Caleb just finished 2^nd grade at St. Mary’s Elementary School. He is finishing the last book of the Harry Potter series and is an avid reader. Reading is a favorite thing for Caleb to do but he is also looking forward to his activities in Cub Scouts. We took the entire family skiing over Christmas break and Caleb said his favorite sport is skiing. He really enjoyed it and did very well. We are very fortunate to live within a 90 minute drive from Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Corby just finished 3^rd grade this year at St. Mary’s Elementary School and has turned 9. He enjoyed his sleepover with his classmates. We invited all the boys in his 3^rd grade classroom and it got noisy for awhile but they were a good group of kids. Corby loves to ski and also is asking to snowboard but we want him to learn to ski very well before he also starts that. He also enjoys all the Cub Scouts activities and is looking forward to summer baseball.

Kelsey just finished 5^th grade at St. Mary’s Elementary School. She just finished her basketball season, which she really enjoyed. Kelsey is now playing indoor soccer and getting ready for the spring season. She also loves skiing and the outdoors. Kelsey started band this year and has been doing well with both piano and flute. Kelsey always makes the honor role and is a very conscientious student.

Kyler just finished his freshman year at Gonzaga Prep. He is in track this spring season and really enjoys it. Kyler is also a member of the debate team and enjoys his practicing his arguments with some of the family members. He has really shot up in height and is now 6’3" with still more time to grow. It is probably natural that his favorite sport is basketball.

Mikayla just finished her junior year at Central Valley High School. She still enjoys singing, playing the piano, flute and piccolo. She wants to go to college and have a career in music. She is looking at performing and elementary education.

Janelle just finished her freshman year at Gonzaga University. She is studying Pre-Med and made the Deans List for her academic scholarship for her first semester. Janelle is majoring in biology and psychology. After she has completed her pre-requisites, she would like to go on to medical school. Janelle is working to become certified in scuba diving and is looking forward to diving with her sister, Brianne in the Puget Sound area of Washington.

Marissa just finished her junior year at Gonzaga University and is working to complete a double major in both biology and religious studies. After that, she plans to go to dental school at the University of Washington Dental School and follow in her father’s footsteps to become a dentist.

Brianne just finished her junior year at Gonzaga University and is majoring in biology and psychology and wants to go onto graduate school at the University of Washington to become a Psychology Professor. Brianne, too, just got certified in scuba diving and is looking forward to diving with Janelle.

Devontay just finished Kindergarten at both Sunrise Elementary and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Elementary School. He will be playing soccer and T-ball this spring. He is very active and loves to play with his older "brothers" and Kelsey.

Dad has a very full schedule when you add transporting children to soccer, softball, and all the music events. It definitely gets a little crazy but the kids are all and great ages on it makes our life pretty interesting.

Jim is very busy with his dental business. He has a great staff and proud of them and enjoys working with them. Jim is currently enrolled at Gonzaga University and in working on getting a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies.

Mom definitely enjoys being mom of her very large brood and especially likes to have conversations with the kids.

Karen is also working to earn her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University. She also works on writing about child abuse and neglect. With her work with foster children and as a CASA volunteer, she has become very concerned about the plight of these children and the problems are increasing.

Our nephews,

Monte Steven Moss is working as a computer technician and computer network technician. He is going to visit Brad and Shawnda over spring break.

Derek John Moss is a senior at Eastern Washington University to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in English. He shares an apartment with some friends in downtown Spokane and is working on creative writing and poetry along with his music.

Bradley and Shawnda Moss & Anton Victor are living in Utah and working on moving into their new home, which should be in a couple of months.

We made a trip over the Gonzaga Spring Break to Seattle and we really enjoyed it.

That is our update since our Christmas letter. We hope all of you have a very happy Easter Holiday and we will be thinking of you. Please remember to stop by and visit us when you are in the area.

We again extend a warm welcome invitation to come by and visit us at anytime. We look forward to hearing how you are doing.

We would love it if all of you could send your e-mail addresses so we could also respond by e-mail. Please send us your e-mail addresses to hood@hoodfamily.com  so we may have it. Also, if you have any additions to add to our family tree, please add them.

Love from all Hood family and extended family too!!