Birthdays

Happy Holidays! From Zylan, Ronan, and Conan

Greetings, Friends and Family Members!

It’s been a while since I’ve tried to write an end-of-the-year holiday letter. When I first started to write this letter, it didn’t seem like much had happened. However, once I started to reflect on the year, I realized that Zylan, Ronan, and I have done a lot. In addition, this year I’m going to experiment a bit with our holiday letter and utilize some of my publishing savvy to make this recap a little more engaging. Hope you all enjoy it!

Zylan August 20th

Ronan October 5th Ronan turned 11 this year. He is in the 5th grade at

Irving Pertzsch.

Conan November 22nd Conan turned 29 this year for the 7th year in a row. It’s a medical miracle.

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2

Thank you! A former ELC student, Elisendra Xifra Reverter, shot the black & white photos of the boys and me. I am grateful that she volunteered her time and lent her talents to this favor for me!

Zylan turned 13 this year. He is in the 8th grade at

Onalaska MS.

KMIECIK HOLIDAY LETTER WINTER 2012

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Zylan This year, of the three of us, Zylan has noticeably changed the most. He turned 13 in August and is now as tall as me! The other day he needed some clean pants, so I loaned him a pair of my skinny jeans, and they fit him! When he answers my phone, people think they’re talking to me at first because his voice is so deep! It’s hard for me to believe that my son is a teenager, but he’s in 8th grade and has his own cell phone and Facebook account.

Even though Zylan is growing up, I couldn’t be prouder of him. This past semester, with the exception of one B, he almost had straight A’s. He plays the violin, studies Spanish, and reads avidly. Instead of football, this year he went out for basketball. Moreover, he’s still a respectful and helpful person. When he spends the weekend at my place, he takes a turn at doing the dishes. I feel fortunate that he’s developing into such a nice young man!

If I had to complain about anything regarding Zylan, it would be that 90% of the time he’d rather being fishing. When he’s not actually fishing, he’s either reading about fishing or thinking about fishing. During the car rides back to Winona, when I pick him and his brother up for the weekend, I get to hear all about his fishing stories!

Still, even though I have little interest in fishing, I am proud that Zylan is so passionate about the endeavor and quite good at it. There are worst things in life than a son who would rather be outside in the fresh air, casting a fishing pole with nothing but his thoughts keeping him company.

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Ronan Ronan has always been more difficult for me to gauge in comparison to his outgoing and assertive older brother. He’s quieter and more tentative in unfamiliar situations. However, during the past year, I have learned a lot about the risks that he will take and the lengths that he will go to in order to get something what he wants. Earlier in the summer, the boys and I took a trip to Devil’s Lake near Baraboo, WI. There, Ronan decided that he enjoyed jumping off the cliff into the water. He did this multiple times to my surprise because usually he’s nervous about heights and water. Then, in the early fall, I tricked Ronan and Zylan into hiking up the Sugar Loaf in Winona where I was going to make them rock climb. Even though I had to coax Ronan through his first attempt, he made it up, and after taking a short rest, he decided that he wanted to do it again! However, the biggest risk that Ronan probably took all year was agreeing to participate in Grandparents University with his Grandma Minh; the two of them enrolled in a class, which was taught by me! He grumbled at first but was a good sport during the experience. He even tried Tai Chi! Still, the thing that I remember the most about Ronan, this past year, exemplifies his quiet determination and patience. He really enjoys the game Minecraft and was saving money all year to buy a laptop so he could play it. When it was close to his birthday, I asked him how much money he saved. He told me that he had a little over $200. I was impressed that he saved that much. So, I talked with Grandma Minh and Grandpa Neil, and the three of us agreed to help him buy a laptop. Ronan isn’t usually outspoken about his interests, and sometimes I don’t notice that he is patiently waiting for his turn or building up the courage to try something new. I appreciate that my relationship with him requires me to be more observant of his needs and interests.

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Conan

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Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; and Ames, IA in order to attend and present at conferences. Moreover, if it weren’t for my job, I wouldn’t have discovered a new interest of mine: rock climbing. This summer we took the ELC students climbing. I was afraid that the students wouldn’t want to try it, so I volunteered to climb first. I was surprised how nervous I was climbing, but I really enjoyed the experience. I just got back from a rock-climbing trip to Jasper, AR! Next year I hope to find more time to climb with the boys.

Overall, I feel very fortunate to have two wonderful boys, a supportive family, and job that I look forward to going to each day!

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Aside from spending time with my boys, my family, and my friends, I am thankful that I have a job that challenges me, provides me with wonderful opportunities, and enriches my life. This was my second fulltime year as the ELC program coordinator, and our program had one of the busiest and craziest years so far (60 students in the spring, 40 in the summer, and 40 in the fall!). Still, I feel fortunate that I get to manage the program, teach classes, and interact with international students.

Because of my job, I am frequently able to travel for professional development opportunities. This past year I visited

Everyone, We hope that this year was memorable for all of you,

that you all are safe in the company of your loved ones

during the holiday season, and that good fortune awaits

you all next year!

Conan, Zylan, and Ronan

KMIECIK HOLIDAY LETTER WINTER 2012

Best wishes,