Here it is, December 31st...only five more hours until a new year begins, and I am attempting to capture the last few weeks of 2010 on this blog while on an airplane heading home from Utah. As I ponder the many changes that a year can bring, I am simultaneously struck by how quickly technology changes. Who would have EVER guessed that you would be able to surf the web from a laptop computer while on an airplane??
But back to the subject...after a few crazy weeks in December, our long awaited departure date arrived, and we flew to Utah on the 20th! It was great having 10 full days to spend with Billy's family and to finally meet our newest nephew, Soren James Campbell born on 11/18!
On the 21st, the kids spent lots of time playing with their Utah cousins...
But back to the subject...after a few crazy weeks in December, our long awaited departure date arrived, and we flew to Utah on the 20th! It was great having 10 full days to spend with Billy's family and to finally meet our newest nephew, Soren James Campbell born on 11/18!
On the 21st, the kids spent lots of time playing with their Utah cousins...
And that evening, Billy and I took the kids to Heber to ride the North Pole Express. They both loved it, but Brody was especially enthralled with the train ride through the snow and enjoyed talking with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Jangle, one of Santa's helpers.
On Christmas eve, we baked Santa's favorite cookies (according to Mrs. Claus), made a birthday cake for Jesus, and opened family presents.
On Christmas day, after seeing what Santa brought and enjoying breakfast together, the kids played happily with their new gifts and their cousins, and Billy and I headed to Big Cottonwood Canyon to enjoy an uncrowded day of skiing on Utah's pristine slopes.
Brody expressed an interest in skiing this year, so on Monday, we ventured out again. Alexa chose to stay home with Halmoni and play with her cousins. Brody was so excited at the rental shop, wearing his new goggles in the car on the ride up! Once we reached the slopes, he became a little more hesitant, suddenly uncertain as to whether or not he really wanted to attach those tiny planks to his feet, but after a little coaxing, he began walking around in the snow with his skis on. Brighton has a really nice pre-bunny slope area which features "the magic carpet", a conveyor belt (similar to the moving sidewalks at the airport) which literally carries the kids to the top of the hill. He LOVED riding it up!
Once at the top, Billy would point him down the mountain and let go and I'd catch him a few feet down the slope. Billy would catch up and we'd repeat the whole process! Brody happily did this for several hours, and while he never really figured out the 'wedge' (our little speed demon was 'tips down, full speed ahead' the entire day), he had fun, and that was the most important goal. He can't wait to go again, and his excitement has perhaps convinced his more cautious sister to give it a try the next time the opportunity presents itself...
On Tuesday, we had family photos taken of the entire Hill/Campbell clan.
That evening, we ventured into downtown Salt Lake to look at the lights.
Thursday, we headed to Ogden to play at the Treehouse Museum - one of MY favorite children's museums!!
After the museum, we enjoyed dinner in a wagon at the Prairie Schooner restaurant.
As always, our flight home came too quickly, and now, here I sit, wondering how ten days can seem to pass so quickly when on a vacation and so slowly when part of a one year deployment! While 2010 had its share of highlights and memorable moments, in all honesty, I'm glad to put this year behind us...even though it means another move is looming in our future. Our orders in Ohio are up in June, so within the next few months, we should know where we'll be relocating.
One of our favorite movies to watch during the holidays is "The Family Man." Billy and I were able to watch it last night, and I was struck by the truth in one of the lines spoken by Tea Leoni's character (Kate). She tells Jack (Nicholas Cage), "I love you, and that is more important than our address."
As I look ahead to a year that I know will be filled with change, to once again packing up our memories, saying goodbye to the friends that have become so dear in the last 18 months, helping my children adjust to a new location and to the uncertainty as to what will lie ahead, I also know that I wouldn't change a thing about my life. That I would do this again and again (and will for the next 10+ years!) because, at least for the time being, we will all be together as a family...because I am proud of my husband and the job he does and I will continue to follow him where ever the Army takes us so that we can be together...because I love him, and that will always be more important than my address.
So bring on 2011....and whatever adventures await us.
