Happy Holidays!

We hope all our friends and loved ones had a very Merry Christmas.  We spent our holiday in Bend this year which provided a welcomed white Christmas -- something very new to all of us.  We're still adjusting to our first winter in central Oregon.  A few weeks ago, we bought our first snow shovel.  Very exciting, I know.

Our tenants' lease expired at the end of November and we finally moved back in to our house.  Since then, we've been busy settling in and preparing for the cold weather.  Millie got an all-wheel-drive Volvo with studded tires, I got a ski pass for Mt. Bachelor, and Colin got a new winter wardrobe complete with flashing Spiderman snow boots.  Santa was good to us this year.

I wish I could say the same for Jean Marie.  She's still sitting in a slip in PV waiting on a transmission.  It will be a short season in Mexico this year.  I'm hoping to get the new transmission next month and then we can finally finish the engine installation and begin putting the boat back in order.  My plan is to fly back down after the baby is born in February and spend a month sailing through the Sea of Cortez to San Carlos, where I'll put the boat away for the summer.  Millie will stay here in Bend with Colin and his new baby brother.  Her parents are planning to stay with her during that time so I can focus on Jean Marie.  It will be a quick visit but I'm hoping to spend a little time with our cruising friends while I'm there.

Until then, we'll be busy up here in our little winter wonderland.  I'm working full-time for Five Talent, Colin is back in pre-school, and Millie is growing bigger by the day.  It's hard to believe we'll have another baby in just six short weeks.  Sleepless nights and poopy diapers -- seems like we just potty-trained Colin and now we get to start all over again.  Oh, the joys of parenthood.  The truth is, we can't wait to see the little guy.

Here's wishing all of you a very Happy New Year.