair and her buddies…and Sydney reappeared for trick or treating in the neighborhood. We started by picking up Blair and her buddies at her house, then came back to our house for a little time with Harry Potter.
??, Allie, Lily, Blair 
Our pumpkins! 
Proofs from a November photo session, post braces, in search of a holiday card picture. I think we did these at Sears.
The one we used
Allie did a school project based on the golden mean where she measured people’s feet and estimated their height and other measurements. On November 14 we tested it on Harry who was not especially cooperative.
November 28 brought Emery’s 2nd birthday. We celebrated at Leslie’s house.
Then it was cake time, followed by a little more reading.
Aunt Elba was there 
One more CD for the year, Allie’s 9b.
Christmas is coming. Time for a photo op with Santa at the Columbia Mall on December 5. Cats are welcome so we bring Harry Potter for an outing. He loves it.
Barb’s office Christmas party was on December 16. More photos here.
Time for photos of Allie, Harry and our tree for our 2004 holiday card, taken on December 19. This was also likely a day of driving around to friends like Henry and Donna, Tom and Donna, the Dettmers and more to deliver Barb’s annual Christmas cookies.
On Monday, December 20, school was out so we took Gabby to the Air and Space Museum at Dulles.
Two days later on Wednesday, December 22, we took Kevyn Ann to DC to see the money made at the Bureau of Engraving and wander the Mall on a sunny day.
Seeing bills printed at the Bureau of Engraving 
On the Mall 
White House Ellipse 
National Christmas tree 
World War II Memorial 
Hot dog happiness 
I haven’t found photos of Christmas itself, but I’m pretty confident we did the whole routine: spring rolls and Auntie Jessie’s for Christmas Eve, roast beef and probably Leila for Christmas dinner, Aunt Pattie and cheese balls and more roast beef and spades for Boxing Day.
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