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Dear Family & Friends: May 23, 2004 We didn't get a newsletter out this Christmas, so here's an update on our family's goings-on.We're graduating three kids this Spring! What an amazing milestone! How did our babies get through high school and college? |
 Kat (that's what Katie likes to be called now)
is
graduating after three years of high school at Buckingham Charter High
School.
She has worked very hard, taking community college classes and online
AP (advanced
placement) classes to get the credits needed to graduate early. She's
looking
at culinary schools and considering a career in that field. Kat has
taken a
class in sushi making at a local cooking school and now can make us
delicious
cucumber and salmon rolls for a fraction of what it'd take to buy them
at the
restaurant. She's still taking voice lessons as well, and is keeping
the study
of music as an option.  Her
boyfriend, Thomas
Fournier, has become part of our
household and is planning a career in filmmaking or music, after his
graduation this month. He's
produced,
edited and directed several movies which are being shown today in the
school's
film festival at our local multiplex. Look for his name in the credits
of The
Final Job, an independent film to be released later this year. Kat
& Jill
will be visiting colleges in Vermont and New Hampshire in June before
the
family trip to Star Island. |
 Andrew is graduating with an Associate's degree in
Mathematics from Solano College, and is looking for a job where he can
be paid
to work out puzzles & higher math problems. He'll be in Maryland in
June
for a job fair and to investigate possible employers. |
Our
Japan-based friends' daughter, Ayame
Newman, is living with us again this year and finishing her first year
of high
school. She's excelling in academic work as well as in symphony, where
she
plays oboe. Memorial Day weekend she'll go to Vancouver with the band
for a
concert tour. In June she's visiting her aunt in Maine, then in July
she will
be attending band camp in the Redwoods. Her goal for the summer is
passing the
Driver's Ed class so she can get a driving permit. |
Jil's NewsIn January my parents visited California, as you can see from the photos they enjoyed a break from the cold winter in Indiana - we went to Lake Almanor in Northern California near Mount Lassen. Dad was reading the book "Cold Mountain" as we gathered around the fire. It wasn't all snow, though - they also had the chance to soak up the sun in Southern California at my brother Ron's house.
I'm going to teach English teachers in China for a month in July. I'll be in Chengdu, which is the capital of Sichuan Province. I'll bring a good supply of antacids, as this is the hot food capital of China as well. The training course is for middle school teachers, and will deal with language skills as well as teaching methods. Over the past year, I've been writing lessons about learner standards to be used by Chinese teachers, so I'm really looking forward to meeting the teachers and seeing their reactions to the lessons. |
 John is still at Large
Scale Biology. His latest passion is bicycling up and down the hills
around
Vacaville, he has worked up to 12-15 miles an hour - he says it depends
on
whether the wind is blowing or not. He also sings in the Unity Singers
(he's at
the far right in the picture), and has preformed solo several times at
our
church in the past year. He has taken up a new hobby as well: stained
glass.
Our first project was a lampshade for the living room (see picture to
right)
that Jill's Dad helped us begin when he was here. He's working on some
sun-catchers now. |
 Our
house got a major makeover
this year,
with new wooden flooring and paint in the living room, kitchen and
dining room.
It's like we moved to a new place, and is very comfortable. So that
explains
why the Christmas/New Year's letter never got out. Hope you are all
well and
prospering this year. Please keep in touch! (my email is
jill@jillrobbins.com,
and our phone is (707) 469-1226)
Best Wishes, Jill Our address is: 132 Hawthorn Court, Vacaville, CA 95688 USA Phone is (707) 469-1226 |
More Photos:
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| Andrew after getting his degree | Katie getting the President's Award for academic achievement from her principal | John & Jill & Katie at the Senior Brunch |
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| Thomas and his sweethearts | Ayame hanging out with some pals from band during their recent tour in Canada... | This
should be our intersection! |
