A Year In Review: Christmas 2010

Once again I have decided to put our annual Christmas letter online. I figure that saves me a trip to the copy store (I don't have a printer) and it saves a tree or two. And you don't need to worry about recycling it. Heck, you don't even need to read it if you don't want to. Especially since you do have to go a little out of your way to find it. All the way to the internet...

I am a big fan of getting Christmas cards in the mail- especially if they have photos of you or your cute kids or just your cute pets...and love reading what's been going on in your life (although letters I am finding are few and far between but that's ok, keep the cards coming!)...I figure it's only fair that I give you what I like to get. I have become a Facebook addict this year and my FB friends have seen many of these pics already, but for the rest of you, here is what we've been up to:

January: I am sad to report that our black Lab Raven lost her battle with lymphoma on January 6th, 2010. I was grateful to have one last Christmas with her. She was our protector, the alpha female of the pack, and she is greatly missed. We went to Cannon Beach for 2 nights in the middle of January with Rocky, Grace, Kipper and my folks. We spread some ashes of Chet and Raven into the surf since it was one of their favorite places to go.
The end of January I went to Asheville, NC for specialized training in high volume spay neuter.
On January 28th Grace celebrated her 6th birthday with her friends at the roller skate rink.

February: On February 19th we lost our Lab Rocky to laryngeal paralysis. She couldn't breathe that morning and sedation did not help so I knew it was time. It was pretty devastating to lose her so soon after Raven. We won't forget those girls.

I took Grace tubing at the end of the month- super fun!

March: The first week of March I flew to Cabo with a friend for a little grown up fun in the sun. The last week of March we rented a house in Port Ludlow for Spring Break. I got to bring my nieces along and the girls had a lot of fun.

April: Grace walked in the Procession of the Species parade with the Olympia Free Choir. She was a Tiger.
I signed up for a B&W film photography class through Metro Parks. We took an overnight trip to Forks (it was very rainy but we had fun exploring the tidepools and no, we didn't see any vampires)
Oh yeah, and Grace got lice. (thanks kindergarten!)

May: We walked for the March for Babies in Tacoma for the 7th time. It is something I feel is important to honor Grace's life and bring awareness to premature birth. Our friends Ciera, Amy, Scout and Elliot walked with us this year. As well as my mom and Kipper. And tragically, we lost "Patty Catty" to cancer on the 29th.
June: Grace finishes Kindergarten! This is a drawing she made of her and her first crush :)
We had a garden in the brand new Fox Island Community Garden. Took a day trip to Seattle with friends to the Seattle Art Museum to check out the Kurt Cobain exhibit.

July: I officially started my housecall euthanasia business- Peaceful Passing. The end of July we flew back East for a vacation in Wildwood, Philly and Bristol RI. It was great to see so many cousins and friends!
August: Continued our vacation, swimming lessons and camps.


Sept: Back to school- 1st grade for Grace. Had my first mammogram (came out normal). We got a new kitten that Grace named Milo. He prefers Pekingese over people. Bumbershoot with Kevin. Rescued a scabby cat we named Sasha.


October: Grace wanted to be Princess Daisy from Super Mario Bros for Halloween. I had to commission someone on Etsy to sew it. It made it here in the nick of time. Of course it is falling apart after wearing it once but it made her happy. We took a short trip to Chicago to visit my sister. It was quite windy in the Windy City.
November: I turned 41. This time no trips to Paris or the Virgin Islands. I did get to go to Portland with my sister and brother though. Voodoo donuts. Powells. My sister came home from Law School in Chicago for Thanksgiving and it was fun getting to spend time with her. We rescued a little Peke that needed her eye taken out.
December: Went to the Christmas lighting in Leavenworth for the third year in a row. This time the folks came along. We got to take the girls for our second annual Nutcracker in Seattle (thanks Grandma). On the way up to Seattle Grace lost her first tooth (the upper one doesn't count because she had to have that surgically extracted)!


So in all it was a pretty good year. I have cut back at work and am struggling financially a little but mentally feeling better which I think is more important. I am grateful to have work in these difficult times. I recently renewed my California veterinary license and am going to try to schedule some relief work in the Golden State in 2011.
I am looking forward to leading a spay neuter campaign in Iquitos, Peru in October with Veterinary Ventures. If you are feeling generous you can make a tax deductible donation towards this campaign by going to the link :)

This year we are thankful for our health, employment, family and good friends, and a roof over our heads.

We wish you all the best for 2011.

xoxo
Suzanne & Grace
Kipper, Mitchell, Peanut
Ringo, Ocho, Henrietta, Sasha and Milo