Greetings and Happy Holidays, family and friends!
The Christmas letter got finished earlier this year than last! Maybe it’s a trend. We’re sending as many as we can electronically this year. It doesn’t seem as formal, but at least it it’s a bit more environmentally sound.
- Karen is engaged to be married to Andy Moore next fall. Karen and Andy have known one another since high school and became serious with one another in college. Andy teaches art at a school in Roseville, near Minneapolis. Karen has another year-and-a-half in pharmacy school.
- Anna spent the summer and fall in Chicago interning for a marketing firm. She loved the experience and living in the big city, but decided to return to Stillwater when it ended. She’s preparing for grad school along with the next job in the Twin Cities. Anna’s friend Marco found work in California working as an oil drilling engineer. We all miss seeing him as often as before.
- Dave has been working as a web developer and seems to have found his calling. All the computer games finally paid off! Dave lives in St. Paul near the house where we lived when he was born – very convenient to family, friends, and events.
- Mary Ann’s backyard paradise matures each year. It seems like we have succeeded in recovering the undergrowth we lost when we cleared all the Buckthorn (thick, invasive brush) we found on the lot when we built the house several years ago.
- We took a family trip in March when we managed a week in Key West. It was the first time in years that we all vacationed together and we had a blast!
- Visited Hillman, MI over Labor Day and had a quiet weekend with my Mom and brother Brian and his family at their lake places. I just got back from a quick visit to Detroit for the annual family Christmas party. It’s always good to visit with the family.
- Spent a weekend in Coloma, MI for niece Abbey’s wedding. It was the first Gire clan reunion in a few years.
- Marathons in Ft. Lauderdale, Ashland, WI and Stillwater. It was a good year for running.
- Spent Halloween weekend in Ann Arbor visiting with business school chums. We just picked up where we left off except we don’t party quite as hearty anymore!
Our best to all for happy holidays and a prosperous 2011!
Love, Tom and Mary Ann
Anna and Marco Karen and Andy
