Happy Holidays 2011
Liz and I had an eventful year in 2011 with the trips to Costa Rica and Hawaii, the engagement of Cady and Darrick, Kaylee and Lily's 4th and 2nd birthdays, and so many wonderful times with family and friends.
2011 was also the year of the passing of my terrific big sister Jan. Her positive energy will continue to inspire us all.
Liz retired this year but somehow is busier than ever and I am still enjoying my stay at the Academy. We both look forward to a great 2012.
Happy Holidays from Liz and John!

Happy Birthday Jan!

The Staff Family celebrated Jan's life on Saturday, October 29th at the El Encanto with about 200 of Jan's family and friends. We all enjoyed sharing stories and reminiscing about our time with Jan. I especially enjoyed Ben's slide show and the stories shared by the "kids" particularly Lacey's reflections and Cady's poem.
Here is Jan's poem to us...

Warm summer sun, balmy breezes,

Smell of ocean---Love's dream seizes!
Autumn colors and cooler nights,

Toasty sweaters, Halloween delights.

Family mem'ries at Thanksgiving,

Snowy evenings, alpine skiing.

Easter flowers and island grass,

More memories of the past.

How can I be the dieing one,

When I want the warm summer sun?

(Do you like it?  Love, Jan)

Please send your favorite pictures, music, and stories to remember my big sister. Jan was always the photogenic one and always looked her best. She loved good music and so far we have Theme from a Summer Place, It's a Wonderful World, Senza Fine, and Righteous Brothers.
I know we all have great stories...Thanksgiving, rollerskating, bobbing for apples, 45's, Huskey eyes, Stewy, Jan Christine the flying machine, golf, fishing, parasailing, snorkling, waterskiing, skiing, red wine, Spanish emersion, the energizer bunny...it is just a matter of if we can remember.
Jan was always the organized one.
Please check out the slide show on Jan on Photoshows.

Jan Christine “Staff” Harrison passed away last Sunday, August 21, 2011 after a 13 year battle with cancer.  Jan proved to be a fighter who continued to beat the odds right up until the end. Jan was a loving wife, the family matriarch, big sister, special aunt, hostess, organizer, and inspiration for us all. Jan was born in San Franciso on October 28, 1948, graduated Avalon High School in 1966, graduated from San Diego State in 1970, and was a stewardiss for American Airlines for 34 years where she met her pilot husband Dave on a flight in 1972. Jan was also happy to volunteer as a docent at both the Avalon and Nevada State Museums. Jan touched so many including her many loyal old and new friends. Jan was a combination of smart, opinionated, high energy, athletic, stylish, proper, and artistic. Jan did not have time for complaining or sitting around and doing nothing. She was an adventurer who climbed mountains, fished, skied, and loved to travel. She was fun to be around and wanted everyone to enjoy life as much as she did.

We will all miss her greatly and the family would like to thank the many special friends that assisted Jan with her difficult final journey.
Dave and the Staff kids will be holding a service and a gathering to celebrate Jan’s life on the Island on Saturday, October 29th.

We are back and the slide show is posted to my photoshows...see link on the top right of the blog. We had a great time and thanks to Barton, Ben, Nancy and Barton's first and second families in Costa Rica.

Birds, birds, birds...we have seen so many that I can only start...humming birds, parots, paraquets, tucans, makaws, kiscadees, tanagers, vulchers, hawks, and many more I cannot name. We have also seen monkeys, sloths, iguanas, lizards, and today we should see aligators. We are currently on the beach and jungle in the southwest corner of Costa Rica. Soon we will be back to reality.

We are now 8 days in to our trip and have reached the Osa Pennisula where Barton is teaching. We spent two days in the Orosi Valley and had a terrific trout dinner at the top, swam in the river, went to a great Argentinian restaurant, and saw some of colonial Costa Rica. Last night we stayed in Dominical and today we arrived at the Iguana Lodge in Puerto Jimenez. We have seen iguanas, scarlet macaws, tucans, and who knows what. I will post a slide show as soon as I get home.

Days 2-4 were spent at Lake Arenal at La Mansion. We had two cabins overlooking the lake, with a view from the porch, entry room, and bedroom. We were practically the only ones around and saw lots of birds from out cabins, jacuzzi, and restaurant. Day 2 we went for a swim in the lake, Day 3 we went into the rain forest through hanging bridges, and Day 4 we went to the national park at the base of the volcano. We saw (and heard) howler monkeys, a sloth, and many types of birds. Many, many pictures to follow...

Day One in Costa Rica we were able to stay with Barton's first host family in La Fela just outside San Jose. Maricel, Alfredo, Kenneth, and Kevin were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed a nature tour and terrific meals provided by HM2.
Muchas gracias por toda su compasion y su hospidalidad. De verdad nos divertimos mucho, y en especial quiero decir que Maricel cocina muy bien. Que buena madra para Barton!

Cady is engaged!

Yesterday on the trials high above Sierra Madre, Darrick popped the question.

Congratulations Cady and Darrick!

The girls at Lily's Lighthouse Kauai

Lunch at the Shimp Station and Island Taco, Waimea

Moose goes for a last spin around town.

Check out the crazy chase sceen at the Tichenor house...here comes the Lil

It was great seeing our friends and relations Brian and Annie this January in Southern California. I hope they had as much fun as we did. Also special thanks to the Waidmanns for showing Cady and Derrick the Capital on their recent trip.