Season’s Greetings from the Hill Family in Toronto!! Another year has flown by and I can hardly believe that it is Christmastime again!! As we look forward to holidays filled with skiing, socializing and relaxation, it is time for our annual Christmas letter. Sit back and relax, and let me tell you what our family has been up to.

After a cold and snowy winter, we headed to sunny Panorama, B.C. last March Break for a family ski holiday. Despite arriving during a snow storm and having to drive through Roger’s Pass in white-out conditions at night, we had a fabulous holiday. We stayed at a condo on the mountain, so we could “ski in and ski out”. All three kids are awesome skiers and could competently attack any hill, including the back bowls. Highlights included our daily hot chocolate at the top of 1000 Peaks, being the first family to swoosh down the mountain each day (always early risers), practicing jumps in the terrain park (not me!), our après-ski hot tub ritual and a visit from Lexi’s camp pal Maddie.

Our summer was full with camps, mini-holidays and family visits. In late August, we returned to Dixville Notch, N.H. for another stay at The Balsams. Ross was a bit perturbed with us when we left him in the kid’s club on our first day and took Lexi and Jack on the five hour guided trek over two mountains. The next day, at his insistence, we brought him along for the ½ km steep climb up a rocky mountain face. Determined to make a point, Ross was the first to the top and declared that we should never leave him behind again. We did that climb several more times during our stay and Ross was always the first to the top. Once again, we loved everything about The Balsams- the fresh air, the fine food and the endless sporting activities will keep us going back.

We took our 2006 March Break trip early this year, with a November trip to Sandpiper Club Med in Florida. The fact that Jack sobbed  the whole way to the airport, told us, that for him, this trip was the best he had ever been on. Maybe it was the endless tennis, the awesome roller blade park, the golf, the archery, the friends, the food, the sunshine… Jack couldn’t understand why we couldn’t stay for another week or two! Why couldn’t Dad phone his office and tell them that he was going to be away another week, why couldn’t Mom phone the school and Nana???… We had a wonderful pre-winter break.

Lexi is eleven years old and is in grade six. Paul and I regularly jump for joy and click our heels that we have a child old enough to baby-sit… that is, if she can squeeze us into her busy schedule!! A highlight of Lexi’s year was on her 11^th birthday when we attended a ski racers’ banquet at Caledon and Lexi won The Founder’s Award for Sportsmanship. Lexi loves her sports and enjoys many activities over the course of the year, including skiing, tennis, swimming, soccer, cross-country running, jazz, and hip hop. If she isn’t worn out after all of that, Lexi chills out on the family tread-mill (a secret ploy to watch more television), earns spending money while babysitting, hangs out with friends and works hard on her homework. Lexi returned to Glen Bernard Camp for her fourth summer and continues to love it. Lexi is eagerly anticipating her greatest adventure yet… a three-week trip to Egypt in March with Nana, Poppa and cousin Fraser. Lexi is a girl on the go!!

Jack is ten years old and is in grade five. In August, Jack headed back to Camp Hurontario for 25 days of outdoor adventures. Jack came home with many happy memories, a few scrapes, impetigo and the Hamlin Award for shooting!! A highlight of Jack’s summer was his one week stay at his Turner grandparents where he attended a wonderful golf day-camp.  Jack has boundless energy and eagerly anticipates his skiing, tennis, swimming, soccer, cross-country running and hockey. It won’t be long before Jack will be able to give Paul and me a challenge on the tennis court and he already can ski a mountain bowl faster than Paul! Jack has inherited the Hill technology gene and constantly negotiates more time on the computer to play his favourite games or check on his favourite stocks. Jack hits the ground running each morning and crashes into bed each night. Jack is on the move!

Ross is seven and is in grade two. Ross is like the absent minded professor at school, because he loves science and math, yet is often caught day-dreaming about other stuff. Ross loves his books on tape, loves to read and enjoys these passions well into the evening. Ross often has to be dragged out of bed in the morning (what does this spell for the teenage years?). Ross’s many activities during the year include skiing, tennis, swimming, soccer, running and hockey. Ross greatly enjoyed his visit to Aunt Delia’s farm last summer, where he perfected the fine art of catching frogs and mastered golf-cart driving. After 10 days of being an only child, Ross joined Jack at Camp Hurontario for five nights for his first overnight camp experience. He says he is ready for 25 days next summer… whatever will Paul and I do with all our children at camp?! Whether it is hiking up a mountain, skiing down a double-black diamond, climbing into a cave or discussing the craters on the moon, Ross makes his presence known and won’t be left in anyone’s dust!!

Somehow the weeks fly by for me, busily volunteering at the kids’ school, coaching teams, playing tennis, walking along the Humber River…there is never a dull moment in our happy home!! Paul continues to work hard at MediSolution, tries to work out daily on his new treadmill, plays tennis and looks forward to spending time with our gang. We still have our two beloved Labrador Retrievers, Paisley (13) and Lucy (4).  Paisley sleeps most of the time and isn’t able to go for walks, yet is still an intimidating force at the front door and a loveable fixture in our home. Lucy continues to be a tremendously faithful and obedient family dog and walking companion…if only she would stop rolling in stuff!! Our home email is [email protected]. Please keep in touch!!

Have a Merry Christmas, a restful holiday and a Happy New Year!! All the best to your family in 2006!

Love Lianne, Paul, Lexi, Jack and Ross Hill