Message from Layton Croft

Mimi, please post on Chatterbox. Thanks.

Terrence Lee Croft
Trial Lawyer, Mediator and Arbitrator
King & Croft, LLP
127 Peachtree St., Ste. 707 Atlanta, Ga. 30303
404 577-8400
404 5778401 fax
tlc@king-croft.com
www.king-croft.com
www.henningmediation.com

From: Layton Croft [mailto:LaytonC@Ivancorp.net]Sent: Sun 12/31/2006 12:57 AMTo: Layton CroftSubject: SAVE THESE DATES!
31 December 2006

Dear Family and Friends:

Warm pre-New Year’s Greetings from the Gobi desert; I am writing you all this email after just dismounting from my trusty camel. Back in September, Ally ran a half marathon down here in the Gobi and Chaandmon and Sky helped hold up the Finish Line.

Ally and I got married in Ulaanbaatar on 27 September 1997, and soon it will be 10 wedded years together, six of them as a trio and the past two of them as a quartet. Since we effectively eloped the first time, as far as y’all are concerned, we wanted to celebrate with a reprise that includes loved ones from all over the place, and a venue that is a little more accessible.

Consider this email your pre invitation. Please save the dates of 16-19 August 2007, with the core dates being 17-18 August. The location will be Driggs, Idaho, USA, which is just west of the Teton mountains and Jackson Hole, WY, and a short drive to Yellowstone National Park, the Snake River and other beautiful sights and fun outdoor activities.

The main gig will consist of reuniting, hanging out, music, food, drink, laughter, PowerPoint presentations and special surprises on August 17-18 at the Grand Targhee Resort, and everyone will stay in traditional Mongolian gers. More details at www.grandtarghee.com and in the attached PDF (which includes discounted rates for rooms at that resort). But you can stay in other places – rented homes, apartments, hotels – in Driggs, or in Jackson Hole if you want. Some useful web sites to explore those options are:
www.grandvalleylodging.com
www.tetonvalleyidaho.com
www.vrbo.com/90977

The closest airports are Idaho Falls and Jackson Hole. Salt Lake City is also doable but is about a five-hour drive to Driggs.

If you have more time please note that on the evening of Thursday, August 16, at the famous Knotty Pine restaurant and live music joint in downtown Victor (between Driggs and the mountain pass to Jackson Hole), there will be an encore performance by a reunion of a band consisting of members of Aggressive Pedestrians, Balsa Gliders and Rose Bowl. And there will be a brunch on the morning of Sunday, August 19 at the famous Miso Hungry café in downtown Driggs.

Please tell us if you plan to come and how many people in your gang so we can start building the gers.

~Love Layton, Ally, Chaandmon and Sky

p.s. – soon we will launch a family web site (password protected and we’ll send the password soon, too) that will have more information about the 10th anniversary gig bash and more fun stuff, including PowerPoint presentations!

p.p.s. – our apologies if this email is coming to you seemingly out of the blue and ten or more years after you saw our faces last…

p.p.p.s. – just kidding about the gers.


------------------------
T. Layton Croft
Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc.
(976) 9911.3339
www.ot.mn

Happy New Year! 2007

The hour is fast approaching that begins a new years. I pray that each of you look forward to all the joys your hard work, family dedication, and positive living has in store for you. Love one another, stay healthy, visit when you can and don't sweat the small stuff!

You are loved by us...

Mom/Merry/Mimi and

Dad/Terr/Grandad

Merry Christmas Family

May you have a good nights sleep and wake up to a glorious Christmas morning, full of blessings in the giving and joy in the getting. Hallelujah, Christ is born!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

-Mimi

The Great Mother

Passing on the tradition and keeping the story alive... enjoy the traditions of my childhood!
-Mimi

Honoring our Great Mother

Macon Anderson Floyd

Christmas 1987

The Great Mother

by

Kenneth Anderson Floyd

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of Christmas Day night with the Great Mother dear.
The Great Mother sits in her favorite chair,
Waiting patiently for her loved ones to get there.
The house is all ready, it’s warm and it’s bright,
It seems that it knows it’s to be a great night.
The children, and grand-children, and great-grandchildren too,
Have had “Christmas” today till their faces are blue.
But somehow they rally because they all know,
That the Great Mother waits them, so they hurry and go.
And slowly they gather- a trickle at first,
When their number’s complete, it will make the house burst.
They bring in the goodies, to give and to eat,
Finding space just to place all the stuff is a feat.
The Great Mother greets them, her feelings sublime,
That all of her family is home for this time.
She hugs and she kisses each one with a prayer
Of grateful thanksgiving that all could be there.
For so many years they’ve come to her door,
She’s thankful that God has allowed her one more.
To have all her brood gather under her wing
To eat, and to chatter, to laugh, and to sing.
How special to her is each one, and how dear,
How fine that they honor her year after year.
But the honor is theirs, just to be a small part
Of the Great Mother’s family; of the Great Mother’s heart.
Her life’s as example; her care never waives,
She’s worthy of honor; she’s worthy of praise.
Let all of her loved ones, the big and the slight,
Give homage and love to the Great Mother this night.
As long as there’s Christmas, her love will remain
To guide all her loved ones, their love to sustain.
The children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren too
Will keep the Great Mother’s tradition like new.
And generations to come will be filled with delight,
When told of the Great Mother’s Christmas Day Night.

God's Angel turns One

Although it makes me cry a few tears, I have to mark December 8Th, the anniversary of my Dad's death, with thanksgiving that I can now think of him with a smile and beautiful memories of Christmas. What a bright star he was at Christmas time!

To all of you who have loved and lost, I hope you can do the same. Christmas is especially hard but we have to remember that love is the gift that keeps on giving and now we have the baton...so pass it on and never let the light go out.

To my Mama; thank you for keeping the home fires burning. Thank you for loving my Daddy and for continuing your journey with us in his absents. Thanks be to God for the Gift.

-Merry

The Grandfather speaks...

What Grandad doesn't understand is that no one goes back in time to read old post, so when he tries to tell new information through an old related article; he never gets read. I appreciated him adding to the family news so I took the liberty of coping and pasting his new comment and turning it into a post for him. Maybe one day he will learn to do it himself.

I think he likes the chatterbox and I know he is proud of his family! (Forgive me Grandad if the copy/paste thing doesn't get the layout just right. It never does!)

-M

Grandad has left a new comment on your post "Ford's basketball schedule": On Saturday, Dec. 2, Joe Regas and I went to the Decatur Recreation Center (on Sycamore in Downtown Decatur, next to the Library) to watch Ford and his Celtics play basketball. After only one practice, his team came up just a few points short, but fought fiercely against a much bigger and taller team. The Celtics are well coached, and will improve with practice. Ford hit one field goal and one free throw, but got in several critical fouls against much bigger players and saved several baskets with his aggressive style of defense and rebounding. He is the third tallest player on the Celtics. Several of his opponents were my size. It was a hard fought game. Joe and I enjoyed cheering for Ford. Joe is playing soccer and rollar hockey this winter. He is a whiz on skates and very exciting to watch, as he flashes in and out of the reach of other players, before he takes his shot. He still prefers football, but soccer is his next favorite. I just love to watch my grandchildren perform. I wish I could see Keegan in action on the soccer field. I know he has scored several goals. Maybe his Mom or Dad could post a photo of him in action, here on the Chatterbox. Keegan acted in real movie, recently. When it is release, he promises to tell us, so we can all watch him on the big screen. Speaking of acting, Andrew, who has is own email address, andrewleesc@comcast.net, is a regular performer in a long running show at his church, called Apostlelot. He has played many roles. His father, Tom, is an adult mainstay in the series, too. Together, like Batman and Robin, they are a daring duo of acting at Apostlelot. I hope Kim will post some photos of them in action. She has been busy, with Tom's help, and some from Mimi, perparing her house to be one of just five on the Horseshoe Bend Festival of Homes, a benefit for the Gardan Club. About 500 people paid $15 to tour Kim and Tom's house. I snuck in. It looked like a million dollars! Andrew, Emily and William spent Saturday night with me and Mimi, so their house would look perfect on Sunday. I wonder how long it will take to look lived-in again? God Bless you every one.

Love,

Grandad.

Mary has a Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Sweet Mary!...

and many happy returns of the day.

Molly's going to China!

Monday, Dec. 4Th, our very own Molly Croft is going to China...for a week! She will arrive in Beijing, with other delegates from Georgia Tech, to join up with a team from Peking University and participate with some sort of great workshop.

Molly will have the privilege of seeing things like The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and how life is lived in China. Wow! I can't wait for her to come back with tales of her adventure. We'll all get an education.

Shannon will stay home with the kids and their busy school and extracurricular schedules. I think in order to fill Molly's rotation, he has cancelled all business appointments after 4 p.m. so he can stay on top of things.

Have a safe and wonderful trip Molly. Take lots of pictures and bring home lots of Christmas presents! (Shannon expects all Christmas shopping to be done by the time she gets back....as if she will have time!) We're sending you off with our love, prayers and good wishes. You GO Girl!!

-Mimi

I am Thankful...

Today I was reminded of days gone by. Back in 2002, after our Thanksgiving day together, Kimberly sent her jouneral entry to me. It filled my heart and I never forgot it. I am posting it on the Chatterbox as a way of saying; I am grateful for each of you, of the times we have spent together and of the sheer joy you have brought into my life. For those of you who will join Terrence (Dad) and I this Thanksgiving...I can't wait to see you, to pray in thanksgiving with you, to spend time with you again and to share a meal. For those who will be somewhere else this year, I pray you will pass the love around the table until everone is full and be thankful, for the more you give away the more you will have. Happy Thanksgiving. You are loved...

-By Mimi

Journal entry, thanksgiving 2002

..."it's funny-that family thing. We gather at mom's. All coming from
separate lives--with separate desires of the heart--with separate internal
struggles and emotions. Whether spoken or unspoken, we know. We're reminded
of mom's loss and battle with elderly parents through the special leaves she
adds to the thankful tree. And the silliness of the S-C's--trying to lighten
the load of heaviness that is felt, too. Yet, knowing...we go on with the
day...only to realize our tradition is too being deep-seeded in the hearts
of each of us there.

We all congregate in the kitchen. Kids disperse and make there way to their
separate hide-a-ways. Girls go to the nursery and boys, who-knows-where, to
seek adventure. Deet home sharing her stories of college and making all of
us wish we were 18 again (only for a moment). Mom and the girls scurry in
the kitchen. Shannon brings the traditional "beef log". Tradition? Why
yes....Mom makes the best turkey breasts of the season, Shannon steps out
with food that pushes our taste buds to the edge (and we like it). The S-C's
bring the cheescake-o-the-day, Mary makes an awesome salad, Marleen and
Shannon bring the dueling squash while Deet scurries to cut the fruit and
adds her personal dressing touch to an old tried and true. Terr leads in the
prayer of thanks--more tailored for the children but we know the deeper
prayer of thanks in his heart. Kids settle at their respective places that
Mimi has made so special. After everyone is served, Mom sits in amazement
that the food actually looks good despite not making it all herself and
grateful that she didn't have to.

After the feast, we move to the dining room to share past tails of
vacations. As we laugh together, I find myself longing for more memories
together. I think of how fleeting the years pass and pray that God will
grant us with more memories that will make us laugh together for a long time
to come.

As the day goes on, we settle into just who we are--Deet off to J----'s, the
boys at the bar working in the activity book, Molly upstairs in the nursery
reading Wizard of Oz to the girls (and Joey), the men lounging in the den
pontificating on who-knows-what, Mom in the kitchen trying to make sense of
the mess, I wondering around trying to find a place where I would be most
helpful.

Tradition--oh yes--tradition. And as I get older, these traditions get
fonder. No longer do I long for another tradition or a deeper meaning for
the day of thanks. I cherish ours because the day is shaped by the people
who are in it. We give our hearts the way we know how. And that makes our
tradition so unique and not like any other. That makes us a family.

My prayer is that we all continue to deepen our love for eachother, to
recognize the needs of one another, to cherish our differences and to
embrace our tradition and long for more.

From the heart.
Kim

Beta Log-In Trauma?

All -

I've gone and messed up the family chatterbox! Last time I logged in, Blogger asked me if I wanted to upgrade to Blogger Beta, which has cooler features. After I agreed to upgrade, I found out that the Blogger account gets tied to the administrator's Google account (I guess Google bought Blogger?). Anyway, if you've had trouble logging in, that's why. I've attempted to remedy the situation by creating a communal Google account for us all to use to log in. I'll email you all the log-in and password personally. Sorry about the mess!


Love,
Princess Mononoke

Ford's basketball schedule

Ford had a very successful baseball season, he was exciting to watch! If anyone wants to attend a Saturday basketball game you might enjoy stopping by Decatur High School:
2 p.m. on 12-2
3:30 p.m. on 12-9
1:30 p.m. on 12-16
2:30 p.m. on 1-6
1:30 on 1-13
2:30 on 1-20
3:30 on 1-27
3:30 p.m. on 2-3

GO CELTICS!
Post your schedule, whatever it may be, you never know when someone might be in the neighborhood and could stop in to watch you do the things you like to do. Have a good season Ford!
-Mimi

Brian shows his youth...

...after endearing us with your rendition of the Banana Boat Dance, our last night at Grayton Beach, I wanted to wish you a special birthday wish this day. Happy Day and many, many more dances to come... Sorry to say, you need a little more flare to keep up with Kim and Tom...and Mike, with his famous sideways swing, just can't be beat....but I was impressed. Keep up the good work. You are loved by us, Happy 39th!!

-Mimi

Andrew's birthday today...

Shhhh....everyone is waiting for the week end celebration at Northcroft, so take it easy and get all rested up...(hope you sneak in a few good presents and some cake and ice cream.

Happy, Happy

Birthday

to

Andrew!

We love you,

-Mimi and Grandad

If you give a mouse a cookie....

...You remember more and more of what you forgot! Happy Anniversary to Brian and Kristin too! They celebrated their 11th on 10/28/06. What a wonderful legacy! I love you-Mimi

Graced by another Anniversary!

Mike and Mary Regas, November 6, 1993

I am happy to announce yet another anniversary in our family. Congratulation to Mike and Mary for a marriage well done. Many, many, happy returns of the day! May God continue to bless you and your family.

Michael has also merged with another firm! You can find him at;
Houck, Ilardi & Regas, LLC.
His new partners are, Brad Houck and Frank Ilardi. He will be located at:
Two Ravina Drive
Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30346

Wow!...New condo, building new house, new partners, new office...exciting thing are happening in the Regas family! If it gets to be too much, we're here for any comfort of the familiar you might need. T and I are proud of you. -Mom

Joe and Issy Rock

...and if you dont belive them...ask Napoleon Dynamite!

Happy 16th Wedding Anniversary!

Congratulation To Kim and Tom!

A little bird reminded me that today is a special day for Kim and Tom. Your love and devotion benefit us all. We wish you more of the same forever and always.

Today's Blast from the Past has to be....

Our beautiful Bride, Nov. 3, 1990

-Mimi

I left Nana today,

looking well and ready

to face the world...I am so

proud of the way she has

recouperated from her

surgery. Keep

up the good

work old girl, you give us

hope in our future. I love you!!!

Halloween 2006: Emily, the cat

Andrew, the Knight and Will, the Happy Spider!!!

Thanks for the pic! I'll post all the spooks if you will send their pictures.

-Mimi

Happy Halloween!

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Check it out!!!! The opening tune for "Disney's Halloween Treat," my favorite holiday TV special EVER!

Your Nana is resting...
all is well in the kingdom.
Thank you for your love
and support. I appreciate
your concern and phone
calls. I know Nana does too.

All of Nana's children were here
today doing whatever they could to help. Hugh
and Louis spent most of the day cleaning up Nana's
yard while they waited to bring her home...and for
Nana, that was worth going to surgery for! She loves
a pretty yard. Dad (Terr) got my car ready, supplied
me with plenty cash, and promised to take care of
everything in Atlanta (and himself) so I wouldn't
have to worry while I was gone. He's only a phone
call away...and I used that privilege a couple of times
today!

As you can see by the photo, your father and I have
declared ourselves to be a King and Queen for
tomorrow's Halloween. We order all subjects to:
(1) have a good time, (2) be nice to other spooks,
(3) easy on the tricks and (4) don't eat too much candy.
Remember, no matter what your costumes, to me, you
are all angels (even if you have a little rust on your halo.)

Happy Halloween! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!!!!!

-Mimi

Daily Blast #14: Halloween Countdown

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley (Halloween 2005) wish you a very spooky All Hallow's Eve tomorrow...

Daily Blast #13: Halloween Countdown

Daily Blast #11: Halloween Special

More Pirates

Got to get this one in...

Kate must tell us about the night, while Grandad and I were gone, leaving her in charge of the Trick-or-Treaters, she floated up and down the street in her nightgown, with a candle, scaring all the children. Glad I didn't have to come to her door! ~SCARY~

Kate is the master of costume design...and photography! What a Spirit!!

-Mimi

Emily's request granted...

Em is going to be a cat for Halloween this year and she wanted to see what Kate looked like in her Kitten years. It is hard to see her cat ears in these pictures, but I think they are still hanging around in the nursery attic if your cat is hard of hearing and needs a pair. I think the tail is long gone though. I bet you make a great looking cat Emily, just like Mattie! Happy Halloween!! -Mimi

You ask for it!

The Lees

P.S. I'm glad you discovered the Chatterbox, Andrew. :)

-Mimi

Halloween Fright!

Okay family, see if you can out
do Andrew's Halloween mask!
S C A R Y ! ! !

-Mimi

Daily Blast #11 - Halloween Countdown

On behalf o' upcomin' Halloween festivities, I be needin' t' present this costumed pirate medley. More t' come, laddies!