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Hello Family and Friends,
I don’t know if it is my age causing me to really miss so many of you, or if it’s my honest effort to try to stay connected to my family and friends that is causing me to write this yearly update. I honestly wish that I could sit down with each of you in person to share with you what all is going on in my life and to also find out what is happening in yours. Being over 1700 miles away from most of my family for the past 21 years has become increasingly challenging, especially during times of transitions. However, I’m forever grateful for the friends who have filled the gap as family. And to those friends, if you are reading this, you have made an impact in my life and I thank you ever so much for being in my life.
Christmas cards and family newsletters have dwindled over the years. It’s a lot of work, but I am hoping this is something I can continue to do each year. For many years, I have relied on social media to keep you up to date, but not everyone subscribes to those methods, and even if you do, the algorithms don’t always guarantee you see the post.
So here’s a little snippet into what our year has been like.
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| Alaina with her grandmother in Texas |
apartment. Next year, she plans to go abroad to Egypt and
Greece for a 3-week excursion with GFU’s Junior’s Abroad
Program. Alaina started working with Starbucks in April,
after working with her dad at Hobby Lobby for over a year.
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| Ariana in her prom dress she sewed with her grandmother. |
shock, it came as no surprise to us, given her dedication and hard work for the team.
This year, Ariana also obtained her driver’s license. She now takes both her and her sister to school each morning, a responsibility I truly miss occasionally. Beyond her daily duties, Ariana is an enthusiastic animal lover with plans for many pets, particularly a bird.
In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, she is focused on mastering new languages, including Japanese and Spanish. Notably, Ariana treated herself to a new camera, diving into this new hobby with joy. Now, she’s the one behind the lens, even capturing our Christmas card photo this year.
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| Ariana at a Colorguard Competition |
Clarissa celebrated her 15th birthday this year and is a sophomore in high school. One of the many ways she keeps herself busy is with Senior Showstoppers, a dance class where she focuses on learning choreography, including flips and bends that make you wonder if a body is supposed to be able to do that.
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| Clarissa and Alaina, Eras Tour Movie |
Her schedule is further filled with the marching band, where she plays various instruments in the pit for percussion. Immediately after marching band concluded, she began rehearsals with Wind Percussion and Jazz Band. Clarissa is also gearing up for an upcoming Spring Break trip to New York. The highlight of the trip will be participating in a Musical Festival at Carnegie Hall with the Wind Ensemble Band, topped off with her very first Broadway musical experience to see her favorite show, “Six: The Musical.” While I’m admittedly jealous, if it can’t be me, I’d rather it be her.
Despite her busy schedule, Clarissa loves to sing and possesses a powerful voice. I hope that she and I can one day record some favorite Christmas songs to share. While her commitment to band and dance doesn’t leave much time for auditioning for musicals, another love of her life, you can often find her participating in the community’s quarterly open mic night, most likely singing a song or two from a musical.
Christopher continues working with Hobby Lobby as the Framing Manager going on 4 years in February and still enjoys being in the creative space he is allowed with the job. He has many repeat customers and thinks they really are the glue that keeps his job enjoyable. A major part of his year was dedicated to being the lead role in The Addams Family Musical as Gomez. He believes the best part was being able to share the stage with Clarissa, learn choreography from Alaina, and having Ariana literally be his spotlight operator from many of his scenes.
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| These guys really became family to me - it was a wonderful experience. |
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| Not sure if I'll ever audition again, my old man brain struggled with memorization. If I ended on a good note, this is it! |
Other 2023 highlights:
• Achieved great uncle status twice: Marciela Elise Flores was born to Ray and Kay Flores on January 15, 2023, and James Hudson Flores to James and McKenna Flores on April 6, 2023.
• Nephew Justin and his girlfriend Abigail visited the Pacific Northwest in May.
• A fantastic four-day Disneyland trip with the girls and their mom in August.
• Flew home for the Flores Family Reunion and the wedding of Justin Flores and Abigail McPhail on October 7th with my daughter Alaina.
3rd trip to Disneyland with the girls. |
Justin and Abigail's Wedding |
Looking forward to more shared moments in the coming year!
