Happy 2022! On New Years Day we skied with Rachel and her family and Becky and her family. It was SUPER cold that day. The kids were miserable, especially considering this is their first time skiing this season. Bryan took some of the kids to get hot chocolate to warm up. Around lunch time it was bearable. We got in some good ski time and LOVED the fresh powder.
Rachel took our girls home after skiing to have a sleepover, so Bryan and I could celebrate our 16th anniversary up in the mountains.
He booked us a hotel at Daniels Summit Lodge near Heber, Utah. It was secluded and beautiful. The snow was piled up high and untouched. The indoor swimming pool was foggy from the temperature contrast inside and outside. The hotel had an attached restaurant and snow mobile rental shop.
And that was the main purpose of the trip- to go snowmobiling. I have never done it before and Bryan likes to make me do things out of my comfort zone. And guess what happened almost immediately! I got stuck because I was trying to be cool and go off the trail like Bryan. Luckily, the snowplow trail tractor wasn't too far behind us and bailed my snowmobile out. It made for a good laugh.
The views were incredible!
Bryan and I also went snowshoeing on Strawberry Reservoir. We even walked on the frozen water and saw poeple ice fishing. It was a restful and magical couple days together with no distraction from out kids or cellphones.
We ate at this fun restaurant in Heber called Back 40 Roadhouse and Grill located in a yurt. A little cold after spending all day hiking/snowmobiling, but such a unique, excellent find.
The rest of our stay in Utah involved hot tubing with cousins,
skiing with family at Park City,
and roller-skating and playing in the bounce houses at the arcade. We had a great visit. And as always, it is nice to be with family.
Over Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Bryan went with some buddies to Arkansas for duck hunting. He had a good time, but didn't end up coming home with a single duck. In fact, none of the guys shot a single duck. Better luck next time!
Bryan and I attended a friends wedding the following weekend. It was the most beautiful venue and fun to hang out with my co-workers/friends not at work!
The day after the wedding party, Bryan got up really early to compete in the Best Medic Competition. Soldiers from all over the world came to the Fort Hood area to compete. This was Bryan's second time competing for the honor of Best Medic, as last year he and his partner took third place. They have been training all hard all year to be ready for taking the title.
And they WON!!!
I was able to attend the ceremony because it was at Fort Hood. Luckily my boss let me take a long lunch. I was so nervous while waiting for the results during the ceremony. He was amazing, unstoppable, and determined. He deserved this honor and worked so hard for it.
While Bryan was away, we celebrated Howie's first birthday! He has been so much fun, but also, so much work!
