Merry Christmas! I guess the best way to start this blog would be to give you the Bremer Year in Review. Our Christmas letter kind of took care of that update, so I've included it below. And these are just a few of the pictures that made it into the email version of our letter. Enjoy!

'Twas the night before Christmas in the Bremer’s new house,
and each Bremer happy to have the other spouse.
But there’s one extra family member this holiday.
Sorry--no surprises--no little one on the way.

Instead it’s a friend from Berlin, Germany
Come to stay with us through February.
Her name is Vanessa, she’s as sweet as can be.
She’s here to train pentathlon (We think she came to ski!)

To tell her the tales of our adventurous year
Is difficult to explain to her untrained German ear.
But since you all know us, we’ll explain how alive
We really have been in 2005!

We rang in the new year with family right here.
With Mallory and Nick we kicked off a great year.
Garden of the Gods, the Broadmoor, the great mountain views
They saw it all and were highly amused.

January seventh--Cami’s eye operation
No more glasses or contacts—what a sensation!
She’s still working for the City of Colorado Springs,
Writing speeches, columns, newsletters and things.

Eli’s still working on his Olympic plans
And helped himself out with a win at Pan Ams.
He’s training full time—all day, everyday.
All other athletes—move over, make way.

A ski trip in late April, when Eli’s elbow was healed,
Left us stranded in the mountains, our ski bum status sealed.
In the summer, three sets of couple-friends moved away
Leaving our small group smaller and our hearts with dismay.

I guess that’s the nature of young, mobile friends,
But it’s never fun when their time near you ends.
I think we’ll be in touch though for years to come,
Writing and phoning, maybe visiting some.

But the bright spot through this was Eli’s growing passion
For buying houses that aren’t quite in fashion.
He spends long, grueling hours tiling, painting, and cleaning,
Then rents them out (Cami helps with the screening).

We were blessed with a wonderful surprise in June
When one of our renters wanted a second house—soon!
The house that we lived in was right down the road,
And with that, we moved into house-hunting mode.

A neighborhood known as St. Andrews we’d seen
We loved it but it just took too much green.
But to our surprise, God was preparing a place
In this parkside neighborhood we had embraced.

The perfect storm of events occurred
And we ended up with that home—it’s absurd!
The home itself was loved and blessed
and will continue to be so ‘til we’re laid to rest.

In the summer we spent time with Eli’s family,
Little JB and Gloria , Max and Tamsey.
Having a neice and nephew around is fun
Watching them grow up has only begun.

Another broken foot for Eli rounded out July,
And for August vacation, to the south we did fly.
At the end of the trip, Eli drove all the way back
He bought a new toy—a big truck (with a ski rack!).

College football season means we watch a lot of TV.
Vanessa just thinks we’re plain crazy!
But you’ve gotta stay connected somehow,
And what better way than yelling BOW WOW! (Go Dawgs!)

What else have we missed? Ahh, there is a bit more.
Cam took golf lessons. (Duck when she yells four!)
Our church, Mountain Springs, is still close to our heart,
And our small group we host is still a big part.

We’re still busy taking our MBA classes,
Cami’s done in the spring, (if finance she passes!)
Eli’s graduation will be close behind,
He’ll be done in the fall, his business skills refined.

Finally, the holidays are here,
and we’re hoping this letter has brought you some cheer.
We’re always up for visitors,
So give us a call and pack your spurs!

Much love—
Eli & Cami