Where do you go for sunshine in the snow?

Soldier Hollow! This was one of the venue sites for the 2002 Winter Olympics with Cross Country Skiing. It's a gorgeous location just past Heber and Midway with a stunning view of mountains all the way around. When the inversion gets to be too much in Salt Lake Valley, it's a wonderful place to get out of it and see the sun.

We met up with the cousins and so our group had 13 people ranging from 5 to 68....woo hoo!! You get a ticket for 2 hours on the tubing hill and you can go as many times as you can haul your tube to the rope tow. The last time we were there, Gabe was 4 and we ended up pulling him in his tube the whole time. I think we got him out once to let the blood flow in his legs. This year Gabe was an absolute trooper! He hauled his tube from the bottom of the hill back to the rope tow every time. Strong work Dude!!

One run down the hill had almost everyone in the family. We bundled all the tubes together (much harder than it looks) and slid down at a pretty good speed....here is the video:

Another run was just our little crowd:

And then Carmen and I decided to do our own video. I was so focused on making sure I had the camera in the right direction and not dropping it - I nearly made myself sick!! I wish I could have caught Carmen's happy laughter instead of my own....oh, she laughed!!

A new year, all the way around!

Not only is it the first week of 2009, but it is also my birthday. I have always loved having my birthday in January. I love having it so close to Christmas and New Years.... so I have decided to write myself a list of things I want to do this year.

I want to keep working out so my body looks a little more like when I was 24. I don't need the size 6 jeans again but I would love to have the same general shape. It was so fun to be able to put on anything in my closet and have it look wonderful. I will get there soon.

I want to wear earrings more...strange but I don't wear jewelery much but I love a fun pair of earrings. I really, really, really love my black pearls (thank you sweetie!). I need to make an effort to wear earrings more often.

I want a new kitchen sink. I know...odd. I am so practical but I really am disgruntled with my current sink. I am tired of getting everything (including myself) completely wet when I use this sink. I want to go back to a simple one basin, extra deep white sink....that's all!!

I want to have a really pretty and functional garden this year. I have had pretty and I have had functional but very rarely have I had both. I want to grow some things that are new and fun but can be canned or dried and used during the winter. I love the look of jars lined up after a long day of canning. Something inside me just sings.....

I want to spend more time laughing. I feel like some days all I do is correct or direct the kids. I want to trust them and have them cooperate and quit fighting....I just want to have more fun with them. That may mean that I don't need to have a clean'ish house....or things put away....but I would rather have everyone help me clean up so we can all have fun.

I want to spend more time in our own backyard. That may mean adding on to our deck this year and moving the grill back but I would love to have the oasis that I am dreaming of in our back yard.....grow little trees, grow!!!

I want to see if I want chickens........I love the idea and the benefits but I know I only want hens. I would love to see the cats react to huge pecking birds in the yard. I would love fresh eggs. I would not love the cost of a fence and trying to find said eggs.....

I want corduroy couches. I have only bought 2 couches in my whole life. One long before I was married and the other last summer at a yard sale....perfect microfiber and a total steal!! I want to buy really yummy tan or brown corduroy that you can just sink into and the cats can't destroy. I can almost feel how wonderful they will be!!

I want to plan a HUGE graduation party for Brett. He has worked so hard and has given up so much to get through school. I am so proud of him, I could almost burst!!! I really want to give all the people that adore him a chance to show him how proud we are of him.

I want to have a wonderful 35th year...so far it is looking AMAZING!!!!