We hope this
letter finds you doing well! We are, and
life is chugging along up in these parts.
This appears to have been a good year for us to travel, and I have to
say that six-year-olds make comparatively fantastic travel companions. Somehow we managed: Disneyland (because Wisconsin
was playing in the Rose Bowl), Sun River (with friends and snow), Maui (we saw
humpbacks breach, dolphins spin, and snorkeled with sea turtles), Wyoming and Utah
(we hunted fossils older than dinosaurs!), Texas (we hung out with family and
watched the last Shuttle launch from NASA), Wisconsin (cousins! cousins!
cousins!), camping (beach + biking + staying up late + rarely showering = six-year-old
paradise), and a small trek north to Seattle and Vancouver British Columbia (two
fantastic aquariums and our first chance to christen Eleanor’s passport).
As summer
came to a close, Eleanor lost four teeth in as many weeks and so started the school
year looking very much the part of a First Grader. At six and three-quarters, Eleanor has a
strong sense of justice and is very loyal to rules. Yet, she is enough of a critical thinker to question the rules. This requires patience. But as 1) she often makes a good point and 2)
the trait reminds me of a number of
her kin, it makes me proud and hopeful for her future. Eleanor learned to ride a bike this year (just
in time for summer), she loves school, and she is sticking by the violin (we’re
at Etude now). We like doing math
problems and art projects together. She
likes playing with Daddy (always the master of funny voices and creative
characters). Eleanor is a thoughtful and
faithful friend.
Mike’s work
has really kept him busy this year, with several trips and many weeks of 18+
hour shifts six days a week. His work may be presenting us with a new
adventure…but more on this at the end.
I’ve spent most of the year just trying to cover the bases, with many of
my own projects left sitting on back burners.
Here’s to 2012 bringing either more productivity, or more peace with the
lack-thereof! I will point out that 2011
may very well mark the end of “studio construction.” And when that decade-long chapter finally
closes it will be none too soon. The
tear down happened in mid-August; the rebuild has been a chore (hiring a
contractor does not = a quick finish); you can see photos online; the new
building will be dreamy; and that’s about all I have to say about that. Ever again.
We hope to have tales from within the studio by next year’s letter.
Now, for the
new adventure that isn’t quite print-ready yet but oh well. We may
be temporarily relocating (with Intel) to Austin, Texas, from January to
June. But, we won’t know until pretty
much the last minute. A daunting task
for sure, but an adventure none-the-less.
Those of you who love Texas will understand why I’m pretty darned
excited about our chance to live abroad for a season (Texas really is a whole
other country). And those of you who
love Oregon will understand why we’ll do our darndest to be home in time for
berry season.
We wish
everyone a year of good health and great peace!
Love,
Stephanie + Mike + Eleanor
