such a good year

Go team Rix! Santa brought us jerseys. The kids get a kick out of the fact that we are numbered in order of age, 01 being the oldest, all the way down to number 09. If I had my choice on number placement, any guesses on what number I would like to be? This should be easy.
I have yet to arrive on the level on which matching outfits is cool. I did not say I was above it, merely that I have yet to reach it. One day, I will probably enjoy going out in public wearing matching jerseys with my family, but today was not that day. I've relented on the subject to a degree, and feel myself slipping dangerously towards being involved... We went on an outing today and yes, I was the lone one out not wearing my jersey. I was completely fine with it, and so were they. Dillon reminded me plenty of times today that I am number 5 so why would I have to wear a shirt to prove it?
I've been spoiled where photography has been concerned for the last few years so the idea of taking our own family picture, inside, with fluorescent lighting {...insert melodrama here...} was a little on the dreary side for me. Plans included finding a cool place outside to do it, but it rained all day, foiling that last attempt at decent lighting. But of course, once we got going and everyone was being their usual charming selves, we had a blast. As usual. Why did I dare think this would lack color?? Just look at these people. I love them! The experience itself will live on for me behind each image.

You can imagine what it is like for the nine of us to hop in a car and go out and do things here, in the bitter winter cold, with a baby, and an 8 passenger car, right? Easy as pie. Sure. So that being said, we haven't exactly gone out and toured the country. Totally fine with all involved since we've had plenty of fun inside {Wii, anyone?} and anyone watching sushicat knows we've had our fair share of adventures.

We did feel the time ticking away the last couple of days. This put me into the usual end of the vacation slump {A touchy mix between is it over already? and can I please be home, yesterday?} Since Monday was pretty much taken up with the family photo taking extravaganza that left today to fit in any last minute things we wanted to squeeze in before we head for home.

I didn't care what we did, so long as we did it together. I did have hopes to make it back to Seoul, but I wasn't piping in suggestions, I didn't want to be the decision maker on this one and be held accountable later when everyone else was miserable and I have a big smile on my face. It was decided then that instead of the beach {it was snowing} or driving to Taegu, {Ben and Co's new home in a couple weeks} we would go to Lotte World. Something akin to Disney World, with a large portion of it existing indoors so that we could frolic in the warmth and even ice skate should the need arise.

But after an extended drive due to typical traffic {but on a Tuesday?} we arrived at the PX at Yongsan in Seoul to buy our discounted tickets and decided that the PX should BE our destination. So be it. The PX is a wondrous place filled with army deals and tax free stuff. Who wouldn't want to drive 3 hours in traffic just to shop there? Not the Rix's, we were all for it.

We went to Dragon Hill Hotel afterwards and had a fantastic dinner, then drove around Seoul for awhile, bringing back plenty of memories, and creating new ones. "That is the longest train I have ever seen!" Devin - speaking of oncoming traffic on the other side of the Han River.

2008 has been a good year hasn't it? So good in fact, that the folks and I have decided to live the last day twice. I know, I know, I'm the only one who gets a kick out of going over the dateline and I trip out overit every time I do it... we are going one way around the earth, the sun is going around it the other way, and we'll meet again on the other side, 47 minutes after we left. See what I mean? No?? I'm still alone on this? Good grief, people. It's cooool.

But really. Time. Good heck. Where did it go? I am still fighting that lump in my throat thinking about leaving these beautiful kids and my favorite brother {not because he is the only option} and Kwona, I couldn't possibly ask for a better SIL, ever.

These last three weeks have not been the only ones that flew by this year. I'm a little concerned about how time seems to be passing faster and faster. This line of thought reminds me of that Kipling poem that I love, 'if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run' {or something like that} because it makes me think about how valuable and liquid time really is. Time management could very well be my new years resolution. Slow the heck down. I like to know what's coming up and I like to think about it, plan it, and be done with it already. If it's out of my control, I microplan just to burn energy. I've gotta stop hurrying up to get finished or I'm going to miss it all. I want to be able to look back at my life and know I did my best at being in the moment. I'm going to treat each day like it is the last day of vacation. Soaking in as much of the happiness around me and finding ways to bottle it.

Perfect example: My day today. Really last day of the vacation when all the moments get a little distorted and everything tips me closer to bawling. I spent most of our trip today holding Dillon in my lap. We shared a seat belt again in our allotted space next to Seaira's deluxe traveling chariot and I couldn't get enough of it. And he didn't mind much either {he told me he loved it}. I didn't mind one bit that parts of my body were asleep for hours at a time. I just kept thinking next time I see him he might be too cool to be held by his aunt.

OK, I've gotta quit this entry before I lose it. It's been a long while since I've done a rambling post, so if you are still with me, or skipped the middle to read the last paragraph, consider this my end of the year report, and give me me a free rambler since it's been awhile.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!