Family in San Rafael Swell
I know that is has been a tough year for many, and our whole family feels very fortunate that we are surviving and thriving among the many challenges. We have had a fabulous year. We’ve had lots going on, both big and small. We survived the year and everyone is healthy and happy!
We started off the year trying to finish up the renovations on our new home so that we could move in. Also, trying to clean up/pack the old house so that we could sell and move out! Finally, we put the house on Arlington up for sale, and mostly moved into the new house. It was kind of reminiscent of camping actually, most of our furniture had to stay at the old house to stage it.
So, we slept on the floor, had boxes as coffee tables/end tables, and camping chairs as couches. We taught Randy what college was going to be like.
The old house sold in a record 3 weeks. We were very thankful! So, almost on the 20th anniversary of owning our Arlington home we moved out completely and into our new home. This is our first Christmas in the new house.
It seemed as if we were a little lite on vacation time this year. We managed to fit in two family trips in this summer. We went out to Utah for 5 days, and tried to explore some new canyons. We camped in the San Rafael swell, visited Lake Powell, hiked misc. canyons of the San Rafael Reef. It was a fabulous trip, very relaxing and fun!
Panaramic view 4 wheeling around Lake City
We were able to spend a week in early August camping in the Lake City/Ouray/Silverton area of Colorado. This is definitely one of the most scenic high country areas of Colorado, and we want to go back.
Randy, Mary, and Sam
Sam and Randy
Randy, now 16 has had a fabulous year I would say. He has done stellar in school, honor roll each semester, and likes most of what he is learning. He spent most of the summer being a bum (probably his last), except for helping with a major landscaping project at the new house and minor fix-it projects.
This fall he started up a new school year with his heaviest course load yet. We hear the junior year is always that way. Fall is also soccer season and Randy decided to play school soccer again. He also picked up duties being one of the team captains, and as his soccer coach said, the team disciplinarian. He is now bummed that it has ended.
Randy is just days away from getting his driver's license!
Our business has had a good year. We are proud and grateful to celebrate our 11th year in business! We picked up another client who is keeping Sam even busier. The technology learning with this client seems to be never ending and on the bleeding edge. Bleeding edge is good most of the time, but not always.
Sam is doing awesome. He is still pursuing his 4 wheeling to explore the mountains, some biking, and is now expanding his interest in ham radio. He passed the test for the next level of his amateur radio license this year, and is in the process of getting equipment so that he can begin to take advantage of the expanded permissions. If anyone has their license, email us with your call sign.
My agility habit is still going strong. I had to take a three month break from agility due to an injury at the end of summer, torn plantar fascia. The injury kept me out of Nationals, but I decided it was better to recover then to push re-injuring myself.
Tangle
Tip and Split
Tip, my oldest and most experienced Border Collie has had a fabulous year. She earned several championship titles that took several years to achieve. We qualified for USDAA Nationals, and had several significant wins at the regional level. Split has had most of the year off with an injury, but we are hoping to bring him back a little in 2012. The goal is to keep him active his whole life so I am trying to not rush his re-entry into agility.
Tangle, my pup has just started to compete in agility. I must say this boy has been a different journey for me. He shows great promise and I am honored to be running him. Since USDAA Nationals are in Denver next fall we are going to see if we can get him qualified for Nationals.
We hope that this note finds everyone healthy, happy and thriving!
Come visit! We did change our address so if you don't have it, get in touch!
Love Mary, Sam, and Randy
