Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to all!


2010 year in review….
Happiest of holidays to you and your family and friends! All is well with the Webbs and we had a GREAT 2010.
Tom was (as usual!) busy working to keep us afloat. A few trips overseas, MANY to Houston, and some other fascinating places in the world. He’s gotten back into karate and Maggie is encouraging him to go to the gym with her in the early evenings.
The defining moment for my year (aside from the great things the 4 of us did together!) was a trip to Mali last January with my dad. Dad had gone in 2009 with his brother with the same organization (Tandana) and I was so intrigued that I got signed up to go myself. Truly an incredible experience. We did some touring of the country, then spent a short week in their “adopted” village where we helped the villagers plant hundreds of fruit trees and build a rock wall around (to keep the sheep and goats out). Reports state that some fruit is growing, and dad will be returning again this year with an update!
Maggie’s big event for the year has been making the transition from grammar to high school (private high schools start in 8th grade for the most part here). She quit dancing and ran cross country this past fall and is looking forward to track in the spring. She has made many new friends (going from a co-ed class of 42 to an all-girls class of about 125!) and is also succeeding academically.
Over the summer, Abby participated in swim team and the JCC – man, can she swim breast stroke! In the fall, she started upper school (5th grade) this year – first year where there are MANY different teachers (one per subject) and changing rooms for each class. She ran for student council, but didn’t win (at least the boy who one is a friend of hers!). She also played intramural volleyball and it turns out she’s quite a server! She continues with violin and I am astounded by her progress.
As a family we made several great trips this year. Over the Mardi Gras break, we took the train to Tom’s favorite place in the world – Big Bend National Park in west Texas. My second no-make-up-vacation of the year! We were both really impressed that the girls were able to complete a 12 mile round-trip hike that included a 4000 foot elevation change. We hiked for 4 days and enjoyed coming back to the lodge in the evening for comfortable sleeping and someone else making supper! We enjoyed it so much we’re heading back again this year…
During the summer we flew to North Carolina to visit my family and enjoyed a week in Pigeon Forge with them as well as my sister and her family. Did the tourist items, including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede which was a hit with all. Tom flew home after that trip while the girls and I stayed an extra week.
Over Thanksgiving we went up to see Tom’s mom and Lou. Picked Maggie up at school on Tuesday afternoon, drove to Memphis and arrived in Arkansas on Wednesday. GREAT meal Thursday (even with the freezing rain storm) and nice relaxing. Too bad it was a short visit….next time!