Utah

For the first time in 7+ years, John and I got away on a multi-day adventure in the mountains.  The last time we were so lucky, it was our honeymoon in Chamonix.  That was an amazing trip, but this one might have trumped that.  We love our kids and there were definitely moments when we wished they were with us.  But, we knew they were having a ball with both sets of grandparents in Connecticut and we also knew that this would have been a very different trip with them in tow. 

I booked the trip in September.  I wanted to do something special to celebrate John's 50th birthday.  After much research, I found a good "stay and ski" deal at Snowbird and was able to use frequent flier miles to get there.  With so many friends living in so many cool areas, it was tempting to go visit with them...... but in the end I kind of wanted John to myself. 

We flew out of JFK and were on the ground in SLC by 10:30am and on the slopes of Alta in a snow storm by 12:30.  We skied until we couldn't ski any more each day, soaked in the hot tub, ate great dinners out, and did the same thing the next day.

I had injured my back five days before we left for the trip.  It was so painful and debilitating that I thought about canceling the trip.  While the back remained painful throughout the trip, the sunshine and love made it all just fine. We were on top of the world.

It's never really possible to have John to yourself!  We did find graduated UVM Outing Club students to ski and socialize with, as well as his old friend Geoff Tabin.  But that was okay, because they showed us parts of the mountain we wouldn't have found. 

It was so, so great to play in the big mountains with my best friend for five days.  We needed this!  It brought everything about our love into perspective-- purified and real.  After 8 years of marriage, I'm still so glad I made the plunge with this guy.

We owe a lot of gratitude to the grandparents who spoiled and dotted on our babies while we were playing in the mountains.  The kids loved being with them and got to do so many fun things-- Peabody Museum, Tea Shop lunch, library visits, Stepping Stones, an IMAX movie, and the Barnum and Bailey Circus.  We are so lucky!