Although I've taken an official break from this old and dusty blog, I thought I'd use it to sit down and reflect on the past year. This year involved an emphasis on life and experiences. We tried to focus on what really matters to our family and how can we make changes to maximize those priorities.
Earlier this year, we rearranged some real estate investments and bought a condo in Park City, Utah. The plan is to try to spend as much time in the mountains during the summer and winter, and rent out the space when we are not using it. We love who our family is when we get out of the hustle and bustle of city life and want our kids to experience nature and calm more often in their lives. We are grateful that we have the flexibility to create that balance.
We enjoyed getting all FOUR Jordans on the ski slopes where Grace is now tearing up blue runs. Palmer was such a proud big brother and patient as Grace maneuvered the new hills. He even helped pole her out of some flatter spots. In the summer, we basked in the glory of no mosquitos and tolerable summer temperatures while we hiked, ventured up to Glacier National Park and explored Montana. While in Park City, the guys found new thrills on the mountain bike trails of Deer Valley.
Back in Texas, we are settled into our usual patterns. Palmer is in third grade and a self-proclaimed lover of reading. He's checked off all of the Harry Potter books and most of the books by author Rick Riordan, and is currently tackling the Texas Bluebonnet books for 2019. He loves golfing with Rick on the weekends, plays on a baseball team, enjoys chess and other mind-challenging games, and loves snow skiing and mountain biking. This summer, Palmer went to a ski jumping camp where the coaches were impressed with his determination and grit.
Grace graduated from her beloved preschool in the spring and is in a kinder program where she is flourishing with reading, writing, and math. She loves ballet and tap with her friends, gymnastics, and will always sing every single word to any song at any time. At home, Grace can be found playing with her baby dolls and dollhouse and is often heard bossing friends with imaginative play.
We sold our beloved mid-century home remodel, and I've been busy remodeling a smaller flip home in a nearby Dallas neighborhood. The home is a completely different style (think Texas ranch house) and has been a creative challenge for me while we try to determine what our next step is for more permanent residence. The construction projects dominate most of my day, but I still fit in freelancing when the schedule allows, running the kids around to their daily activities, volunteering for school and neighborhood events, and playing on a tennis team.
Rick is busy making lists of all the things he wants to do before he is 40 (one year from now) and trying to find the balance of work and living a full life of experiences. He loves getting out on the golf course regularly and has also found a new love for tennis where he subbed on a mixed doubles team this fall. We were invited to one of his tennis team dinners and laughed that we brought down the average age of the group by a few decades.
Rick and I got away to New York for a weekend with tennis friends to enjoy the US Open. We loved the chance to see new sensation Coco Gauff play against reigning US Open Champion Naomi Osaka, and saw all the other current tennis "greats" - including Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. We are already trying to figure out how to make this weekend an annual tradition.
We are looking forward to hitting up opening day of the ski season in the mountains during Thanksgiving and dreaming up holiday menus to get us thru December's full calendar of fun. We wish you a happy holiday season and best of intentions for the new year.
Love,
Bethany, Rick, Palmer, and Grace Jordan
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