Merry Christmas 2009
from the Curtis'

I feel terrible.  This is the first year since 1984 - I have not had time to send holiday cards to friends and family.  My December has been crazy - and this is as close as I can get to a personal greeting.  So Sorry!

It has been a good year.  We are all healthy and generally in good spirits.  Wyatt is now 15 and keeps himself busy with high school marching band (he plays the quints - five drums welded together weighing more than 60 pounds), jazz band, his rock band, Chernobyl Child, as well as drum lessons. Believe me, we do not "make" him do any of this.  He loves drumming!  We've watched him on the field, in the high school performing art center and on stage at a club in Seattle (Slave to the Metal Fest).  With all this, he still manages to stay on the honor roll.    If only we could do something about his hair!

This has been a crazy year for me.  After 18 years, I quit my job and took a position about nine minutes from my house.  I now manage another women's health practice - moving from Valley Women's Clinic to Valley Women's Health Care.  Just had to use a little white out on my business cards!  In this economy (which seems to be getting better every day) - I was so lucky to have the opportunity to be able to find a lateral move.  It's a little better than lateral as now I work four days a week and have fewer staff and docs to deal with!

My first project in my new practice was to manage a build out of our new clinic space.  We moved from a 2,500 SF office to 5,500 SF.  I worked with an amazing space planning firm, as well as a great general contractor.  Six months later (as of this week) we have a clinic space that rivals any I have ever seen.  If you are ever near Auburn, please stop by. 

The best part is, my office, which was once an actual closet with a desktop - can now seat five!  Because we had to move the week before Christmas - Tom has had to do all the Christmas shopping and work I usually do.  What  a relief!

I didn't get to go to Paris this year, but I did go to Tucson (to the Gem Show) with a group of wonderful friends - among other places.  We have so much fun shopping for beads and findings.  This was my second trip to the Gem Show - and this year will be my third.  There is nothing in the world like it!  Bead shopping all day - martinis, wine and laughter all evening!  And - warm weather!! 
 

Wyatt and I joined my friend Sally, and her daughter Kylie, on a trip to NYC this spring.  Sal's brother Joe turned 50 - and his partner Phil threw him a surprise party at the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in the Village.  He was really surprised to see Sally and even more shocked to see me.  Joe and Phil were the best hosts ever.  We saw so much of NYC in the few days we were there.  One important rule about NYC - never, I mean never, ride shotgun in a cab.  Just ask Sal!

Kylie, Wyatt and Wendy in another miserable cab ride	Wendy, Sal and Joe - Greenwich Village

Tom, Wyatt and I spent the end of June at the cabin in Montana.  Paul Dutra joined us - with fewer mishaps than our trip the prior year.  This time, the guys rented a tractor and moved a lot of the brush around the cabin.  Tom and Paul were able to float the Smith River - which was something Tom has always dreamed of doing.  We had great weather, good food and less trauma than the year before!  We missed you Debbi!

Paul and Tom on the first float trip with the new fish cat	Wyatt, Wendy and Tom at the cabin
Tom got to hunt in Idaho and fish in Alaska.  He helped the marching band out by filming a lot of their events this year.  He continues to prod Wyatt along with his school work and keep him on track.  I'm starting to think Wyatt may need to get a double dorm room as Tom will be lost without him! Tom stepped up his technology and bought an IMac - so this may be the last year I will have to do the cards!

Arrested by Storm Troopers   -   Gray beard after two weeks at the cabin!

Wishing all of our friends and family a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2010! 

Wendy, Tom and Wyatt
XXXOOO

ps... Yes, Peter, I copied your idea!