Too lazy to send out a christmas card

Merry Christmas from the Newman Family, 2008 (Episode V)

Previously on our last episode (2007), Melissa has found that Ethan may have supernatural powers, only to discover that “The Newman’s Christmas Special” has been cancelled due to the writer’s strike.

Oh what a difference a year makes, but not really. Actually, there is exciting news, but I’m going to save it for the end of the letter! Ha!

Last year I told you about how my loving devotion to my wife and son drove me to working full-time as a traveling umbrella salesman. I had the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. and Canada. This year, I’ve continued to travel like crazy, visiting such beautiful places as New York, Boston, and Laramie, Wyoming. But this year I also had a chance to go to Norway! It was great fun, except I was there probably during one of the coldest and darkest months of the year, November. Still, it was a fun experience.

Melissa has continued to teach karate lessons part time. Those kids “sweep the leg” better than anybody I’ve seen! Oh wait, I think I’m confusing my story lines. Melissa is continuing to tutor kids from home, and she still travels to Salt Lake a few days a week for more tutoring. Melissa will tell you that teaching children in any format is a difficult task, but I think we all know that she’s meant to work with children. Melissa has a unique talent that not all of us share.

Ethan…what can we say about this little guy. We continue to see him find any object in the house and turn it into some sort of toy, whether it be picture frames, blocks, kitchen utensils, snow shovels…everything is fare game. Most of our time (okay Melissa’s) is spent cleaning up after the little monster. Yet, neither of us can stay mad for long. Every day Ethan surprises us with some new saying or a new face. He truly is the joy of our life!

Last but not least, we are proud to expecting parents once again! We don’t know if it’s a boy or girl, but Melissa is having a lot of the fun sickness issues that she did not have with Ethan, so she wonders if it might be a girl. Either way, we look forward to this newest addition to our family which we expect to arrive some time during the first week of July. A July 4th baby? Maybe!

This concludes this episode the Newman Family Christmas letter. We hope that this letter finds you happy and joyous and not drinking too much adult Eggnog! We love you and think of you often. Some of you are closer and some of you are not as close, but we love and appreciate everything each of you do! Merry Christmas

Love,

Ethan, Scott, and Melissa

Trip to Norway

First of all, I didn't get any pictures of Norway...lame! I had a good excuse...sort of. It was dark when I was there? ok, maybe not. It really was dark though, the sun came up around 8:30 a.m. and it started getting dark around 3:30 p.m. So, when I was not teaching the class, I was hanging out in the dark. I did get a chance to wander a little, but the town I stayed in, Porsgrunn, was actually pretty small. Oh well, at least I got to see snow, and that's exciting because we don't get snow in Utah...oh wait.

This is the hotel I stayed in, called "Hotel Vic".

I did get to relive some exciting "mission moments". I had a layover in Paris, so I was able to get some good french food, (airport style), and I even spoke some french. They were so amazed because I was an American speaking french. Apparently this does not happen at the Paris airport. Of course, some things never change, like the security officer's complete bafflement that my ticket stub tore off of my ticket. She basically felt that I would probably not be able to get on the plane because the stub part tore from the ticket...mmmmkay.

I also enjoyed the pleasures of taking the train from Oslo to Porsgrunn. 3 hours! At least this time I had an ipod to listen to. Again, I would have really appreciated it being light outside during this experience, but oh well.

All in all, the trip was a lot of fun, but quite exhausting. I think next time I'll have to take Melissa with me so she can see Europe.

Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II opening

Happy Thanksgiving

You may not realize this, but I'm not home right now. That's right. I'm in Halifax, part of my world tour to nowhere.

So, I just received word that they don't celebrate the Thanksgiving this week up here, so while all y'all get to sit around the table and give thanks and what not, I get to work! While you are shopping at Wal-Mart at 4:30 a.m. for 5 dollars off your favorite pair of Wranglers, I'll be working.

Today you may have been gathered around the dinner table discussing your favorite things to be thankful for. This is a ritual that I find a little less than inspiring usually, but this time around I'm a little more sentimental. Probably because I'm missing out this year. Probably.


At the very top of my "thankful for" list is right here. My beautiful family. In fact, my family looks pretty hot when I'm not in the picture. Being gone makes me realize how much I love and miss them. Especially Melissa. I always joke about how we met on the internets, but the reality is that there could not be a more important person to me. You are my best friend Melissa, and I'm truly thankful for you!

I'm also very thankful for everybody in my family. Ethan has so many wonderful cousins and such great Grandparents. It's good to know that you have somebody there when you need them!

Finally, I'm very thankful for the world I live in. I've been in so many places during this little experience of mine the last year or so. Despite the the strain it has been on me, I have truly enjoyed the opportunity I've had to see the world!

San Francisco!

I love San Francisco. During my trip to Sunnyvale last week I had a chance to hang out and watch the surfers under the Golden Gate bridge.

3 little monkeys

Starting over

So I've decided to give this blogging thing a try again.  Mostly because I'd like to spend my time doing something in my hotel besides watching reruns of "Family Guy" or ESPN Classic.

Since I'm on the road alot, I'm hoping I can keep everybody updated on stuff.  I'll still be posting pics in the usual places, but I'll be posting stuff here now as well, because you'll be able to take your laziness to the next level and just subscribe to me.  You know you want to.

-Scott-