2008 was a year of change, in the world as well as in the Boyle
household. We're hoping that 2009 will bring more change for the
better. Here's wishing you a wonderful holiday season!  

Alan is handling the space and science beat at MSNBC.com, and he'll soon hit the seven-year mark as the blogger behind Cosmic Log. Selections from the blog won one of the National Academies Communication Awards, which ranks among the most prestigious honors for science writers. His coverage of America's engineering challenges also won an award from IEEE-USA.

Bijou, our 5-year-old Tibetan spaniel, suffered a raccoon attack this summer but survived (after multiple surgeries) and is back to her catlike self for Christmas.

Tonia is still coping with the bad leg break she suffered back in November 2007 (while carrying some freshly canned applesauce down the stairs to the basement). She's been through rounds of physical therapy and even bone electrostimulation, but it looks as if she'll have to go back for another round of surgery in January 2009. Despite the injury, she supervised a big remodeling project this year, including the installation of new windows in the front, a new sliding door and deck in the back, and a stylish new sidewalk around the side. She's also active in the local garden club and did her usual round of canning - including a fresh batch of applesauce, just to show that you can't keep a good woman down.

Natalie will be graduating in 2009 from Western Washington University and is making plans to continue her studies in biology at Washington State University. Over the summer, she spent six grueling weeks out in the desert of eastern Oregon, participating in a field study of the region's lizards and their diet of ants. If you're looking for someone to sort through lizard poop to look for ant heads, Natalie's definitely the one to call. By the way, Natalie turned 21 this year, which means she can now legally lift a champagne toast to the holidays.

Evan, 18, is having a busy year, winding up his time at Bellevue High School and getting in his applications for college. Over the summer, he sampled campus life while attending the Summer Institute for Mathematics at the University of Washington. Then, in August, we took him down to California for a college tour. The itinerary included visits to UC-Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech and Harvey Mudd College. We also spent a day at the Universal Studios theme park and an evening in Hollywood to see the musical "Wicked." This year, Evan is working hard as the president of BHS' math club - and he also served as a pollworker on Election Day.

Rosie, our Cavalier King Charles spaniel, turned 1 year old this year and is as mischievous and puppyish as ever. Evan calls her "Pandora," as in Pandora's Box.