Christmas Letter, 2007

Merry Christmas!

Amazingly, it's Christmas time again. We had a busy year, which undoubtedly made it seem to pass so quickly. We were fortunate to be fully staffed at the veterinary hospital this summer, so Kathy and I had plenty of opportunity to have some fun. We joined some good friends early in the year for a trip to Aspen. While the majority of people go there to ski, Kathy and I took our snowshoes and explored some of the beautiful and less crowded areas. When the weather warmed and the waters thawed later in the Spring, we took some sailing lessons which helped to expand our knowledge greatly. We had the opportunity to enjoy our improved skills during a couple of extended weekend trips to northern Michigan, sailing in Lake Michigan. Kathy was pleased that I avoided terrifying her on the water this summer!

Granny turned ninety this year, and we celebrated with a huge gathering of family and friends at Elk Lake. The weather cooperated, and everyone had a great time. We even managed to take over a local river for a canoe flotilla. Of course, anytime you get our family together, there is bound to be some humorous events, and this gathering didn't let us down. There was the powerboat that got stranded across the lake and had to be towed home by Dad and Craig in a canoe, and the Hobo dinner that ended up in the fire pit, and other events that kept us laughing.

Our Fall vacation took us to Vancouver Island. We had a great time exploring the island, traveling by plane, ferry, train, bus, car, taxi and foot. Again the weather was with us, and we spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, sightseeing, kayaking, whale watching and exploring beaches. The fresh seafood and wine kept us well-fueled for our adventures.

We hope this holiday season finds everyone well, savoring the memories of a fine year and anticipating another exciting and fun-filled one in 2008.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Steve and Kathy