Well, it has been a year since my last update. I had to get all that Dubai info down before all the amazing details left my mind...guess I forgot to do the kids' blogs at the time! I have since updated theirs and feel like I better fill this in.
Last year after we got back from Dubai we took another quick trip in Feb. to Puerto Vallarta to visit my parents. We did something a little different when we went...we went to a school in Magisterio...a nearby town that many of the locals lived and worked off the dump. It is an extremely poor community and is very sad. Basic plumbing and electricity is something they don't have. We took care packages to three of the grades (to correlate with our kids' grades) and our kids handed out the gift packages to all the children in the class. Each package had a note of some sort attached...our kids had the students in their school make pictures and notes and then we took them to PV with us. The look on the children's faces was amazing. They were so happy. Later in the day Ehren and Emily stayed behind to help distribute a package for every kid that was in school that day. Each package had beans, rice and flour I believe...staples that were essential for these families. It was truly an eye opening experience for all of us.
As the school year ended we had a visit from Gramma Elaine. She was here for three weeks and some of the time she was here was the beginning of our kids' summer break. We had a great time with her and she was able to enjoy some time with the kids as well as we were here for the rest of May and all of June.
In July we took a three week trip to Canada. I was there with the kids for three weeks and Ehren flew back hone for a bit to work so he was gone 2 weeks. We spent time at Windermere, BC and then in High River. It was a nice little get away. Later that month I had a cousin that got married in Los Angeles area. We drove to CA and spent 10 days there. We got to see many of my Mom's side of the family which I hadn't seen in a long time, and had the treat of spending time with Deana and her family as well as with Mom and Dad...outside of our own dwellings! We were care free with little responsibility...it was great! We did Disney and CA Adventure and then went to San Diego and stayed a couple nights with our great friends there. It was a very relaxing trip!
Kids started school in August and then it is all a blur. :-) We did the Hot Chocolate 5k this year again as a family...a 5k ending with a chocolate fondue. Very fun! We also did the Boulder Bolder this year as a family...a 10k in Boulder which is a blast. Elaine joined us for that and her and Jaelynn walked together. :-)
In November my parents came through on their way to Mexico. While they were here Ehren and I had planned a weekend get away with some friends. We took three days and went to Santa Barbara to do a half marathon. It was so much fun and the weather was perfect! We also got to see a long time friend of mine...Jackie, who lives in the area. It was great to catch up with them!
Over Thanksgiving we did an early trip to Puerto Vallarta this year. With Emily being in middle school we didn't want to take her out of school for too many days so decided to go over Thanksgiving. We had a great time and this year we went to the PV Zoo. It was so much fun and we paid the extra buck for the kids to play with the monkeys and baby tigers at the end. Very interesting observation for those of you that read Evan's blog...he was very sneezy and itchy after that...didn't even think of it, but he is allergic to the feline family...not just a basic house cat! The trip was wonderful and we did get in golf and tennis as well as some great beach time.
This year for Christmas we had a special treat. Lana and Samuel decided to come this way from Dubai! They were here for three weeks and spent time between Deana and my house. Mom and Dad also came for 10 days...so the first time in about 8 years that we have had our family all together! It was so nice. Once catch...I broke my darn toe on my left foot! Broke it bad and still cannot skate or ski...or run. :-( Yes, poor me. I am hoping I won't have to have surgery but they had a hard time setting it so not sure if it will heal good enough. I will know in a couple weeks. Keep your fingers crossed!
I am still working a couple days a week at the cancer center and Ehren is still going full tilt at Qualcomm. Both of us loving our jobs. Running has slowed a bit over the winter...although I am on a full hiatus at the moment. :-( I am volunteering in the school weekly...sometimes twice a week and then I give myself a day or two for errands and sanity time. :-) Ehren has also been helping a lot with Evan's hockey team, coaching department. :-)
So for the year coming up...we are heading on a 4 day ski trip with a couple other families to Winterpark. This will be the first time our kids have skied somewhere other than Eldora. I think it will be a pleasant surprise! We are also going to head to Utah to Bryce Canyon and Zion in May, and then in July back to Canada for a wedding, reunion and some R & R...hopefully! Elaine is coming again in March, and I'm sure my parents will be through in April.
I do believe I need to update more often as this became rather long winded and it was not full of a lot of details! Yikes!
