* Bob and Daria celebrate 20 years of marriage with a glorious cruise to Alaska!
* Alek turns 21 in September and is enjoying the art of mixology!
* Olyvia is accepted to le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, Minneapolis Campus - leaves Iowa State to start Chef training - read more at http://lcbschools.chefs.com/
* Alek interns for the Summer at National Instruments in Austin Texas and while there develops an iPad application called "LabVIEW Intro" - read more at https://decibel.ni.com/content/groups/ni-news-in-real-time/blog/2011/12/21/introducing-the-labview-intro-ipad-app-for-beginners
* Olyvia vacations for a week in the Big Apple!
* Daria attends her 30th high school reunion in Lodi, N.J.
* Bob is promoted to Manager, Strategic Manufacturing for John Deere Power Systems and will become quite the world traveler - already a trip to China is on the agenda starting on 2 January 2012
* Daria, in addition to working as Manager, Parameter and Planning Processes for John Deere Ag and Turf Division becomes adjunct faculty for the University of Northern Iowa
* Bob adds to his love of wine and art with a few more pieces of artwork by Arvid, including a dinner with Thomas Arvid and others in Atlanta, GA, while picking up a few more bottles for his wine cellar (under construction)
* The four of us vacation in Vegas (first time for each of us) during Spring Break 2011 - highlights included seeing David Copperfield, Jay Leno and Frank Caliendo live! No, we didn't win - but we didn't lose much either! Other than that, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (or on Facebook)
* Speaking of Facebook - Alek gives up his Facebook account - resulting in more free time to tutor others at Iowa State as a part time job on campus
* Olyvia works much of the summer at Bartel's Lutheran Retirement home as well as at Montage restaurant
* Bruno, the Shiba Inu, is doing well at the ripe old age of 13
* We are all in good health and enjoying life in Iowa
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyful and Happy New Year filled with health and well-being!
With love,
Daria, Bob, Alek and Olyvia
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| Bob and Daria on their 20th anniversary - at sea! |
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| Olyvia with one of two baby raccoons rescued on our property in Iowa. |
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| Alek enjoying a drink (two, actually) on his 21st birthday. |
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| Olyvia at Le Cordon Bleu in Minneapolis, MN. |
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| Sr. Joan Marie with Daria on the day of the Immaculate Conception Homecoming. |
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| Olyvia, Bob and a dear friend - Anqi Wang - after one of Olyvia's Iowa State dance recitals. |
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| Alek chowing down in Vegas at Hash House a Go Go. |
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| Bob on Alek's 21st Birthday. |
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| Bruno, the Shiba Inu, pretending to not look at the camera. |
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| Daria and Bob on Alek's 21st Birthday. |
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| Alek and Olyvia on Alek's 21st Birthday. |
