This document summarizes the events of 2008 for Jeff, Ruth, and their daughter Araminta who lives in South Africa. It describes how Araminta learned to walk, talk, eat solids and went on her first camping trip in 2008. It also mentions Ruth taking a business trip while Jeff took trips to Chicago and Canada for work. Ruth was in a car accident but was uninjured. They celebrated Araminta's first birthday and spent time visiting local flora and fauna where Jeff spotted several new bird species.

1. Merry Christmas
2008

2. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
This time last year,
Christmas 2007,
Araminta was 11 weeks
old.
A lot has changed since
then....

3. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Araminta is now walking
(running too!); talking
(dad, cat, zebra – but
not mummy to Ruth's
annoyance!); eating
solids (feeding
herself with her
hands); and learning
all about the world.

4. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In April, Araminta
went on her first
camping trip – to
the Karoo National
Park.

5. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In December we
travelled to
Ceres for a
break – and to
pick some
Cherries.
We discovered
that Araminta
LOVES

6. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Of course, 2008 saw the celebration
of Araminta's first birthday.

7. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
October saw Ruth fly to San
Francisco on a business trip
with her new job with
Synthasite.

8. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
A few weeks later Jeff flew
to Chicago to attend
meetings of the American
Academy of Religion and
then to Oshawa in Canada
to present a paper at a
symposium on conscientious
objection. He saw a few
birds & got to drive on the

9. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In October Jeff managed
to go on his first pelagic
trip. It was amazing!

10. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Ruth managed to write off
another car after an
altercation with a dump
truck! We are grateful that
no-one was injured.
We now drive a VW Jetta.
(Fingers crossed....)

11. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
We have managed to find a little
time to escape work & visit some
scenic spots.

12. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Some of the local
flora.

13. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
and fauna:

14. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Jeff managed to see 33 new
birds this year, including
Ground Woodpecker, Protea
Seedeater, Yellow-bellied
Eromela, Layard's Tit-
babbler, Grey-winged
Francolin, Wandering
Albatross, Black-bellied
Storm Petrel, and Yellow

15. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Ruth managed to find a little
time to pursue her creative
muse—having most recently
taken up spinning.

16. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.

17. Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Merry
Christmas
2008