What's happened in 2009? So much!
This is the year that all three of The Boys started playing for football teams (weekends are busy in a whole new way). This is the year that Ian reached the milestone where he cycles to school without his Mum trailing behind (which means more independence for both of them!). Of course this is the year when Simon moved up to Secondary School and Lucy's counting down the years until our time at Mayfield Primary ends (It'll be 11 years when Ian finishes in 2011). The annual Summer Fayre and International Evening were intense but fun--as always.
We enjoyed a "trip of a lifetime" trip to the Grand Canyon. You know what it looks like to look down on at some landscape from several thousand feet from your airplane window? That's what it looks like to stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon and look down into it. Fantastic! It was so cool that the whole family enjoyed hiking down into the canyon so much. Even Kevin is appreciating hiking (even though sleeping might win in a top ten!). Arizona was a great for mountain biking, wall climbing and playing in the snow. What a treat that Ken and Kevin's Dad and their wives conquered the windy and snowy roads to join us there!
Plus there was Kevin's birthday in Lucy's favourite walking place, Dovedale Derbyshire. More cycling and walking and good times together--great! Lucy had a reunion with her old college housemates (after oh-so many years!) celebrating one of their number's big day being ordained! In the summer we got carried away with a cool hobby of kayaking. These inflatable ones were affordable and easier to transport. And since we have a lovely river here in Cambridge, it was a doddle to get em ready and on the water. And we made it back to the Haine's Farm, which is always a great country experience for us city folk.
Kevin found a whole new lease of life with volunteering in our church when he covered for the leader during a 3 month sabatical. It was very stretching and a bit scary being in charge, but it was very rewarding and a huge boost of confidence and purpose that's had a good knock on effect in work and family too. Lucy's glad of that and glad he's not so distracted by phone calls and emails and deep thoughts!
Wasn't this the year when so many of our friends and relatives found each other on Facebook? Simon's joined the Gadget generation with a touch screen phone, which in turn compelled Kevin to look how he will connect in 2010. Hmmmm.
Less than a month ‘til Christmas. We’ll miss family, but are sharing the break with some loved-ones here and Christmas itself with a few Chinese students like we used to do years ago. It’ll be fun having a houseful!
