The Bell Family Christmas Blog

2011 -- The Only Constant is Change

2011-12-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Josh's Graduation from Notre Dame

Happy Holidays from Colleen, Matthew, Jonathon, Joshua and Jeff Bell. This happy photo was from one of three graduations we celebrated in 2011 and the first, Joshua Gerald Murphy Bell from the University of Notre Dame. How fast the time flies! It seems like only yesterday that we were at freshman orientation for our oldest son. Now he is a graduate and is the first son to fly from the nest. This is a big deal for Colleen and Jeff...Empty Nest is approaching!

Also in the Spring, we proudly shared the end to Jon's High School chess career at the State Championship. Jon played second board as a senior, and was ranked as high as seventh among seniors. At this final competition, Jon was 2nd team all-state, and Seattle Prep finished 3rd overall. In his three years of varsity, Seattle Prep finished 3rd, 4th and 3rd -- the best in the school's history.

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The view from Lookout Point outside Winthrop

Among the many blessings we received in 2011, we count the time we spent at Gerry Zyfer's home in Winthrop among them. We spent Easter at this paradise just east of the Cascade Mountains, where the snow was still over 20 feet high on Highway 20 through May! The word for Winthrop is relax. We returned in the fall (October) for another retreat, and who knows, maybe one last trip before the end of this year?

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Colleen, Natalie, Rosemary, Kristen and Phyllis

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The whole gang outside ND stadium

As foretold, we did have a Spring of graduations, first came Joshua. The wonderful thing about graduations is that everyone gets to get together to celebrate together. We were so blessed that Josh's grandmothers Nancy and Phyllis, and grandfather Rodney, could attend. His uncles Greg, Greg and Brian, and aunts Rosemary, Donna and Lori were also present. Not to be forgotten were cousins Kristen, Jamison, Zach, Dylan and Natalie. It was such a wonderful (and hot) event and weekend. There is something special about Notre Dame, and we will miss visting the campus. But we will always be part of the Irish tradition.

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Jon and Colleen at Benaroya Hall

Jon's graduation from Seattle Prep was next, and it was the end to a wonderful 4 years. Jon won "best actor" for the senior theatrical competition in the one act play called, "The Problem." Jon applied to several schools and after several visits and deliberation, chose Loyola University Chicago. He has enjoyed his first semester and has joined the TKE fraternity. The Second City is the right city for Jon!
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Beta, Tracy, Jan and Suzie

Colleen'sfriends Beth Alexander, Tracy Nash Salinas, Jan Richards and Suzie Powell allcame to visit in July. Here the the group is pictured at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass in Tacoma, WA. Manya site was seen in Seattle, including Pike's Place market, Pioneer Square, theSpace Needle, and of course, the wonders of the Eastside in Kirkland (includinga pretty cool art fair).

We also had an eighth grade ceremony forMatt, as he left middle school and is now a freshman in high school. Matt had avery strong lacrosse season, see Matt Bellscores for Lakeside Lacrosse.

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Colleen, Jeff, Josh, Matt and Jon on Meade Glacier

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Breath-taking Alaska on Carnival

The next big activity was a family vacationto Alaska. Colleen had suggested that we organize some family time, and whatbetter way to ensure that we would spend time together than a cruise! Yes,there is no escaping once you leave port! Joking aside, we left from Seattleand made our way up the coastal waterway to Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Ateach stop we had a super adventure. We went whale watching, and took ahelicopter to the top of Meade Glacier, and finally, a float plane trip intothe Misty Fjords. This was a truly "once in a lifetime" opportunity,and we know that a cruise is not for everyone, but we loved the comedy, thefood, the shows, and yes for 18 year old Jon, the legal gambling!

Well, when you have your first child, youdon't think about the time when they are going to leave home and live on theirown. As you can see from this photo, Josh did just that. I guess the Notre Dameeducation paid off, as Josh was offered and accepted a position in Washington,DC with KPMG. He is an Economic Analyst (putting both his Economics and Englishdegrees to work). Many friends may recall that Jeff and Colleen started off asnewly-weds in Washington, DC, so this has a strange sense of serendipity anddeja vu.

It probably will come as no surprise that one of our fall trips was back to see Joshua. We made day trips to visit the Smithsonian Museums, the Library of Congress, and all the Memorials along the National Mall. This was Matt's first trip out to our Nation's Capital, and he was absolutely exhilarated with all that there is do. A return trip might well be in our near future. We were also very lucky to see Notre Dame crush Maryland in football (a bright spot in an otherwise dissapoitning season...again...).

Note how tall Matt is in this photo! Speaking of Matt, he has become a very proficient guitar player, both rock and jazz. He formed a band, Freakout, and has performed in competitions and concerts, including this one at his high school, Lakeside: Freakout perform Reptilia by the Stokes (Matt solos at 2:30). Matt also received "outstanding soloist" in both the seventh and eighth grade in his jazz band. To see his first high school concert and solo, click here: Lakeside High School Jazz Band featuring Matt Bell

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The Daltons and Bells

One of our goals for the fall was to return to Ohio and to get the "cousins" together. Pictured here are Sheamus Dalton, Jon, Katie Dalton (Ohio Wesleyan), Josh, Ian Dalton, Aidan Dalton and Matt. The Daltons are Colleen's sister's children, and how they all have grown. Not pictured here are Samantha Murphy and Ben Murphy, who we did see at Thanksgiving and you can see them in the photo to the right.

Well what would our lives be like if we did not close with acknowledgement of a very special member of the family -- Hugo, our Havanese. We have not quite made the transition traveling with Hugo, but trust us, we are close!

We send to everyone our love and thoughts of joy and peace. Life is moving forward, and next year will be the big 5-0 for Jeff. Please friend us on Facebook (or Jeff on Linkedin), because it makes this Christmas blog seem pretty "old school." As always, our home is open to you and we will keep each of you in our hearts and in our prayers.

Love today and forever, Colleen, Jeff, Josh, Jon and Matt Bell

Happy Holidays 2010!

2010-12-12T11:33:00.001-08:00

We started off the year with a wonderful Junior Parent's Weekend at Notre Dame with Josh. We spent most of the weekend with Josh's friends and their families, and enjoyed strolling the campus and participating in various activities. We had the chance to attend presentations by both of Josh's major departments -- Economics and English. Josh has accepted an offer of employment from KPMG to work in Economic Consulting in McLean, VA. Yes that is the "other Washington" and on the other side of the country, but Colleen and I do not take any offense. We are very proud of him.

Happy Holiday greetings from the Bells!

This has been a very busy year, full of both blessings and challenges.We find ourselves approaching some major milestones in life -- Josh graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Jonathon graduating from Seattle Prep, and Matthew finishing Middle School and preparing for High School. There is that cliche "where did the time go," but honestly we have lived every minute (and our bodies feel the wear and tear), but it still seems to go by quickly.

Jeff spent time in early January with his recently retired professor and mentor, Michael Evans, in Tucson, AZ. Fellow Kenyon grads from 1984, Doug Heuck, Dave Guenther and Gerry Zyfers (not pictured here) also attended this weekend seminar. The topic was a discussion of Thucydides The History of the Peloponnesian War. Yes, that is what middle-aged Kenyon liberal arts grads do. They get together and discuss classics while drinking and eating too much. Oh well, I guess there are worse things that could happen!

Staying with Josh as a theme, he turned 21 years old in 2010. We decided to surprise him with a trip to Las Vegas. The best part was that we told him he was coming home for Easter (which fell on his birthday weekend) and he did not check the tickets until the night before. He called us and asked, "Is there a problem with my ticket? It only goes as far as Las Vegas." Well, much fun was had, and we saw Cris Angel, The Beatles' Love, and stayed at the Wynn Hotel & Resort. It was a blast lounging by the pool,and especially fun for Jeff to throw back a few beers with Josh while watching the NCAA tournament. The only unfortunate thing was that Jon could not join us, but that was because he was spending Spring Break in Mexico with his classmates from Seattle Prep on a study and mission trip.

Jon's Confirmation with Archbishop Burnett

Also this Spring, we had the great honor to see Jon confirmed at Sacred Heart. This was a great process for Jon, and the event was made very special by the attendance of the Archbishop of Seattle Alex J. Burnett (pictured with Jon here).

Jon also was named to First Team All-State in Chess (3rd Booard). After finishing 3rd in the State Team Championship in 2009, the Seattle Prep Team ended 4th Place in 2010. Jon was undefeated in the Metro League.

In May, Colleen attended her 25th Reunion at Kenyon. Know one knows how they will feel about going back to one's alma mater. Who will show up? Will it be fun? Will everyone tell you that you look the same? Will you recognize anyone because they don't look the same? Well, the answer to all these questions was positive, and Colleen had a great time. She spent the weekend with many friends, including Anne Doyle Simpson, Suzie Powell, Jan Richardson, Karen Mombello, Tracy Nash Salinas. It was also a chance, while back in Ohio, for Colleen to visit her mom, Nancy, in Jeromesville, and see her sister Nancy, and brothers Brian and Greg.

Also in May, Jeff, Jon and Josh went to Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge in Washington. There are too many bands to name, but the highlights included Mumford & Sons, LCD Soundsystem, My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Temper Trap, Passion Pit, Broken Social Scene and Band of Horses. 2011 will be the first time that Matthew will join his older brothers. Look for an update next year!

Speaking of Matthew, he continues to excel in sports -- primarily soccer and lacrosse. In the Spring and Summer, Matt played Lax for Lakeside School, and for the Seattle Starz. He has found attack and midfield to be his positions of choice, and scored over 10 goals for his school team, and for his travel select team
. In soccer, Matt's playing for Lakeside, and scored 13 goals in 10 games this year, and continues this fall/winter to play for the Seattle United team. They are presently in the Founder's Cup competition with big expectations. Matt's other great passion is music, and he is the guitarist in the Lakeside Jazz Band, and the songwriter/guitarist for his rock band, Freak Out.

Jon started the fall with the daunting task of applying to colleges. He has selected a diverse group of target schools. He has already been accepted at Loyola Chicago and Creighton, with many more to come. The toughest part will be making a decision. After a fantastic Winter and Spring in Chess, where Jon was named the Most Valuable Player by his teammates, the team came in 4th in the state and he was named first team All-Metro, Jon is back at it again. Seattle Prep is currently 2nd behind Lakeside, and Jon is the #5 senior in the state with a 1585 ranking. He attended Homecoming this fall

During the Summer, Phyllis and Rodney visited for a few weeks, and we spent time in beautiful Winthrop WA. Matt also completed his Life Scout rank and he and Jeff were at Fire Mountain for a week of BSA Summer Camp.

Another Fall highlight was a trip to Notre Dame to see the Fighting Irish beat Western Michigan. It has been a tough four years of football for Josh, but we tell him that he will enjoy it more as alumni as things can only get better. Needless to say, going to a ND home game is a great experience, and Colleen and Jeff could not be happier that Josh has been happy and successful in his four years there.

As 2010 draws to a close, we traveled to Bend, Oregon for some skiing at Mt. Bachelor. It was the second ski trip of the calendar year as Jon and Jeff went to Vail in March. It was a time to re-group and reflect as 2011 draws to a close. The next year will see Josh moving away officially and Jon heading to college.

We send our prayers, and our well wishes to you and yours. Love is the answer. Leave hate behind. Life is too short.

Jeff, Colleen, Joshua, Jonathon and Matthew Bell

2009 Reflection and Remembrances - Happy Holidays!

2009-12-20T10:13:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays!
2009 was a great year, full of new experiences, fun and adventure. We started off the year with a fantastic holiday celebration. We enjoyed the sights and sounds of Christmas and New Year's in Seattle, and survived the worst snow storm in history!

We enjoyed the snow much more at Sun Valley Utah. Funny story, we won the Seattle Prep Live Auction Raffle, and picked this trip. What a great time for $100! LOL

Colleen made 2009 the year of health and fitness. She began an exercise class with her friends from tennis, and has really enjoyed getting into the best shape of her life. She is now swimming again, and regularly exceeding a mile. We are awaiting news of her first triathlon appearance. Colleen has been a leader at Lakeside in a leader in community development with social events and fund-raisers. She continues to juggle two book clubs and of course manages the three wild men still at home.

Jon had a great sophomore year at Seattle Prep. He was 3rd board on Prep's varsity Chess team. In only his 2nd year of organized chess he earned 5th place among sophomores in the State's Individual tournament, and then in the Team Championship, Seattle Prep came in 3rd overall, and Jon was named the best 3rd board in the state! He has continued to enjoy plays with Youth Theatre Northwest (Into the Woods) and his first play at Prep (The Good Doctor). Jon has also taken up the bass guitar and has not started a band called PBT.

Jeff celebrated his 25th Reunion at Kenyon in May, and 20th from Wharton. It is great to see that everyone else struggles with the same issues in life, even though we put on the pretense of having figured it all out. On the work front, Jeff logged over 200,000 miles flying in his new role as a Venture Capital Partner at NCT Ventures.

In June, Josh headed for Ireland for a summer at Trinity College in Dublin. He had a fantastic time studying Joyce and modern Dublin writers, and studying the impact of the global recession on street performers or "buskers." Josh also flew from Dublin to London, took a bus and then a ferry to the Isle of Wight Festival and saw his favorite band, the Pixes, as well as Steroephonics, Neil Young, Razorlight, and the Ting Tings (thanks to a bday present from his Grandmother and Grandfather).

Matthew also enjoyed going with his Dad to Ohio for the 2009 U13 National Lacrosse Tournament. He played for the Washington club, and his Grandmother and Grandfather, Uncle Greg, Aunt Rosemary and cousins Kristen and Zachary attended. I guess our newest niece, Natalie also attended, but she wasn't born until July. Matthew continues to enjoy Lakeside, now as a 7th grader. His soccer team went to the finals this fall, with an unbeaten season, but lost in a tough championship game.

In July, the rest of the Bell crew flew to London to meet with Josh for a long week. It was our 10 year anniversary since leaving England for Spain. We visited many of the sights that the boys had seen as very young children, but his time, they appreciated them more -- The British Museum, The Tower of London, The Natural History Museum, St. Paul, Stone Henge, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, The Roman Baths. We also visited Salisbury Cathedral and the London Eye for the first time.

In October, the Bell clan loaded up and flew to South Bend for our first Notre Dame home game against the University of Washington. It was one of the Irish's six victories, and a really fantastic game. We enjoyed seeing the campus, and visiting Josh at his new off-campus house. He is enjoying his Economics and English major studies, and is having a fantastic time with his friends.

In November, we went back to Ohio to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was fun time to catch up, and get some family photos shot. Now we are back in Seattle for Christmas, and send our love to you and yours and our very best wishes for 2010. May God bless and keep you always and may Love fill your in your brightest and darkest moments.

Jeff, Colleen, Josh, Jon and Matt

2008 -- A year of transitions

2008-12-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the Bells! We hope and pray that you are healthy and well. We apologize for missing 2007, but will try to make it up with an overview of everything "Bell" for 2008 below. Feel free to comment and add stories about your own happenings. Easy to do, and we'd love to read it!

2008 started off wonderfully, with a family trip to Palm Springs. This was a first for us, and a request of Colleen's. We stayed at the Marriott Desert Palms Resort. The week was very relaxing, with sun and pool each day. We also drove to the Joshua Tree National Park, which is stunning in its size and beauty. The town of Palms Springs is very interesting. It is a fascinating hybrid of old Hollywood (we attended the Vaudville Show) and the new West (lots of development, and a strong hispanic influence). We enjoyed our time and may return again. Our only frustration was in not being able to hook up Rock Band in our hotel room, and having to suffer through the Oklahoma Sooners loss to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl!

Josh is enjoying his college experience at Notre Dame. This picture is from his freshman dorm room. He and Jeff went snowboarding at Crystal Mountain, which was a very pleasant surprise...far exceeding expectations (small issue with losing the car keys on the mountain, but otherwise super time). Josh's first year at Notre Dame was fantastic, and his sophomore year has been even better. Josh is playing soccer for the Stanford Hall team. He is a disc jockey at the Voice of the Fighting Irish on Sunday evenings. Josh has been tutoring and volunteering at the South Bend homeless shelter. And yes, he is enjoying his studies, with newly declared English and Economics majors. This past summer Josh worked at Vasa Park, and is thinking of studying abroad in the summer of 2009; perhpas Ireland or Spain or Italy. Joshua is planning on returning in the fall to live off campus with two friends. We had the good luck of seeing Notre Dame play against

the University of Washington in Seattle this fall. A great ND victory and lots of fun for all. We also hosted Aunt Carol, Uncle Gary, Andy and Amanda from Oklahoma for the Sooners game againt UW. Another great victory for the vistors, and a wonderful trip!

Jon is a sophomore at Seattle Prep. During his freshman year, he decided to join the Chess Team. He played on the junior varsity, and continued to improve through the year. This fall, he is on varsity, and is playing 3rd board, with a ranking of 1314! Jon just turned 16 this November, and has his driving permit, but the big news was a brand new 16GB 3G iPhone for his birthday! He is continuing to enjoy theatre at Youth Theatre Northwest. Jon will be performing in "Into the Woods" in Spring 2009. Jon has inherited his Dad's love of music, and this summer, both attended the Sasquatch Festival. Jon had the chance to meet with Rainn Wilson from The Office. Jeff and Jon also went to see Radiohead, which was nothing short of extraordinary!

Jeff, Jon and Matt were able to steal away for a wonderful weekend together in March. They flew to Salt Lake City Utah and skiied at Park City and Deer Valley. The weather was beautiful, as was the snow. There was a small problem when Jeff broke his toe on the bedpost the first day, but he wrapped it up tight and it seemed to heal ok in the end. The U.S. Ski Team was holding their finals at Park City, and the boys had a chance to see some of the finest athletes compete at the highest level. Lots of snow and fun!

Matt had a great 5th grade at Sacred Heart, and super Crossfire Soccer and Sammamish Lacrosse seasons. Matt's U11 Crossfire team won the State Champion's Cup in January, and he played midfield and forward on his Lacrosse Team. This summer, he had lots of camps -- space camp, crime investigation camp, lacrosse camp and cooking school. The big news this fall is that Matthew was accepted at the Lakeside School (Bill Gates' Alma Mater) and is loving it!

Colleen has had a busy and fun-filled 2008. As a surprise for her birthday, she was kidnapped by Jeff for a long weekend in Napa Valley. We won't mention the historic milestone, but this photograph captures the lovebirds at an outdoor cafe. An all-day wine tasting tour (with a car service) and an all-day spa were the highlights of the weekend. Ok, maybe dinner at the French Laundrette was the highlight. Colleen continues with weekly bible study and now is participating in two book clubs! She has also discovered the wonders and pleasures of fitness classes, having started with a group of friends from tennis. The other big news is the arrival of our first dog, Hugo, a Havanese, and the loss of a long time pet, Michi, our tabby cat. Here are photos of Hugomania!

You can catch up on Jeff on Facebook or Linkedin or on his blog http://www.jeff-bell.net/. After 2 1/2 years, he left Microsoft and is pursuing Venture Capital and Consulting --learning and enjoying business more than he has in years. He is looking forward to serving as Assistant Scout Master to Matthew's Boy Scout Troup.

The entire family had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Ohio. Here is a picture of all the "cousins" and their grandmother, Nancy Murphy. Top row is Ben Murphy, Samantha Murphy, Josh Bell, Jon Bell, Sheamus Dalton, Katie Dalton. Lower row is Ian Dalton, Matthew Bell, Jamison Murphy, Dylan Murphy being held by Nancy Murphy, and Aidan Dalton. Lots of football, and soccer, and food. It was long-overdue vacation with family. Katie Dalton has recently been accepted to the College of Wooster. Colleen and I lobbied for Kenyon, and her uncle Brian lobbied for Ohio Weslyan, but Wooster seems to be 1st choice.

As we write this, our beloved Seattle has been overcome with snow, ice and cold. We love the Northwest, and the snow makes it beautiful, but they certainly don't know how to handle this weather! No ploughs, no salt. But we'll let the photos tell the story...spendid isolation!

We send our love and prayers to you and yours this holiday season!

Jeff, Colleen, Josh, Jon and Matt Bell

Happy Holidays...2006!

2006-12-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

January: We started off 2006 with a wonderful family trip to Maui with Chrysler-Jeep dealers. We enjoyed all of the activities including scuba diving (that's Jon, Jeff and Josh left) and surfing (check out Colleen on the right)! We stayed at the Grand Waialea Hotel, which has an awesome pool and water slide. We ran into Brian "The Boz" Bosworth and his family (former Oklahoma Sooner All-American Linebacker). We caught the Haiwaii bug and will surely return.

February: Josh is holding baby Zachary Bell, our newest nephew and cousin. We enjoyed spending time with family in Ohio. Jeff turned 44, and Josh turned 17 and is intently looking at colleges after he graduates. Jeff met with Peter Moore from Microsoft during the Super Bowl festivities. The whole family attended the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, with the Steelers winning. This was a real highlight for Granddaddy, Rodney Miller, an alum of Miami of Ohio, where Ben Rothelsberger graduated.

March: We had a great time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as part of our last big Chrysler Dealer Trip! This photo is from a wonderful snowshoe trip we made through the valley. We also enjoyed snow boarding and skiing at the Four Seasons at Jackson Hole. The weather was spectacular.

Jeff got a new job as the Vice President of Product Strategy after turning down the chance to become the President of Chrysler Canada. A move to Toronto was not in the cards, especially given Jeff's active interviewing for positions in technology and healthcare.

May: A tough decision came when Jeff decided to leave DaimlerChrysler for Microsoft, to become the Corporate Vice President of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertianment Business (Xbox, Games for Windows, MSN Games, The Zone).

June: Jeff began the long commute to Redmond, Washington as the family stayed back in Auburn Hills for the summer. The real reason everyone stayed back was that we were trying to sell our house! One of the fun activities or quality time with Jon and Matt was a fantastic trip to Canada for Pike fishing. Check out some of these fish!

July: Jeff and Josh took a trip to the World Cup 2008 final in Germany. Our hearts were behind the Germans as hosts, and the French. In the end, the Italians prevailed (ugh). We did have a great time, and saw Keane perform in a private concert, hosted by Yahoo! We also took a wonderful bike tour of our host city, Berlin. It was a great trip befor making the move to Redmond, and Josh's new high school, Eastside Catholic.

August: Thanks to Microsoft's help, we were able to get out.
The made us whole after selling for 80 cents on the dollar! I think we were the only family to sell a house that fall. Another funny story...Josh's friends from Brother Rice "stole" our for sale sign from the front yard. Thankfully they returned it the next day. The family joined Jeff at the Villagio Apartments -- 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1500 square feet for 5 people and two cats!

The fall: Jon and Matt started school at Sacred Heart. Joshua began his senior year at Eastside Catholic High School. We started the house hunting trip, but were committed to being patient.

December: We had our first Charlie Brown Christmas tree in our little apartment in the Villagio, but we still had lots of fun and shared the joy of the season! Josh got his first Les Paul guitar, and continued to progress as a skilled guitarist.

What a Year...2005!

2005-12-11T03:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome friends and family to the Bell Family Christmas Blog. We wish you all love and happiness during this holiday season. In this blog you will find information about our "going's on" from 2005. Please feel free to leave comments and share your own stories and memories of the year past.

We also are sharing photos from big moments in our lives. Unlike our traditional photo of the Bell boys, we will present all types of photos for your enjoyment and amusement. The truth is, the annual photo shoot with the boys was a royal pain in the neck! It would take countless hours (at least it seemed like hours) to shoot hundreds of photos (at least it seemed like hundreds) and usually Dad would get frustrated. Actually, the boys seemed to look forward to irritating Dad and Mom during the annual event with their funny expressions...

Well, here goes 2005:

We technically started the year in Maui, finishing a great trip with Chrysler. This was the first time Jeff, Josh and Jon went scuba diving. We also went on a submarine trip near Lahaina, and visited the old tree in the town square were Jeff had been with his family in 1983. Jeff then flew to Miami, Florida to the BCS National Championship game between USC and the University of Oklahoma. He met with his brother Greg, Aunt Carol, Cousin Andy, Gary and Amanda. What a great party and terrible game! The Sooners were routed. The good news is, after two consecutive national championship title game loses, we don't have to go to another this year (after a 7-4 record)!

Then in February, unlike our normal snowboard/ski vacation, Colleen asked that we go somewhere warm. So we went on a cruise. Here's the boat (right). We had a absolutely fantastic time and stopped in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jaimaca. We loved sun-bathing, swimming, eating, going to shows, and getting off the boat. In Cozumel we enjoyed the beach and drove around the island in a Jeep Wrangler. In the Grand Cayman we did some snorkeling. It was in Jamaica that we walked up the 500 foot waterfall. What an adventure. While this photo shows up smiling (below), this was a funny trip because Colleen realized that the Bell boys oftentimes go the more treacherous route just for the fun of it (which of course adds stress to an already nervous mother).

We then went to South Dakota for an absolutely great family vacation. We flew to Billings, Montana and drove to the Little Big Horn. Ironically, it was the 129th anniversary of the battle, so everyone was dressed up for a re-creation! We toured the grounds and learned a great deal. We then drove to Wyoming and stayed overnight in Sundance. The following morning we visited the Devil's Tower, and the famous Deadwood, South Dakota. You can link to a photo of Devil's Tower at http://hex.oucs.ox.ac.uk/~rejs/holidays/rockies2002/devilstower.jpg

We spent the week in South Dakota visiting Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, the Badlands, and the Hot Springs. We road horses, and went on lots of hikes. True Americana!

Here we are at Mt. Rushmore (on the left) and here are the boys (or should we say "cowboys") dancing up a storm at the chuck wagon jamboree at the Custer State Park in South Dakota! We had a ball visiting a wildlife park, full of bears. This trip was reminiscent of thoe infamous family journeys of the 1970's where we would pack up and hit the road in the station wagon. It was a great trip because we spent so much time together.

So here is a great shot from Camp Jeep, which was held in August in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Joshua is doing a backflip on a bungee ride! This was a great year for Josh because he could drive the Jeeps! Yikes,that's right, he is 16 and driving! This was a great mixture of business and pleasure as the family enjoyed seeing Tony Hawk, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz and the Jeep King of the Mountain Bike Race finals all on this trip!.

At Thanksgiving we went to Oklahoma City to visit Mama June, Carol, Gary, Andy and Amanda (yes, we started the year off with this group watching the Sooners get run over by USC). But this trip we watched the young OU football team beat Oklahoma State 42-14! We had a great time visiting and eating entirely too much!

Little Matthew is not so little anymore. He is nine, and has discoverd American Football! He played flag football in the fall, and travel soccer. He has started lacrosse, and is debating baseball. Is it clear that the child has a penchant for athletics?!? He also is a very smart and kind-hearted child. He enjoys Cub Scouts, where Colleen is the Den Mother, and his Xbox games (generally...you guessed, sports).

Jonathon had a breakout year as an actor. He was the lead in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," playing Ichabod Crane. He then starred in the Birmingham Community Theatre production of Grease. Here he is with his proud grandparents (left). He was also in "101 Dalmations," and will star again in January in Homer's Odyssey. Jon was voted "the best stand up comic" by his acting troupe, and we think that says a great deal about his intelligence and charisma!

Joshua had a wonderful year. Great academics at Brother Rice High School, but the real treat came in his first varsity soccer season. The Warriors went all the way to the State Championship game, losing a heart-breaker 0-1 to a team (that shall remain nameless) that they had beaten twice during the season. Joshua loved the experience, and is looking forward to his senior year. He is going to the dances, and this great photo shows his friend, Katie Rinkevich, with whom he went to Homecoming. Yes, for those who might remember, the Rinkevich family lived in London when we were there, and Josh and Katie have known eachother since they were nine!

Colleen had a very active year, serving as the den leader of Matthew's Cub Scouts. She also continued to be the leader in Familia, a women's bible study and fellowship activity at the church. She also chaired, for a second year in a row, the St. Hugo's annual Bookfair, which raised over $20,000 for the school. This was the second full year of eBay activity. Colleen and Jeff have found a great deal of enjoyment in "the perpetual garage sale" that eBay affords. It is a tremendous business experience. Visit "vendolomejor" to shop our junk, I mean valuable treasures and antiquities.

Jeff has continued to serve as the Vice President of Chrysler & Jeep. This next year will be an exciting one for the Company as the Jeep brand realizes its goals of expanding. Look for great things next year following the launch of the all new Jeep Commander, the first seven-passenger, three-row Jeep 4x4. For a sneak preview of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot, you can visit http://www.jeep.com/jeep_life/news/jeep/patriot_compass.html

If you are interested in Jeff's other activities, you can google him "Jeff Bell Jeep" and "Jeff Bell Chrysler" both work very well. Therein, you can review his interest in gaming, branded entertainment and marketing.

We send our love to you, and hope that you are happy. Look for more posts on this site!

Jeff, Colleen, Joshua, Jonathon and Matthew Bell

Year's Past, in case you're interested...

2005-01-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

2004
Well the year began on somewhat of a downer…the family traveled to New Orleans (great time with Aunt Carol, Uncle Gary, cousin Andy and his wife Amanda) to see the Sugar Bowl where the Sooners lost the national title (not so great). Things stayed on an awkward course as Jeff broke his Tibia and Fibula in his first adult men’s soccer game on January 28^th. That injury meant Jeff and Colleen missed the Super Bowl, and the family missed the ski trip to Lake Tahoe in February.

But all things heal, and by summer Jeff was more or less mobile. He enjoyed his 20^th reunion at Kenyon College. Colleen and Jeff took fly fishing lessons in northern Michigan in July. Jeff was able to hook up with Kenyon friends Doug Heuck, Dave Guenther and Gerry Zyphers for some duck hunting in November in the Upper Peninsula. The make good from the spring was a great Thanksgiving ski/snowboard vacation in Telluride. Wonderful snow at the fantastic Wyndam Peaks Resort.

Matthew has just turned eight and is in second grade. He loves soccer, baseball, and has started karate. He is a Wolf Cub in Cub Scouts.

Jonathon had a strong baseball season in the spring, playing for St. Hugo’s and the Bloomfield league. He continued his football career in the fall. He has taken several acting classes, and will be performing in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar this winter.

Joshua is a sophomore at Brother Rice High School. He was named Captain of the junior varsity soccer team, scoring eight goals. He continues to excel academically, making the honor roll in each semester. He is serving his second year on the Student Senate.

Colleen has taken on more responsibilities at the parish and school of St. Hugo of the Hills. She led a very successful Book Fair. She leads a bible study. She is the Cub Scout Den mother. If you want, you can Google Jeff. He gets lots of quotes as the head of Chrysler and Jeep. Some are pretty funny!

We pray that this holiday season finds you well and happy.

2003
We continue to live very busy lives. The year began with a great trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl game to celebrate Mama June’s 90^th birthday. The trip with Carol, Gary, Andy and Amanda was fantastic. It was only topped by our trip to Oklahoma City in the summer to see everyone again.

The dream of a lifetime nearly came true when the Oakland Raiders went to the Super Bowl and Jeff and Colleen were able to attend. Of course the “nearly” part has to do with the Raiders being humiliated by the Buccaneers.

The whole family enjoyed a wonderful ski/snowboard vacation in Aspen during the Jeep King of the Mountain finals. Jeff and Josh went for snowboarding lessons, while Colleen, Jon and Matt honed their skiing skills.

Our little Matthew has just turned seven! He is playing anything that has a “ball.” He loves soccer, basketball, baseball…but is also swimming. He has joined Cub Scouts, and is reading with a firm determination.

Jonathon started his football career in the fall. He started at cornerback and wide receiver. He is looking forward to baseball, including a winter pitching and batting camp. He recently had his first concert playing the baritone.

Joshua is a freshman at Brother Rice High School. He was named Captain of the freshman soccer team. He continues to excel academically, making the honor roll in the fall.

Colleen has taken up pilates. She has also taken on more responsibilities at the parish and school of St. Hugo of the Hills. Next year, she will run the infamous Book Fair. Jeff has been named Vice Chair of the National MS Society of Michigan, and will be leading both Chrysler and Jeep Divisions in 2004.

May this Holiday Greeting find you well. We pray for your health and wealth, and wish glad tidings to all.

2002
2002 has been one of the most fun, and still most challenging years yet! There were lots of travels and experiences for the Bell family…a trip to the Super Bowl, the Olympics, Red Wings Stanley Cup finals, Camp Jeep with the Blues Brothers, and the Jeep World Outside Festival with Sheryl Crow. There was a wonderful week’s vacation in Canada with Colleen’s mom, Nancy.

There was also the loss of Jeff’s grandmother, Betty Bell, and the passing of his great aunt, Frances Mayall. We pray for them, and celebrate the lives that they shared with us.

The boys just keep on growing. Wow! Where did the time fly? Josh continues to play travel soccer. He also played baseball in the spring and summer. Can you believe that he will be entering high school in the fall. The great news is that all the choices are good ones, and his grades will take him wherever he desires. Josh really loves playing his Telecaster guitar. He plays punk and rock music (really quietly, yeah right). He went to his first concert -- Green Day – last summer.

Jonathon is playing soccer and baseball. He has joined the school band and is playing the baritone. He enjoys Indian Guides with his dad, and loves the campouts and pine car derby. Jon has really excelled at swimming, and is playing tennis weekly.

Matthew has entered Kindergarten and is really enjoying himself. He started 3-on-3 soccer in the spring, and scored his first goal! He is taking swimming and tennis lessons.

Colleen and Jeff have become more involved in the social life of Detroit. The Detroit Symphony, charitable events supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Swan Lake performed by the Bolshoi Ballet, and the Christmas Spectacular by the Rockettes were all cultural highlights for the family.

We hope that this note finds you well. We would love to hear from you, and our door is always open!

2001
2001 was obviously a memorable year. Away from the fall’s tragedy and subsequent global impact, we found our lives continuing to change. We returned to USA. We are glad to be home. We have seen it from afar. Whilst it is not perfect, it is our home, and one of which we are tremendously proud.

We have moved into a new house, and have spent the full year settling in. Colleen is our leader. She runs our world. All three boys are in school with lots of activities. As with all new homes, there are lots of home improvements. We have walls to paint and tile, basements to finish, landscaping to improve. With all this come furniture purchases, contractor negotiations. Of course, nothing ever goes wrong (laugh track begins)…

Josh and Jon are very happy at St. Hugo. Matt attends Echo Park. Next year he will switch to St. Hugo for kindergarten. Jon and Josh both play travel soccer, baseball, and take Spanish lessons. Josh has added electric guitar to his piano lessons. Jon and Matt are active swimmers. All vacations were spent with family. It was also the year of weddings (at our age, we thought we were done). Colleen’s brother Brian, Jeff’s cousin Wendy and cousin Andy were married between March and June.

Big news in the Spring: Jeff left Ford and moved to Chrysler. He is working on advertising and marketing for Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler brands. The job means that Jeff has to stay in touch with popular culture, so there are lots of concerts, lots of sports events and lots of socializing. It is a tough life!

We send our love to you this holiday season. Our hearts and front door are open to you always. Let the 9-11 tragedy move us to reaffirm family ties and renew friendships lost.

1999
We are settling in to our new home very well, albeit, with some stresses and strains. One reason we have really liked it so far is that we have travelled so much as a family. We have vacationed in the Lake District (Northwest England), South Wales, and Scotland. We have visited Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Bath. We have been to Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Tower Bridge…anyway, you get the picture. In fact, as more guests visit, the more we get to see of the same attractions, and that doesn't bother us (actually, we start re-directing people towards lesser known places which we have not visited yet, but don't tell anybody).

The stresses and strains occur when we stop the "tourism." Yes, making a transition to England is easier because of the common language and similar culture, but it is still tougher than a domestic move. We have found the local townspeople very friendly (actually, we oftentimes try to refrain from speaking, because we are greeted by a wary and/or suspicious glance). It is harder to find the "conveniences" of home (or better said, the goods and merchandise we have come to rely upon in the States). We haven't bothered with all the hysteria over Mad Cow Disease (we simply haven't had any beef in the last seven months, except for some USDA import that turned out to be spoiled…during a visit, Dr. Bob Sperry commented that it smelled like a morgue). The washing machines and dryers are about 25% of the size of the US versions, which make laundry a 24 hour job. We also got off to a rough start…we lived in an apartment for three months before finally finding a house to rent. We also had our computer "lost" during the move. That is why communicating by e-mail has been very hard, and why these cards are a little late.

But enough complaining! All in all, with a good baby-sitter, and a nanny in training, we are finding ways to accentuate the positive. The theatre, restaurants and concerts of London are enthralling and accessible. In 1998 the Continent awaits us (France, Spain, Belgium), and a trip to the motherland – Ireland! In fact, we vacationed in Vaujany, France the second week of January…a wonderful ski trip to the French Alps. Colleen, Josh and Jon all took lessons, and Jeff worked on regaining some form (even with a knee brace).

Matthew is healthy and thriving. He is our biggest baby yet at 23 lbs. on his first birthday. He is a red head, and very wilful. He watches what his brothers do, and he wants to do it too, and no one is going to tell him otherwise! When he starts charging, we call him our "firebrand." He started walking at 11 months, and is more and more steady each week.

Jonathon just received a glowing report card from school. He has been attending full-day since September, and he was commended by the Head Mistress, "Well done, Jonathon!" Jon is reading and writing, and learning basic arithmetic. He loves his swimming class each week, and enjoys playing football with Josh.

Joshua is doing very well. He has quickly acclimated into the British system, which starts one year earlier than in the States. He worked hard to catch up on all the fundamentals, and is doing very well in math and science. He rushes sometimes (I wonder where he gets that!), but otherwise, appears to be very popular with the boys and the girls. Josh has joined a football club, and is playing rugby at school. Dad is trying to keep his baseball and American football skills up with some practice.

Birthday parties are a very big thing in England. The general protocol is to invite all the children from the school class to an event which features a meal, entertainment (clown, disco, puppets), and prizes. Given that Josh and Jon are in school, we have one or two parties each month to attend. Jonathon's birthday party was a big success at "Bumpy's Magic Kingdom" – a big indoor playground with climbing equipment, a puppeteer and lots of food.

Jeff is progressing…he started a new position as Director of Central Europe September 1^st. He enjoyed his brief stint as Manager of European Fleet, Rental and Leasing. He was able to secure significant volume and profit increases with some major accounts which helped Ford of Europe turnaround in 1997. In his new job, he travels about 8 to 10 days each month to Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Athens (with a few trips to Germany in between). He seems to be enjoying the challenges, and Ford of Europe appears to be on the way back.

As in every move, and we've had a few, the easiest transition is for Jeff (all hotels are the same on the road), and the boys (school is school everywhere), but what about Colleen? Well, she is getting plenty of support from other ex-pat Ford women, and she is slowly, but surely meeting other "mums" from St. John's School. She has an active social calendar with "Ladies Night Out" dinners, and as the nanny comes on board, will be able to enjoy more recreation and leisure (that means shopping) without the struggle of three little men in tow.

We look forward to a 1998 with more travel and entertaining. We hope that this card finds you and yours well. It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us here…we will not return to the States until late summer. Please plan ahead, because, like nomads, we are on the move! And don't worry if you wish to see all the traditional London sights, it doesn't bother us at all (yeah, right)! With love and thanksgiving, Jeff, Colleen, Josh, Jon and Matt

1998

1998 was a continuation of our European adventure. We have continued to explore the wonders of English history and its beautiful landscape. We also spent even more time in London. As Josh studied Tudor period in school, we visited Hampton Court Palace (Henry VIII) and Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn). We also made it to Battle, the cite of the Battle of Hastings (where William the Conqueror of Normandy, France defeated King Harold of Brittany to begin the present monarchy).

In March, we welcomed Phyllis and Rodney. We traveled to York and learned about the Viking invasions, and saw the lovely Moors and Dales. Also in March, we met our long-lost friend, Brian Deobald. The best friendships are the ones which pick up where they left off, and leave you wondering, "why didn't we stay in touch more often?!?" We had the great pleasure of seeing the Pickrel family in March for a day in Essex and a night on the town. Dan, Julie, Lauren and Kaitlyn returned the favor when we were home leave in late summer. We ended the Spring with our first trip to Disneyland Paris for Jon's fifth birthday...it was a really special trip (even in French).

In April, we were in search of warm weather, and decided to visit the Canary Islands; specifically, Tenerife. We went with a British package tour, and found the accommodations a challenge. The time outside the room, however, at Mount Teide (a dormant volcano), and the water park, more than saved the trip. Later that month, we went to SegaWorld for Joshua's 9th birthday.

In an evolution of corporate life, the entire Bell family went on a business trip to Warsaw in June, and then to Budapest in October. During our trip to Poland, we drove to Krakow and visited the famous salt mines and the Krakow castle. Central Europe is an amazing place. It is flourishing in its new found freedom, but it is also struggling int he chaotic world of global financial markets. Jeff has traveled extensively throughout Europe, learning and teaching. The results appear promising for both Ford and Jeff.

We've never been to Broadway, but certainly know the West End well! This year, we have seen Chicago with the Pickrels, Whistle Down the Wind with Colleen's Mom, Nancy Murphy, Miss Saigon with Jeff's folks, Phyllis and Rodney Miller. Jeff and Colleen even went out on a date to see Phantom of the Opera.

On the romantic side, Colleen and Jeff traveled to Paris in May. We visited the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, and toured the city along the River Seine. The weather was wonderful. It is such a beautiful city, with the Eiffel counting down the days until the millennium on a giant billboard. Speaking of the millennium, where will you be? We are pretty certain we can get you tickets to the $150 million Millennium Dome in London!

Joshua received an award as outstanding student (mind, body and spirit) at the end of the last school year. He continues to enjoy soccer, tennis, but still longs for street hockey and American football. Jon also received an award for best behavior last year. At 6, he has earned his red belt, an dis working towards his yellow belt in karate. He enjoys drawing, singing and dancing. Matthew just turned 2, and is beginning to speak his first sentences. He loves Barney and attend music and art classes each week. Colleen ventures forth into the greater London area every Tuesday and Friday with friends to enjoy the culture and high life of the city. This has been made possible by Emma, our nanny...she is a true blessing.

We really enjoyed our first home leave in July and August, after 18 months in England. Of course, we chose the perfect time to visit Jeff's grandmothers, Mama June and Betty; his aunts Francis, Carol and Pam; his uncle Gary, and cousin Andy. It was only over 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day! While we missed Jeff's cousin Wendy (who had left for Alaska), we did have the great joy of meeting cousin Amy's wondrous little baby boy, Cody Lee. The beggest question for Joshua was trying to figure out how he was related to Cody. I think we settled on third cousin (second place went to "second cousin, once removed"). We also enjoyed our time in Dayton -- water skiing, seeing TO, Sally, Addison and Quinn Wagner, and going to see Uncle Greg Bell coach the Centerville Elk's football team (which went to the Stat Playoffs with a 10-1 record, but lost in the first round).

Returning to England with Nancy Murphy, we made the marvelous journey to the Republic of Ireland. We flew to Dublin and enjoyed one of the most dynamic and exciting cities in the world today. We then drove by Power Court waterfall, along the Irish Sea, down to Wexford, where Nancy's family is from. It was beautiful port town. Then we traveled on to Waterford, staying in a nearby bed & breakfast. The tour at Waterford Crystal was a highlight, with Josh getting a chance to blow some glass. We moved further west, stopping to kiss the Blarney stone at Blarney Caste, and resting at another B&B (the only way to go to really meet people). We then drove the ring of Kerry on a beautiful day, and headed back to Dublin via Cork County. We did come across a few Murphys, but only a few.

In November, we moved across town. Our new address and phone number is:

166 Norsey Road

Billericay, Essex CM111BU

011441277659961 (Home)

We hope that this note finds you and yours healthy and blessed. While we know not where the next few years will take us, you can rest assured we go with adventurous hearts, open minds, and able bodies. We will, remain, you faithful friends,

Jeff, Colleen ,Joshua, Jonathon and Matthew Bell

P.S. If our card came to you last year "postage due," we are sorry. I guess that is part of learning how to live overseas....adjusting for oversize cards.