~Gilbank Christmas Letter 2005!~

Greetings to you all from the Gilbank Family!!

It has been a very eventfull year for us!

Me and the kids got in lots of visits at Grandma and Grandpa's! (Caroline's parent) while Daddy (Chris) was away. In January, my mom came down and got us, so I didn't have to drive the coquihalla during the winter months. In March we met my mom half way, Chris drove us to toll booth. In June, September and end October, I braved driving. We survived!

Justin will be three years old in January (5th) He continues to amaze us with his progress at learning new things. He has become quite independent. Potty training began in July, so he hasn't worn diapers during the day (except church and naps) since then. We bought him some "Bob the Builder" and "Spiderman" undies. (Chris says, "every boy must have spiderman undies" J) He (Justin, not Chris!) now tells us when he has to go pee and can even go on own. We're still working on going "#2" in toilet, but he'll get it.

He LOVES trains and fire trucks right now...anything that qualifies as a "Mighty Machine"
and speaks sentences very well! One cute prase is when he falls or hurts himself he says "I be ok!" He adores Ashleigh and loves giving hugs. We've had to teach him to give them "under her arms" as around the neck is just a little rough! He's still a bit aggressive with her at times , but that should get better (we hope!)

Ashleigh' turned one in September (27th) and has been walking since just before 11 months. She too continues to amaze us with her progress at learning new things and has become quite the "tease" with brother. Her learning how to put toys away is a BIG motivation for Justin to. They like the praise. Not too many "words" from her, but she verbalizes lots of sounds.

She LOVES music and claps her hands and dances. It is so cute. When I say "let's go get brother!" (from his room after his Quiet Time), she walks to his room and hits the door with her hands with a smile on her face and is VERY happy to see him.

We're still working on sleeping through the night (sigh with a smile), but that's ok...it'll come.

I'm really enjoying motherhood of two! In the fall we started a NEW routine, and that has made life much more enjoyable for us. Tuesday/Thursdays we have "Music with Mommy" and we sing songs on the floor...songs I learned at a program I took Justin to when we was younger. We usually try to get out to the Rec. Center for run around/play time in the gymnasium (once a week drop in), but the weeks we can't (usually due to colds that are often never ending), go by better if we have our little routine going on.

November 15th marked the first year of Chris' employment for Current Sales Corporation (www.currentcorp.com). As many of you know, he builds Nightvision and Thermal imaging systems for ships and yachts around the world. To date he has traveled to Greece in January to install 2 nightvision systems on ferries, to New York in March to install a system on a ferry headed for Alaska, In June he went to Italy to install another system on a ferry, and then on to Oslo for an international marine tradeshow, in September he went to Florida to visit a factory of another camera manufacturer, in October he went to Alaska to service 2 systems, and then later in October he went to Rotterdam for a tradeshow, and then on to Italy to install a camera on a yacht (this is the camera he went to Florida to learn how to install). All of the components were not in Italy at the time he was there, so next week he has to go BACK to Italy to first train the operators on a system in Messina (south Italy) and then complete the installation of a system on a 65Meter yacht in Viareggio (near Pisa, Northern Italy).

It has been a LOT of travel, especially for someone whos only flight previously was from Calgary to Abbotsford, but it is worth it. It is a good company, and the boss has consistently proven his strong morales, and care for the employees and their families (including closing the shop at noon on a Friday for water skiing at his house).

We're excited about this Christmas. We're going to Powell River to spend Christmas with Chris' Dad and step mom. We havn't gone outside of the Lower Mainland for Christmas in five years, so like I said, we're excited!

Well that about wraps up our news for another year. We hope this letter finds you all healthy and happy. Have a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2006!!!

Take care and may God bless you!

Love,

Chris, Caroline, Justin and Ashleigh