 The Ekwochi Family! December 2003 We did it! A Christmas letter via the internet -- we're attempting to keep up with the technological age! This is a public website so please, just disregard the ads. Hope you enjoy it! 
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NOELLE
Noelle has been very busy this past year. She completed yet another season of swimming and was one of 3 captains of the team. She was also in the National Honor Society and volunteered for various organizations throughout the school and the community. Over spring break, she, Rob, and Diane flew to Daytona Beach to spend a week at the timeshare on the ocean. They rented a red Mustang convertible, so they could ride in style! Arriving in Jacksonville, the temperature was about 60 degrees. They quickly put the roof down and turned the heat on high! They had lots of fun and sun in the south!
Noelle graduated from South St. Paul High School in June. Their guest speaker at the ceremony was Govenor Tim Pawlenty, an Alumni.
Noelle worked as a manager/lifeguard for the community pools this past summer. She also spent a few days at the College of St. Scholastica for a "Summer Getaway" as seen in the photo below. She is in the bottom row, towards the right.
During the past South St. Paul's Kaposia Days, which is held annually the last week in June, Noelle was crowned a South St. Paul Princess. The candidate photo is above.
The photo below is the
Kaposia Days Royalty for 2003-2004,
Noelle Ekwochi - Princess
Chandra Roth - Miss South St. Paul
and Elizabeth Goossens - Princess
Click on the link to see Photos from the Coronation.
Noelle was accepted at the College of St. Scholastica (CSS) (below) and started classes in September. Noelle is majoring in Biochemistry/Pre-Med. She currently lives in Somers Hall on campus ( the same wing as Diane when she attended CSS MANY years ago!). At CSS, Noelle is involved in a college group called the Pre-Med Club. This club gives the students an opportunity to explore the idea of becoming doctors, through discussion groups and guest speakers. Noelle was also elected to the CSS Senate.CSS Senate. (click here) She has been home several times thus far as she needs to attend "princess activities."
Her roommate, Megan Kakela is from Cando, North Dakota. Noelle and Megan have built a great relationship and already have plans to room with a few more friends next year. Megan is majoring in Nursing.
Noelle is still dating Rob Hoven. Rob, who is currently working for Health-East, will be returning to Inver Hills Community College soon to continue his education. Rob is pictured at the top of the page with Noelle in sunny Florida.
Krista worked during the summer months at the community pools at the concession stands. This makes her second season with Parks and Recreation. During her vacation from the pools, she flew to Ormond Beach, Florida (near Daytona) to spend a couple of weeks with her friend Holli and her family. Holli was our neighbor here in South St. Paul before moving to Florida.
As a senior, Krista needs less than 3 classes to graduate. She usually ends her day around 12:00 and is home to study until she has to go to Danceline practice.
The dance team, travels to various competitions and performances (with parents tagging along, of course!). The Winter Carnival Dance USA Competition was a big event for the girls. They came in 2nd in their jazz performance and 4th in their high kick performance. Here are some photos.
Krista has applied to the University of St. Thomas and Hamline University, both here in St. Paul where she hopes to pursue a career in psychology and possibly law. She is excited for dorm life, where she'll "have to" keep her room clean!
HOLLY
Now in 4th grade at Lincoln Center Elementary School, Holly enjoys being in Mrs. Roble's class. Holly keeps her parents busy helping her with homework. She is in her 3rd year of Girl Scouts. Holly has many badges and has attended many camps and other various events. Emmanuel and Diane even get in on the camping at times! This past year, Holly sold the most Girl Scout cookies in her troop -- over 350 boxes! Way to go Dad and Mom!!! She enjoys swimming in the summer at the pools, reading, and hopes to get into basketball this year. Holly also enjoys spending LOTS of time at Grindstone Lake with Grandma and now, Auntie Linda who has recently retired and now lives on Grindstone Lake with Diane's Mom! She is a good little game player and sometimes beats the "best of them."
We are sure Auntie Linda enjoys her too!?!?! She just got braces this past fall. Check out that smile! There is also a photo of Holly holding Darla, this past Halloween. Holly also attended a TWINS game this past summer with her good friend, Kendra.
Diane is still at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, and continues to work evenings. She is coming up on her 15th anniversary.
Diane dives into many projects (sometimes too many!). Recently she started an afghan (thanks to Linda her sister!) and has finally mastered the art of ripping rows out only to replace them onto needles and begin again! This afghan will be completed probably when Diane RETIRES! She also continues to sell various items on EBAY. Her latest idea is selling rhinestone pet collars. Check them out!
We were very busy over this past spring with renovations. We put in a 2-tier deck and craned a hot tub over the house onto the lower deck. We certainly enjoy the tub! We rocked the front of the house, installed new doors, layed new carpet, built new oak stairs, and replaced our asphault driveway with concrete.
We have also done a lot of chaparoning for the South St. Paul Royalty. Even when we are not chaparoning an event, we try to be there to take pictures for Noelle's memory book. We've gotten pretty good at finding our way around the cities!?! Below you can see us on our way to an event. This photo was actually taken by one of our royalty. Notice the driver in the red convertible -- it's Emmanuel! We've both had the opportunity to drive in parades. It's quite fun from a different vantage point. Diane wanted to KEEP the convertible -- of course!
We were very fortunate to have a long distance visitor this past year. Carol Odo, from Lagos, Nigeria traveled here for a training seminar. She was able to spend a few days with us in Minnesota before returning home to Nigeria. She even traveled to Iowa to visit her son who is attending college there. Carol was taken shopping by Diane, where she bought many things to bring back to Nigeria. Emmanuel and Carol drove up to Duluth to see the colleges where Emmanuel and Diane attended, and now where Noelle is attending. They also stopped in Sandstone to see Diane's Mom and Sister Linda and Diane's Uncle and Aunt, Roger & Ruby Trapp. There she drove a pontoon boat as well as rode on a 4-wheeler. She certainly went back to Nigeria with many stories and memories. Below, she is standing on the capitol steps here in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Emmanuel & Diane celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary October 22nd! We hope for many more!
Darla Maggie Rose
Our little Pug Darla just turned 2 years old. She is very petite and very active. She behaves like a baby when she's tired and wants to be held. Holly and Krista love to dress her up in toddler clothes. Her favorite things are "jerkey" and going "bye-bye" and going to the "dog park!"
We have a new addition to our family this year. Maggie Rose is Darla's biological mother. She is a WONDERFUL dog. Just 3 1/2 years old, she has fit into this family perfectly. She too, enjoys all the things Darla does, except she hasn't visited the dog park yet. She even drives Holly to school every day with Darla at her side. She even has her own "pink angel" rhinestone collar! See the photo of Mother and Daughter in their OLD NAVY sweatshirts! Darla is on the left and Maggie Rose is on the right.
In closing, we reflect on all that we are thankful for -- our families, friends, and good health. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
We have provided an email link, so that you can drop us a line. Hope to hear from you this holiday season, so maybe next year ALL our correspondence will be via the World Wide (Christmas) Web!
Love Always!
Emmanuel
Diane
Noelle
Krista
Holly
Maggie & Darla!
