Merry Christmas!
I’m looking at my agenda on last year’s Christmas letter to get started so here goes:

1. Captures Landscape Architecture Certificate
2. Costume committee co-chair for The Music Man
3. “Vacation” at the Grand Canyon (once again leaving Ray home to mansit)
4. Having family here for Christmas

And one new look for my life: 

1. Lands part-time job as junior landscape designer at HMH Engineers.

 I do mean new look literally.  Having to get out of the house and go to work everyday looking like someone capable and professional required a serious wardrobe overhaul.  But my good friends came alongside and helped me through that trauma – although I still do better in the morning if I pick out my outfit the night before.  I’ve been working for 4 months now and am starting to feel pretty comfortable with the everyday aspects of AutoCAD.  Over all, it’s been a smoother transition than I could have hoped for and I’m enjoying both the work and the people.
This looks like being my last year on the costume committee since Alex is a senior!!! And Ricky has again chosen volleyball over the spring musical.  I’ll miss working with the team but maybe I’ll get some spring planting done for a change!  This year’s play is Crazy For You.  Gershwin music and tap dancing.  It should be a very fun show.  Opening night is March 15th for those of you who like to plan ahead.
As to the so-called vacation,…  We have come to refer to it as the vacation from hell.  Just a few highlights:  hours spent standing around on I10 south of Las Vegas in the summer heat behind a big wreck; new fuel pump for the Suburban in Hurricane, Utah; evacuation from the north rim due to forest fire; and to top it off, two muy malo teenage girls.   Janet and Raymond stayed a few more days so their list is even longer.
The family is starting to gather.  My sister arrived safe and sound from Irvine.  Tomorrow my nephew is due in from Baltimore and my brother & family hope to escape Denver and the blizzard-of-the-decade that hit a couple days ago. 
I wish you a merry Christmas and God’s blessings for you in the coming year.
Lynda