Greetings,

What a wonderful year in Austin Texas!

I have divided the 2005 Owan Family Review into sections for your reading pleasure. I certainly don't expect everyone to read this in its entirety. Feel free to skip around from section to section, or, if you aren't interested, skip the whole thing! This is our way to write something that would give those family and friends that we don't communicate with as much as we probably should a decent overview of what has been going on in our lives in Austin over the past year. Also, please visit our Pictures pages. We have online albums from our trips and happenings here in Austin.

Well...we have to start off the year in review with the more recent events. As many of you already know, the University of Texas Longhorns are playing USC in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship! Victoria and I, along with many other friends are headed to Pasadena to see the game. We will be seated 41 rows up in the End Zone even with the top of Tunnel 12. So maybe you will be able to spot us on TV! Hopefully, Texas will come back with the National Championship.

We continue to have season football tickets with a group of 25 friends. We have a full blown all day tailgate before each game. I am still using the 1976 Dodge Van that my parents bought back when we lived in Seattle for the tailgate parties. Our tailgate area has become Micro Brew row! We were sponsored again this past year by Sierra Nevada Brewing. If you have never been to one of our tailgates, between us and our neighbors, you have your choice of Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Live Oak beer, and Indepence Brewing! The best part is that the beer is free!

Jordan had his 10th Birthday this past November 17th. He is now in the fourth grade at Lee Elementary. He is active in soccer, basketball, Cub Scouts and chess club. He is still going to Hancock Recreation Center for after school care where after getting his homework done, he gets to play with his friends. He also participated in two sessions of the the Austin Junior Golf Academy this past summer. Jordan has really turned his interests this year to sports. He has really started to work hard at improving his soccer skills. Jordan led his team in scoring this past Fall and help lead his team to victory in the league Championship tournament by scoring 6 out of the teams 7 goals in the final three games of the tournament. This past summer, Jordan got to go Basketball Camp at Concordia University. Jordan participated in the City wide Science Fair this past Spring. He was also chosen by his school to go to the Invent Austin finals with his invention of "sidewalk spray chalk" for graffiti that can be easily washed away. Jordan also go to go with the Cub Scouts to Space Camp at NASA in Houston this past year.

Victoria continues to work as a Property Manager. Victoria was also the coach of Jordan's soccer team this past year. This was her third year and sixth season of coaching Jordan's soccer team. Victoria has been named to the advisory board for Hancock Recreation Center. Hancock is a City run recreation center that is located near our home and provides after school camp, summer camp, and recreational activities for kids. Victoria also was the captain of "Team 3am Burrito" which participated in the MS Walk this past Fall. Her team raised about $4000 to help fight MS.

I continue to work for the City of Austin as a programmer analyst for the Financial Systems department. I still volunteer as a Den Leader for Jordan's Cub Scout Den. I also continue my job as assistant soccer coach to Head Coach Victoria for Jordan's soccer team. I have set some ambitious goals for 2006. I am currently training for the Freescale Marathon, which will take place in Austin in February. I am also registered and am planning to ride in the MS150 Bike Event. This is a two day 180 mile bike ride from Houston to Austin. The event helps raise money for the National MS Society. Hopefully I will complete both events!

We took several trips in the past year. Last year at right before Christmas, Victoria took a trip to Las Vegas. We came back with as much cash as we left with, so, it was a good trip! We had some great food and just got a chance to relax for a few days.

In March, we went to Gil and Laurie's wedding in New Orleans. It was a classic New Orleans wedding. The ceremony was in the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. We ate great food and had plenty of fun in the French Quarter. Of course, the area was devastated 6 months later by Hurricane Katrina.

This past July, we took a trip back up to Seattle. We stayed with Ed and Sun-Mi in their new home. We also got a chance to visit with my Cousin Susie, her husband Bob, and their son Cooper. The weather was beautiful while we were there. We hit all the standard tourist stuff and also visited the Red Hook Brewery and several wineries.

In September, we made a weekend trip to Columbus, Ohio to see the University of Texas play Ohio State at the Horseshoe in from of 105,000 people. Texas came from behind to win the game. Before heading back, we got a chance to stop for a short visit with the Krug Cousins.

In October, we headed to Chicago and Milwaukee. We made to trip to attend my Cousin Alan's wedding to his beautiful bride, Cory. We decided to spend one night in Chicago, where we got a chance to have a Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Uno. We also visited the Field Museum on this trip. We then headed up to Milwaukee where we had a great time visiting with family and the rehearsal dinner and also again at the wedding and reception.

What does the future hold? Well, we know we are headed to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl the first week of January!

We can never stop doing things with the house. This year, we have started a very ambitious project. We are currently working with our architect to design a new three car garage with a game/party room/apartment and office above. We are planning on removing the existing one and half car detached garage and replacing it with the new structure. We almost have the plans complete, and hope to start construction some time this coming Spring. Of course, I plan on doing a lot of the work myself along with help from friends, so, it could take quite a while to complete!

2005 has been an outstanding year. We continue to be grateful for everything we have and focus on all of the positive things in our lives. We are fortunate to have such great family and friends surrounding us. We want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season and a very Merry Christmas.

Hook 'em Horns!

Chris, Victoria, and Jordan

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