It's almost 6 pm on Christmas eve. It snowed 4 or 5 inches today. It looks like we are going to have a very white Christmas.

We are hoping that it won't snow tonight. We are expecting family over for Christmas day. We want them to be safe as they drive to our home. I spent 3 hours today shoveling snow off the driveway. It was 2 feet deep in some places on our driveway.

Merry Christmas to your Family from Ours – 2008:

This year has been a year full of challenges, and joyous moments. We continue to thank God for seeing us through all of it.

One of the greatest joys we have had is our grandchildren, Caden, 21 months, and Isabel, 12 months. We can honestly say that taking care of grandkids is a whole lot more fun than raising your own children. We think it’s because we can relax, enjoy them, and explore the world with them without lack of sleep, worries about housework, job, etc. Caden and Isabel play pretty well together but for some reason they always seem to like to play with the same toy!

Here they are in the crib together, jumping around and laughing.

Isabel is just beginning to walk and loves to travel around the house with her walker.

Caden’s mode of travel is his truck or car, feet-powered.

Our sons and daughters-in-laws are doing well and we continue to thank God for them. We see them much more often because of the grandkids and we have decided that one of the greatest joys in life is seeing how our children grow up and become parents to their own children. It is amazingly wonderful to see our sons father with such love, fun and understanding. Needless to say, Quan and Siska are fantastic mothers and wives, and we feel blessed to have them in our family. On January 9th, David and Quan will be expecting their second son. We are very excited about a third grandchild. This year we also had the pleasure and joy of seeing Ryan graduate with his juris doctorate from the U of W Law school and also passing his bar exam in October. Siska is working hard at ATT as a computer expert, and Quan continues to be employed at Boeings as an engineer. David now works for Liberty Mutual which bought out SAFECO, David’s former employer.

We are still attending Lighthouse Christian Church and love it. Al is busy with choir, sound team, church truck driver, and couples’ small group. Ev is still teaching in Children’s Ministry, singing in choir, and helping in the couple’s small group ministry with Al. We have really been challenged to grow spiritually in our marriage through our couples’ small group. This summer we also went to Japan as missionaries in Nokendai. It was challenging with the heat, humidity, language, and lots of walking and backpacking. We were encouraged as we saw God work despite our differences in language and culture. Another challenge this year was we decided to take up ballroom dancing. We took only four lessons and had fun doing it. Al is still teaching IB Chemistry at Skyline and loves it. Ev will be officially retiring from teaching this January and become a fulltime grandmother which she loves also.

The following are some family pictures taken this year. We hope you enjoy them.

Caden’s first birthday party was loads of fun.

Isabel and her first cherry blossoms

Ryan’s graduation in June

The Ko men and their offsprings at David and Quan’s home this summer

We were in Hawaii in July with David, Quan and Caden.



Grandpa and Grandma with Isabel at her first pumpkin patch

Caden picking his pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.

Caden and Isabel with pumpkins designed by their dads

Grandma, Isabel and Caden in their Halloween costumes

2 Snow Whites and 1 knight

Isabel as spam sushi - especially designed by Daddy

She was delectable for Halloween.

Caden as “Sir Caden, the Lionhearted” with his goldfish crackers

Ryan finds out that he passed the Washington State Bar exam.

Isabel at her first visit to the Seattle Aquarium

Isabel with her first pigtails

Caden being goofy with Great-grandma’s screen door.

Caden spends the night at Grandma's and Grandpa's house.
Grandpa and Caden have a corn eating contest!

It is great fun babysitting them both.
However, Caden does not look so sure about that.


As this year ends, our hope for all of you is that this new year will be full of peace and joy.

Have a Joyous Christmas.
Al and Ev

“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10-11