Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Holidays to all. We hope everyone is in good spirits and is enjoying the holiday season.
We started off 2007 with our extended family trip in February on a cruise to Mexico and Belize. All 17 of us flew to Houston, Texas to catch the ship. Many laughs and good times were had by all. Of course it wouldn’t be a Gray family trip without an adventure added to just a regular cruise. On our trip back home, NY and the coast was hit with snow, which meant that some us were stuck in Chicago and didn’t arrive home until the next day. Mom and Dad Gray were actually stuck there for three extra days. Luckily they didn’t have to worry about work (like the rest of us). So this year we are going on yet another cruise. This time to Key West, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. As we get smarter in our old age, Susan’s great idea was to take a train to Charleston SC, where we will be catching the cruise ship from there. Trains can’t be grounded from snow, can they?? Stay tuned for next years’ letter to see what happens.
We (minus Brian) were then off again to Philadelphia with our good friends the Lapidus’s (minus Marty) for a fun packed long weekend. We saw the King Tut exhibit, ate like queens and kings during Egyptian times, saw Betty Ross’s house, Independence Square, and the list goes on and on.
July was spent in Williamsburg, Virginia, with the Farmer family, and Mom and Dad. Susan and I drove with the kids first, and the rest of the clan joined us on the 4th of the July. We actually spent it in Williamsburg for a picnic dinner and fireworks. The rest of the vacation was fun seeing Jamestown, my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Sam, going to Busch Gardens and many other sites.
August was a time for me to get away (note from Editor – like Deb doesn’t get away enough??). I met by dear friend Valerie in Chicago for a long weekend. We had a blast, unlike the time I spent it there in February. Chicago is a hip, fun outdoorsy city. I’m looking forward to going back there.
When we weren’t traveling, Amanda, age 11, kept us busy by playing tennis - as she says “I found my sport”. Rebecca, age 8 continues to love to dance. Both girls are active in Girl Scouts and Fellowship. This summer the kids went to camp for a month, then Shelter Island for a week (additional note from Editor – hence, why with Deb’s travel and the kids in camp, I dubbed it “the summer of Debbie”). Before I knew it school was back in session. Both girls started in new schools. It was an adjustment for Amanda in the middle school and Rebecca went to the intermediate school (who remembered how tough the locker situation could be, especially if you have a bottom one?). I went back to work as a Speech Therapist, based in the same school in Hauppauge. However, this time I was placed on a tenure track and will hopefully be tenured again in June. I was tenured at BOCES many years ago and lost my job do to cut backs when Amanda was born. Brian is great, still at Fidelity in Huntington, and is always busy at work. We are all happy and healthy here in Greenlawn. Send us an email or give us a call. We love to have company so if you are in the NY area and want to stop by, just let us know. Best wishes to all in 2008.
Love,
Debbie, along with her editor – Brian, Amanda, and Rebecca
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