Sorry I've been so bad about posting pics. I'll try and get some up soon. In the meantime here's out 2007 Christmas Letter:
Dear Family & Friends –
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! RJ and I were blessed with another fabulous year. We’re still living in Ventura, which we’ve dubbed as “seedy but sweet”, and the little beach town continues to grow on us. This year was different from years past as we didn’t have any huge life changes, but instead it was filled with simple, yet wonderful, moments.
I’ve included some of the year’s highlights below, but if you want to stay in touch with us continually check out our blogs at www.annahosking.blogspot.com and www.2wildtrout.blogspot.com.
DEC 06/JAN 07 – We wrapped up 2006 with a five day trip to Camp Curry in Yosemite were we enjoyed snowshoeing, snowboarding, and lots of hot cocoa.
FEBRUARY – Itching to go fishing RJ talked me into a winter camping trip to Salmon Creek near Big Sur. We had a good time despite not catching anything over 3 inches!
MARCH – The warmer weather called for a few “man” trip through the area for fishing with good buddies. Meanwhile, I participated in a Tall Tales speech contest with Toastmaster’s and had the opportunity to compete in Las Vegas.
APRIL – April, my sister, turned 21; which warranted a trip to San Luis Obispo to celebrate.
MAY –Taking advantage of the long Memorial weekend we went backpacking in Big Sur with friends. As usual, the scenery was gorgeous, the conversations stimulating, and the poison oak rampant!
JUNE – RJ went fishing in the big waters! Meeting up with his parent, Richard and Kristie, in British Columbia, RJ spent a week ocean fishing, and brought back 100 pounds of fresh salmon, cod, and halibut.
JULY –Jessica, RJ’s sister, married Matthew Roy on the 14th. These newlyweds live in Santa Barbara so it has been a blessing being able to spend time with them. This month also marks the kick-off of RJ’s modeling career with Patagonia (as they asked him to pose in waders for a fishing promotion)!
AUGUST –We celebrated our 3rd anniversary and RJ’s 26th birthday with a romantic trip to San Fran.
SEPTEMBER - We flew to Oregon to say good-bye to my dear uncle Otto who fought cancer for more than two decades. The trip was bittersweet as it was wonderful to reconnect with all my t’Hooft relatives.
OCTOBER – Another family wedding! Congratulations to my cousin Sallie and her new husband David.
NOVEMBER – We celebrated my 25th birthday with a Crazy Hat & Sock dance party. The evening was a fabulous success filled with friends, good food, and lots of great dance moves.
DECEMBER – It was been a busy month preparing to spend Christmas in northern California with our families. Winter highlights include a huge surf swell, festive parties, and visits from out of town friends.
And we’re looking forward to ringing in the New Year with our good friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico!
All our Love – RJ & Anna
2007 Christmas Letter
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Shoe shopping = fun!
Clothes shopping = fun!
Furniture shopping = fun!
Even Grocery Shopping = fun! (I am a bit of a freak about food. I love the abundance of yummies at the grocery store.)
One would think that home shopping would = fun.
No.
Not so much.
What is it about home shopping that just isn't as great at shopping for anything else? I image that a big part of is has to do with the MONEY involved. The scale suddendly dramatically tips in the SCARY zone (particullary if you're blessed enough to live in California where home prices are comparative to the national income of some small third-world counties.)
I guess if I had all the money in the world home shopping would = fun. Hummm...do I want the place with the indoor pool and the warming towel racks or the one with a personal sauna and mist room and a bowling alley in kids rooms?!
However, I don't fall into that, money is not an object realm (bummer), so my home shopping experience is more stressful. Humm...do I want the home that's one block from Ventura's prositute pick-up spot or the home that is suffering from internal damage ever since the last renters started making crack in the basement?! (slight exaggeration but you get the picture.)
Not only that, you never run across a Home Sale, or better yet, a Home Clearance. "For a limited time only, all three bedroom, 2 bath homes are on special clearance at 30% off. Grab yours today!" Home Sales would make things so much easier. I would elimate the game of: I offer you this much money, you counter back asking for all my money and my left leg, I then offer you 7/8 of my money and one toe, etc.
Home buying does not = fun.
Please pray for us as we have a an offer in on a home and the bank decides today! And this one's a steal. All they want (for the home that's three houses away from a recovering drug addicts anonymous meeting hall) is 99.9% of our money and RJ's left pinkie! What a deal.
Clothes shopping = fun!
Furniture shopping = fun!
Even Grocery Shopping = fun! (I am a bit of a freak about food. I love the abundance of yummies at the grocery store.)
One would think that home shopping would = fun.
No.
Not so much.
What is it about home shopping that just isn't as great at shopping for anything else? I image that a big part of is has to do with the MONEY involved. The scale suddendly dramatically tips in the SCARY zone (particullary if you're blessed enough to live in California where home prices are comparative to the national income of some small third-world counties.)
I guess if I had all the money in the world home shopping would = fun. Hummm...do I want the place with the indoor pool and the warming towel racks or the one with a personal sauna and mist room and a bowling alley in kids rooms?!
However, I don't fall into that, money is not an object realm (bummer), so my home shopping experience is more stressful. Humm...do I want the home that's one block from Ventura's prositute pick-up spot or the home that is suffering from internal damage ever since the last renters started making crack in the basement?! (slight exaggeration but you get the picture.)
Not only that, you never run across a Home Sale, or better yet, a Home Clearance. "For a limited time only, all three bedroom, 2 bath homes are on special clearance at 30% off. Grab yours today!" Home Sales would make things so much easier. I would elimate the game of: I offer you this much money, you counter back asking for all my money and my left leg, I then offer you 7/8 of my money and one toe, etc.
Home buying does not = fun.
Please pray for us as we have a an offer in on a home and the bank decides today! And this one's a steal. All they want (for the home that's three houses away from a recovering drug addicts anonymous meeting hall) is 99.9% of our money and RJ's left pinkie! What a deal.
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