Christmas 2011
Oh my. Another year has come and gone. The saying is so true that says time flies by even faster when you’re older, and so is the saying about forgetting things when you’re older. Lately, I’ve been telling my student employees that I’m not responsible to remember anything unless they email me, write it down for me, or put it on my calendar. Good grief! I’m only 31!
For part of the year, I actually had a roommate again. Can you believe it? The best kind of roommate: my 19-year-old niece, Jen. She moved in with me during her sophomore year at BYU to escape some crazies she was living with. We had a lot of fun together, and I didn’t have to give up my precious kitchen organization because she hardly has any stuff! Bonus. Her stay with me was short and sweet before she took off for a study abroad in London. Sigh.
I had an abundance of adventures this past year. I think I’m feeling some need to get them out of my system and be utterly irresponsible in the process! Or maybe I’m just going crazy in my old age. I skied some seriously epic ski days - I’m talking three feet of new powder each time! And I coined some new powder-day sayings: “no budgets on a powder day” and “no illnesses on a powder day” - if that gives you a hint of how irresponsible I was. I went to Hawaii for a week in February and finally used my SCUBA certification, and, get this, went on my first ever, and probably last, helicopter ride/tour! 
I also fit in a backpacking trip to Canyonlands National Park, two organized road bike rides (one 60 miles, and the other 100 miles), a hike through some slot canyons, a couple fishing extravaganzas with my new fishing pole (where I learned to clean my own fish!), bought a new 29er mountain bike (that I looooove!), a business trip to Chicago, my first 12-hour mountain bike race (don’t worry, it was a relay - I didn’t ride my bike for 12 hours), and dove into the truly adventurous world of online dating. And the cherry on top: I went to Europe in October! I visited Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary. Prague is a beautiful city with street performers everywhere. I loved all the pastries, cakes, and tortes in Vienna, and Budapest stunned me with its baths and central market full of ethnic foods and crafts.
Grad school continues to be a big part of my life despite still working full-time, still taking piano lessons, still racing for my mountain bike team, and overcoming the sickest year of my life (three colds, shingles, and the flu - all in the first eight months of school!). But I finished and rocked my first year of school with my best-ever grades. I love it. Seriously. Going back to school has been my best decision to date.
I would be remiss to leave family out of a Christmas letter, or an entire year! So it’s a good thing I didn’t leave them out. I hosted some family in my fabulous guest room several times throughout the year - like for Robyn’s annual ski trip with me and Teri, and my mom’s visit for the Sundance Outdoor Theater production of The Sound of Music. I also went home to Idaho to see my dad, in the lovely Blackfoot, and for a quick trip to Robyn and Doug’s cabin in Cascade; and I went to California to visit Joni and Adam. And of course, I’ll go home for Christmas.
Lastly, I’m so grateful for this time of year to celebrate the good news of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He lives and loves each one of us, and that through Him we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again. I hope all is well with you and your loved ones and that this letter finds you well and happy! Take care and keep the emails, blog posts, and Christmas letters coming!
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