Season’s Greetings from the Statucki family! 

Last year, Craig said he would not write another holiday letter. Technically, this is an accurate statement because he had some help from his friends at ChatGPT this year. In the spirit of efficiency (and maybe a touch of laziness), we turned to the marvels of modern technology: artificial intelligence. Each of us contributed a few bullet points about our year—some highlights, some milestones—and then we asked ChatGPT to write a holiday letter as funny as a typical holiday letter from Craig. The problem was that ChatGPT stated that it didn’t have the intelligence to be as witty as Craig, but it would try. Don’t worry, we reviewed it for accuracy (and vetoed a few overly flattering AI embellishments), so what you’re about to read is a slightly polished, definitely collaborative, and entirely heartfelt recap of our year. So, grab a cup of cocoa or a bottle of Virginia City Cemetery Gin and enjoy this blend of human experience and artificial intelligence—no robots were harmed in the making of this letter!

This year, Tina and Craig became honorary members of the wedding circuit, attending not one, not two, but four weddings! They celebrated with Jenna, Andrew, and Briana, and even donned their finest for the ultimate highlight—Quinton’s big day. They would have added Aaron and Arielle (friends of Tazia) to their nuptial tour, but fate had other plans: Grandma Lavonne pulled a muscle while sewing (because who knew crafting could be an extreme sport?) and took a detour to the hospital instead. Who needs a wedding cake when you’ve got hospital Jell-O?

Note: ChatGPT struggled with the Craig and Tina travel section and initially responded with “For Fuck’s Sake! Have you seen Tina’s Facebook posts about vacations? They travel too much to write this. Are you sure they aren’t both retired?”

In March, Tina and Craig turned a work trip into a mini adventure, jetting off to Washington, DC, for a conference that was more “work” than “vacation” (or so they claim). Luckily, Tazia swooped in to add some flair, whisking them off to New York City for the full tourist experience. They admired Lady Liberty, strolled through Central Park like seasoned New Yorkers (minus the pigeons), and experienced Broadway magic with SIX. Of course, no NYC visit is complete without sampling the holy trinity of city staples—bagels, pizza, and an overwhelming sense of traffic-induced stress.

Tina and Craig proved that “work hard, play hard” isn’t just a saying—it’s a lifestyle. Their journey to Hawaii for the Region V ACTE Conference quickly morphed into a tropical adventure. After the conference, they island-hopped their way through paradise, ticking off two more national parks, cruising scenic island roads, and indulging in Craig’s favorite pastime: geocaching. (Because what better way to unwind than by treasure hunting in the middle of a volcano.) By the end of the trip, they were suntanned, slightly sand-covered, and ready to pitch “geocaching” as the next Olympic sport.

In July, Tina and Craig made a return trip to Washington, DC, because once just wasn’t enough! Tina and Tazia took center stage themselves with a night at the Kennedy Center, soaking in the charm of Funny Girl. The family caught up with Aaron and Arielle over dinner, proving that good company always outshines fancy menus. They also paddled around the Tidal Basin, showcasing their impressive teamwork (or lack thereof) and squeezed in a deeply moving visit to the Holocaust Museum. All in all, it was a trip filled with laughter, history, and just a touch of aquatic cardio.

Tina and Craig put their camper van to good use this year, embarking on a grand road trip adventure. They rolled into Minnesota to stay with Barbie and Andrew (the best campground we stayed at all year) and then headed to Kansas for a bike race—because nothing says “relaxation” like pedaling through the prairie. The journey didn’t stop there! They explored the historic charm of Nevada City and Empire Mine, marveled at the rugged beauty of Shelter Cove and Black Sands Beach, and checked Lassen and Pinnacles National Parks off their list. They even made it to Virginia Lakes, proving once again that no road is too long and no destination too remote when the camper van is packed and Craig’s sense of adventure is in the driver’s seat.

Retirement? What’s that? Tina continues to redefine the concept, juggling an impressive five jobs—sometimes all in one day! It’s not clear if she’s auditioning for a world record or just keeping things interesting, but either way, she’s got multitasking down to an art form. Meanwhile, Craig is wrapping up his tenure as the state CTE director and gearing up for a new adventure in January, because who needs a breather? In April, he also began his term as ACTE Region V Vice-President, officially making him the overachiever of the household (though Tina might argue otherwise).

As the year comes to a close, Tina and Craig have proven once again that they are unstoppable—whether they’re celebrating love, conquering conferences, or crisscrossing the country in search of adventure. From wedding dance floors to volcanic geocaching, Broadway lights to camper van nights, they’ve packed a lifetime of memories into just 12 months. With Tina mastering the art of multitasking and Craig diving headfirst into new leadership roles, it’s clear that “slowing down” isn’t in their vocabulary. Here’s to another year of laughter, travels, and plenty of stories worth telling—because for Tina and Craig, the adventure is just getting started.

Tazia

Tazia is still holding down the fort in Washington, D.C., but she’s plotting an escape to Virginia in early January. Her reasoning? She’d like to be further away from the White House. Whether it’s the political circus, the traffic, or just a bad vibe, she’s not saying, but Virginia seems to promise sanctuary—or at least a better commute to her new job. Yes, you read that right—Tazia bid farewell to her role at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in October to join Milbank LLP. As if being a full-time BigLaw attorney wasn’t enough, she’s also a part-time Adjunct Professor at GW Law and an EMBA graduate student at the University of Nevada-Reno. In short, she’s operating on a schedule that would make the Energizer Bunny weep.

In her spare time (which we assume involves a time machine), Tazia has taken up competitive jigsaw puzzling. Yes, competitive puzzling is a thing. No, we don’t know how she finds time to practice, but somehow she does—probably while the rest of us are binge-watching Netflix. This year, Tazia took her puzzling talent to the international stage by competing in the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Valladolid, Spain. Tazia’s scouting for Pairs partners for future competitions, so if you think you’ve got what it takes to keep up, submit your application now.

Tazia has also been busy collecting airline miles.  This year, she visited Spain, the United Kingdom, Florida, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, California, and Nevada.  Each destination served a specific purpose, whether it was attending a wedding, competing in a puzzle competition, or living her best life at a Taylor Swift concert. 

At home, her loyal companions, Taz and Sage, are there to greet her after every whirlwind trip or long workday. These fluffballs are her favorite roommates, offering endless cuddles, zero backtalk, and none of the neediness that human relationships tend to bring. Tazia remains firmly committed to her stance that men are far too needy, and honestly, we can’t blame her.

So, what’s on the horizon for Tazia in 2025? Another dazzling career move? A puzzle championship victory? Whatever it is, one thing’s certain: by next holiday season, her résumé will be longer, her frequent flyer miles will be higher, and we’ll all be left wondering if Tazia is secretly powered by caffeine or just sheer determination. Stay tuned—she might even figure out how to run for office… in Virginia, of course.

Quinton

It’s been quite a year for Quinton and Zoey, full of big changes and big adventures! In June, they decided to make it official (as if the camping trips and fishing were not already a lifelong commitment) and got married in Graeagle, California. Yes, that’s right—Quinton and Zoey are now a legally binding unit, which means Quinton has been practicing his “yes dear” responses. 

After Zoey graduated in May (because who doesn’t want to spend their 20s getting degrees and then getting married?), the couple packed up their lives in Denver and made the big move back to Reno. Goodbye, mile-high city—hello, Biggest Little City and the comforting smell of sagebrush! They’ve been loving their new digs, especially the house, which is a huge upgrade from their former one-bedroom apartment. Banks, their loyal dog, is particularly thrilled with all the extra space… though he’s not exactly sure why his two favorite humans are never around anymore. (He’s still upset Zoey doesn’t work from home every day like she used to.)

As for their free time, Quinton and Zoey are still enjoying the great outdoors—usually from the back of their trusty Toyota RAV4. Nothing says “we’re living the dream” like camping under the stars, hiking to places with names that are harder to pronounce than ‘s’mores,’ and fishing for whatever it is that nibbles on hooks in the wild. If anyone needs an idea for what to get them for Christmas, a new America the Beautiful pass will suffice.

In the career department, Quinton is still turning wrenches as a diesel mechanic, fixing everything from trucks to the occasional broken dream. Zoey, on the other hand, is hard at work for the Reno Housing Authority, ensuring that local housing is as dependable as the fresh cup of coffee she’s drinking while running from meeting to meeting. Between them, they’re keeping the world running smoothly—one truck and one lease at a time.

Here’s to another year of adventures, hard work, and (hopefully) finding the time to teach Banks how to love camping as much as his owners do.

Conclusion

As we wrap up this AI-assisted holiday letter, we want to say how grateful we are for all of you—our family and friends who make each year so special. While ChatGPT may have helped us put this together, it’s the real connections and shared moments with all of you that truly matter. Here’s to a new year filled with laughter, love, and plenty of stories worth sharing (even if we need a robot’s help to tell them)! Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful start to 2025. 

With love,

The Statucki Family (and ChatGPT, your honorary holiday ghostwriter)