Friday 20 December 2013

Christmas Greetings 2013



Christmas Greetings for 2013   

With Santa at North Pole, Alaska - July
 This Year started with a trip up the coast to get mum’s place ready for sale. Fortunately   it sold   fairly quickly  and  dispersal of the estate is now completed.  We came back to Yass for another house sit and enjoyed 5 of David’s 20 performances as Jean Valjean in Les Mis with friends and relatives in February. He was great and later in the year he was awarded the Canberra Critics’ Circle Award. 
David, as Jean Valjean - Feb/March
So then in April we set off to LA, collected the RV in Vegas, visited friends in Texas, then headed for Alaska up the eastern side of the Rockies. The Americans “do” their National Parks well and we really enjoyed the Rocky Mnts NP, Grand Tetons NP, Yellowstone NP and Glacier NP. 
The Tetons from Lookout along the Snake River
There was plenty of snow and the scenery was breathtaking. Then into Canada and followed the Alcan Hwy through The Yukon to Anchorage. A most wonderful trip. 
Bear and cubs fishing for salmon in Alaska
Before we came home we joined a group of Rotarians on a friendship exchange to Indiana, another great experience.
The RV is back in Houston. We’ve decided to sell it – other places are beckoning us.
The kids are all well and healthy.
Ali and JP celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and are still enjoying their music, bands and concerts. They went to Cyndi Lauper and Van Halen concerts during the year. Ali does volunteer work in Penrith and JP is studying accounting at TAFE .
Alison and JP
After seeing Malta, Edinburgh and Paris earlier in 2013, Carolyn and Gavin returned to Australia from London in October. They are setting up in Canberra and planning a wedding in August. Carolyn has returned to her passion, early childhood education, and has accepted a Senior Educator position in a beautiful centre in the Toddler room. Gavin has enrolled in a course with Charles Sturt Uni doing Master of Security studies, and is working hard at it.
Carolyn and Gavin in London
Dave and Kirsten in Philadelphia
David (Les Mis) and Kirsten (Hair) - shows this year. Kirsten completed her Bachelor of Arts (majoring in creative writing) Dave auditioned unsuccessfully for Aust Opera but sang his arias beautifully at the recent Christmas concert. They had a great month in USA in April/May, Philadelphia, New York (Shows) to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Kirsten and Dave in Washington DC

Huong and Luke
Huong and Quang had a much wanted beautiful baby boy in August and named him Luke. Jenny and Emma are enjoying having a brother and both are doing well in school. Huong is thinking about returning to work early next year.
Jen, with Jenny, Emma and Luke
We are all heading for Charlotte Pass in the Snowy Mountains, for four days over Christmas at the ski lodge with Kirsten’s parents (Adele and Brett) and brother (Brian) – away from phones and email – and hoping to have good walking weather and maybe another trek to the top of Kosciuszko. 
 Ready to walk to Mt Kosciuszko
We have a busy year ahead and are planning to move back to Blaxland later in the year.   
We wish you and your families good health, contentment and happiness for 2014.
Our Best Wishes from Jen, Garry and Family xox
Merry Christmas from Coxe Glacier, Alaska