2018 Christmas Letter

I am always amazed as I sit down to write the annual Christmas letter just how much we did this year.  I didn't think we did very much. Maybe time just goes faster as you get older. I turned 70 this year.

Mona and I made our annual trip to Hawaii in January to visit her family there, especially her two aunts. The big event this year was her aunt Helen's 100th birthday celebration. Many of Helen's friends and relatives in Hawaii showed up for the big celebration. Family members flew in from the states too including Mona's entire family.

 Needless to say we all had a great time enjoying many of the activities that Hawaii has to offer.

 We enjoyed our annual trip to the Southwest and the warm winter days down there. The only exception was that we had to do much of it in a rental car as our truck decided to have a major breakdown.  It spent over three weeks in the Ford dealership in Yuma Arizona for repairs. Check out my blog (knotaklu.blogspot.com) for more detail on our trip.

Unfortunately, while we were down there, we got word that Mona's Aunt Helen became very ill and wasn't expected to survive. Mona flew right away to Hawaii and was able to be there before Aunt Helen passed. She stayed in Hawaii for over a month to help the family settle things. Meanwhile, I drove the trailer home and then flew to Hawaii to be with her and to help with the memorial service, Etc.  Unfortunately a couple of weeks after we got back, Mona's 101 year old aunt also passed away.  She had requested no memorial service so we didn't fly back to Hawaii.
 

Another big event for the year was that my family rendezvous in Stanford California for the wedding of my nephew Joel to his lovely bride Michelle. As the bride and groom left the Stanford University Chapel the Stanford band was there to greet them.

While Joel was in college he was the drum major. The Stanford band is known for their fun-loving antics. It was great fun watching Joel assume his role and conduct the band.

Among the other things we did this year was the annual family camping trip to Priest Lake Idaho, Mona and I did a kayaking trip on San Juan Island. And, in what's becoming an annual tradition, Mona and I took my older grandchildren on a bicycle trip along the Hiawatha Trail.

And if all this wasn't enough. I remodeled the master bathroom and started laying new flooring throughout the house. One thing I learned in this process is that I will never again tile a shower wall. I think it's well worth the money just to hire it done. The bathroom looks great as are the floors.

And now for the family updates:

 

 Michelle and her family are living up to their last name, the Goodes. Stan runs the tanker base for the US Forest Service at the local airport. That's where they load fire retardant into airplanes to drop on forest fires. I was especially thankful for him and his crew couple of years ago when they were dropping retardant on the fire along the ridge behind my house. Michelle is still an ICU nurse at the local hospital. We now have a teenager in our family as Saray turn 13 this year. She is into sports and science being a "A" student. Who knows what great things she will be working on in the future.

Raif is all boy and the fastest Lego builder around. It's amazing how fast he can put those things together. Celine is in kindergarten this year. I think she really loves it. She has become quite the huger.

Eric is still an engineering manager at Boeing. He moved into a new apartment which he likes a lot better than the old one. He inherited the Avakian boating gene as he loves working on his boat and being out on it.  He has the largest battery bank of any boat in his class. He can power his stereo for days while at anchor.

Christine changed jobs this year.  She left RMI and is now the Executive Director of a small charity "The Juniper Fund" .  They specialize in supporting the families of  Sherpa Climbers where the family's bread winner have died, most likely from a climbing accident. You might give them a look ( www.thejuniperfund.org ) and donate if your so inclined.  Clint is finishing up his degree while working full time at Boeing along with being a great father to Mila.  I don't know how he does it.  I get tired just watching him.  And little Mila is 2 1/2 and according to her parents has arrived at the terrible two's.  I just got back from being with them for a couple of days and was amazed at how much her language skills have improved.  She is such a cutie!

And, they are about to give me another grandson in March!!!

Teresa is still teaching the "gifted" children at her school.  "Gifted" is my word, not her's, but you know, the more advanced kids.  John is a stay at home dad, and is really good at it.  We always knew he was going to be an awesome father by seeing how great he is with all his nieces and nephew.  And Caanann, OMG, he is the happiest two year old ever.  He is always smiling and is just a delight to be around.

 We were able to see alot of Mona's kids (Max, soon to be daughter-in-law, Diana, and, Lucy) this year with trips to Hawaii, in Joshua Tree NP and the kids attending weddings in North Idaho.  Mona also was with them with visits to LA and their family thanksgiving gathering on the East Coast. You must admit, that is one great looking family.  Max, Mona's oldest, is head of sales and training for a medical tech company based in Santa Monica, CA. His fiancée, Diana, is an administrative assistant at Cedars Sinai Hospital and just finished all her prerequisites to apply for nursing school.  Lucy is a user researcher for a major bank in NYC, and is going on six years in the city.  They all travel often for play, family-time and work.

Mona and I are doing well.  We hope you all are too and that everyone has a great holiday season.

Lastly, with a little twist to my favorite Irish saying:
"May the happiest year of your past be the saddest year in your future".

Happy Holidays!!!
Mark and Mona