Merry Christmas

December 24, 2007 at 11:43pm

Each year seems to pass by more quickly, and time never allows us to see loved ones as much as we'd like. As the New Year approaches, we look forward to reading your letters and catching up a bit. We want to share with you some of our highlights from 2007.

Leo and Max have taken over the house. We now own five lint rollers, and have considered purchasing more. We also have two failsafe alarm clocks, one set on "meow while standing on chest" the other on "burrow under covers and bite toes." But really, we love them dearly.

This year, our travels took us to New Orleans and Mexico. What began as a photography gig for a friend's destination wedding became a great vacation. We were excited for our first cruise, and eager to see Mexico, yet some of our most memorable times we owe to a few days in the port of call, "The Big Easy." The history, cuisine, and spirit of the French Quarter mingled to exude a unique charm.

After working at a PT clinic for much of the year, Holly returned to the UW Masters in Teaching program. Through most of the fall and winter, she has been in the trenches of student teaching at Evergreen High School in Seattle. Her Chemistry, Biology and Anatomy and Physiology students kept her on her toes, but she came out, alive, mid-December. It was a challenging, but fulfilling experience. Come springtime, she will be certified (look out!) and hopes to accept a teaching position in the fall.

Earlier in the year, Holly enjoyed teaching evening dance lessons at a small studio in Puyallup and helped put on a summer recital. The ballet was themed, "Cinderella" (a bit of both Rodgers and Hammerstein and Prokofiev), and the other half, "Dancing through the Decades" where her jazz dancers boogied to "Disco Inferno."

Gavin continues to enjoy the challenges of software development at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and will have worked there for five years in May. His interest in photography continues to expand as new opportunities for shooting portraits and events have presented themselves this year, including his first wedding and other work for family and friends.

Gavin also lends his voice to Choral Arts in its exciting first season with new director Robert Body. The group's hard work paid off with favorable reviews from the Seattle Times for their recent Christmas Concert.

We hope the warmth of the holiday season fills your hearts and homes with joy. To everyone far and near, the Jensens wish you a Merry Christmas and much happiness in the New Year!