Year in Review

2009 was a great year for our family. Here is a short recap of some of our favorite moments and memories.

1.) January was a big month for William. He had a story published in a magazine and had his hair changed from "Carpenter-chic" to "Skater Hip". I kept my resolution to give up sugar (a miracle for a Romney) and felt determined to make healthier lifestyle changes.

2.) February William participated in his first science fair and applied to a new school.

3.) March brought good news when we found out William and ALL of his friends had been accepted into his new school and that I would have a chance to hang 2 of my photos in a local gallery downtown.

4.) Leprechaun hunting and London loving were wonderful memories from our April/May trip to Dublin and London. We went sans children and had such an amazing travel adventure just Bill and I.

5.) We celebrated Father's Day with Bill in June in the mountain resort of Snowbird. We had a lovely time swimming and hiking and eating great food-- buffet style a Barber family favorite. Romney finished Kindergarten and William finished 4th grade, ending his time as an elementary school student. We enjoyed the beginning of summer with trips to the park and watching movies on the capitol lawn (and rotunda). The highlight of the month was watching Romney master the art of riding a two wheeled bicycle.

6.) July and August meant family hikes in the mountains to keep cool and a hot and humid trip to Washington D.C. and Williamsburg for a plethora of family fun in museums and pools and beaches and amusement parks. It also meant turning 36 disco style for me. The first day of school brought a new found freedom during the days as Romney started full-day school for the first time.

7.) September was bitter sweet watching both boys struggle to find their footing in new school environments. Both had a rough month, but came through strong and self-assured and ready for new challenges. It also meant more travel for me, as I headed to Southern California to help Anne get her home organized.

8.) Routine started to set in by October, which called for an impromptu trip to Saint George to break the rut we were falling into. It also brought a surprise visit from our friends from Nebraska and William's best birthday party ever at Classic Skating.

9.) In November, Romney wanted to have a great birthday party, too and planned one at the same place William had his. It also brought another bitter-sweet memory: Traveling to St. George and Kanab for Thanksgiving weekend. We had such an amazing time riding bikes and hiking the red hills the first two days and then the second half was spent with Bill's grandmother as she was released from the hospital and spent her last night in her home in Kanab. It was difficult to say good-bye knowing it could (and would) be Bill's last chance to see her alive.

10.) December brought more travels, first to Kanab for Grandma Seager's funeral and later, after Christmas to Newport Beach to escape the snow. Most importantly, December was the month Bill finished his Master's degree and we celebrated his achievements with a party for his friends and family. It was such a treat for him for his entire family to make it out for the event and then to have a Christmas celebration with everyone in town.

As far as years go, 2009 was incredibly good to us. It may have been another difficult year for the country and the world both in terms of economics and peace. We have been fortunate and feel lucky to have all those memories and each other.