The Flight Path Lounge: Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Dorings!

2011 has been a fabulous year with lots of firsts. Quinn tried skiing, kite flying, being an octopus for Halloween and wearing a three-piece suit. He's been immersed in Spanish in his preschool and will soon be mocking us right to our faces. Chip is working for a new company - Pickertech - designing a system to shoot [redacted] down a [redacted]. Think of the possibilities. Carrie is still working at Microsoft and greatly enjoyed traveling to Hong Kong, Madrid and Athens while Chip spent a week at the Burning Man Festival. The best part of the year has been spent with family and friends - love to you all!

Quinn visited Santa in his fancy suit. I thought he'd change right after the picture but he ended up wearing it all day.

We went on our annual Doring-Bykowski sledding excursion at Snoqualmie Ridge. Quinn is more fearless than me on the sled.

We hosted a big "Shrovetide Oasis" (Mardi Gras) party for Chip and Janet's birthdays. We had live performances and a dancing room, and the usual vodka luge. Fun was had by all.

I had a wonderful year for business travel, this picture is from Athens in the spring. I work with people around the globe everyday, so it's always very nice to catch up with everyone in person.

On my last day in Greece I took a cruise through the islands with the lovely Sharon Edwards. It's certainly the good life.

On my way home from Greece, I stopped to visiting Evan in Stamford, UK. Evan, Sam, Cam and Harry moved over there this year to be closer to Sam's family. They are loving it.

We went camping in Fort Flagler with Dad and Susan. It was a gorgeous weekend and we had a blast.

Quinn is sweared in as a junior ranger at Fort Flagler. There were actually quite a lot of requirements to get certified, which Quinn took fairly seriously.

Quinn gets his first kite in the air at Fort Flagler. This is my favorite picture of the year as it really captures the excitement and joy of being young.

My first attempt at cake pops - yum!! I made these for our annual neighborhood BBQ.

Quinn and I went down to visit his Grammy in Petaluma, and stopped to visit Fairyland in Oakland. We found a merry-go-round that's just Quinn's size.

There was a crazy research ship docked in Seattle all summer for repairs, which basically looked like a giant egg on a platform. You can see it behind Quinn in this picture on the waterfront. I think this was actually the day they towed it away, which was sad.

Playing with the big buoys in the park on the waterfront.

Are we not men? Chip and I went to The Devo show at Red Hook Brewery. Although it poured rain the entire time, the bands all gave it their best. It was spectacular.

The Viaduct is an elevated freeway that moves cars along the waterfront in Seattle. The city is replacing it with a giant tunnel, so had to tear down a section this summer to prepare for the boring. We got a chance to walk up on the road one last time, and it was a little melancholy. Chip got a chunk to take home.

Umbrella boy on the viaduct.

Picking out a pumpkin at Remlinger Farms for Halloween. Quinn really enjoyed tracing patterns for his Dad to carve out this year.

The pumpkin farm also has an area with rides and other fun stuff, and I love this little logging truck.

Quinn surprised us this year by taking off his ubiquitous superhero outfit for Halloween and dressing up as an Octopus.

After picking out his octopus outfit, Quinn decided that I would be a mermaid for Halloween. King Neptune was the obvious choice for Chip.

Enjoying the fall colors in a local park.

Christmas lunch with cousin Chase. We have an annual date with his cousins and Santa Claus every year, and this year went to see the Frog and Toad musical. Quinn belly laughed through the whole show.