Christmas "Card"

 Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

I opted out of sending real cards this year. I'll try again next year! I usually love writing Christmas cards for the inspiration to think fondly of our friends and family that we don't write or call very often. But I did write a letter with the most prominent happenings of our lives in 2010, and included links to some of our blog posts and pictures from the year. Here is a copy of the letter.

Twenty-ten has been another extraordinary year for us; first and foremost with the birth of our daughter, Camila Luna, born January 30, 2010. Jim & Leslie Anne traveled to California for the birth of their newest grandbaby, and generously extended their stay when Camila came a bit later than anticipated. While Emily was enormously pregnant, we were not altogether surprised when she, like her sister, waited until the full moon. Emily labored happily at home, then on the freeway (perhaps less happily), then at the hospital for about 10 minutes before baby was born!

Camila Luna underwent a miraculous transformation in her first year, from helpless infant to mobile, communicative, playful little person! She is now 10 months old, she uses some sign language, just started walking, she turns the pages in her favorite board books, loves her music toys and “dances” to any music she hears, she plays peekaboo, and flat-out adores her sister!

In March, Olivia turned two. She is totally toddler: testing her boundaries, her capabilities, her parents… She is a terrific little talker, and is currently experimenting with her emotional range (god help us when she hits adolescence). She sings and dances, draws and “reads”, climbs and builds, pouts and whines, howls and whimpers, laughs and giggles. We try to capture and share some of these moments on our blog, and we invite you to visit it (and us) on the web. The Ruoss Family Blog

In April, Jeff took a new position with Covanta Energy as the Facility Manager at the Stanislaus Waste-to-Energy Plant. He has barely a 10 minute commute, almost no travel, and is home for dinner with his family every night! He also has a bucket load of new challenges – but those of us who know Jeff, know that he loves a challenge! In October, his plant completed a major maintenance outage on schedule, on budget, with no accidents and no surprises! Great Job, Jeff!  His plant was also recently recognized as a Cal-OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Star facility.

Jeff plays a bit of golf here at Diablo Grande and on vacation with his brothers-in-law and/or parents. He frequently takes Liv and her tiny pink putter out on the course with him; it slows down play… but is good fun for all! He has a bit of trouble with his back, but seems to be in good shape recently.

This summer we had a couple great vacations with our extended family! We spent a terrific Independence Day week with family at a lake house in Florida. We swam, and boated, and jet skied, and golfed, and played in the sand – it was perfect! Then in late August, Emily and the girls spent a few wonderful weeks at Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks, Jeff came out for the last week, and his parents drove up for a visit, too! We had many visitors and felt much loved. It was a great time and what feels like the beginning of a tradition.

We are grateful for our continued good fortune, good health, loving family, kind friends, safe comfortable home, and enough good sense to appreciate it. We wish the same for you.

We wish you every joy of the holiday season, and we hope that happiness, love, and prosperity accompany you throughout the coming year.