This is my first attempt at a Christmas blog, and depending on how it goes, it may be my last! I am trying to learn the fine art of blogging, but my little brain is struggling to incorporate this newfangled process into my hectic world. It has been a very busy and momentous year at the Curtis household.
Emily is now a sophomore at West Salem High. However, as a freshman she was a member of the winning Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Team for 7-9 grades. Along with her teammates, they were awarded an all expense paid trip to Washington DC, a $10,000 savings bond each, and their picture on the Toshiba Jumbotron in New York’s Times Square for the month of June 2009! It was quite the accomplishment. To top it off, Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association treated them like royalty when we visited D.C. So in a few years when you hear all about the wonderful features of S.M.A.R.T. Paint – remember you heard it here first! Other than that, Emily is just your average run of the mill 10th grader, singing in the Titan choir, working hard in honors classes, and of course having fun being a cheerleader. By Friday, we are all tired just thinking about her schedule!
Bob is all about work and looking forward to retirement. That is assuming I can graduate and get a decent paying job! He gets to travel every so often to Ridgecrest or Colorado Springs, which is not really on his list of favorite things to do. On the bright side, we had a waterscape put in the backyard. No wimpy trickles for this family, it has two ponds and a 5-6 foot waterfall, fish included! Now we just have to add the vegetation and it will make our outdoor retreat complete. Next summer we will be able to cook hot dogs and s’mores over the firepit while sitting on our rustic pine benches and listening to the water softly cascading down the rocky bank! If you’re in the area drop by for some rest and relaxation!
We missed fishing in Sooke this year due to my schooling and Emily’s cheer schedule, but we did have a wonderful Turkey Day visit with Bruce and Betty in Auburn. Emily and I ran the Tacoma 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning while Betty slaved away in the kitchen! We both finished in the 9:00+ minute/mile range (of course she was slightly ahead of her tired old ma). The highlight, for me was the pumpkin pie, but I think Emily enjoyed the shopping trip the day after!!
Meanwhile, I have been wrestling with my last year of grad school! I am soon to be a counselor! I started my internship late, due to foot surgery in September. It slowed me down, but I am back running and now have three internship sites to figure out! I travel from Vancouver, Washington to Eugene, Oregon (an hour north and an hour south of Salem). It will keep me busy and out of trouble until graduation in May. At that time I hope to land a job somewhere close to Salem for my sanity’s sake!
Here is hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas season and a merry 2010!