FALL 2009

Fall has been an exciting one so far! I decided to start house hunting in the late summer and what a process that is! I had three different realtors and finally stuck with the second one. I made three different offers that all fell through or didn't work out for some reason or another. The fourth one came about because of the third offer not working out. My fourth offer was accepted right away and I am pretty excited about it. I have learned so much in the process and am excited for the change of moving to a place all my own! We should be moving or moved in by Thanksgiving. What a great thing to be thankful for! Go to http://www.pgvillas.com/ to see what our home will look like.

Speaking of big changes, I love fall! The fall colors are spectacular! Colleen and I took a sunday drive on the Alpine Loop. LOVED it!! Here are a few pictures. They dont really do it justice though!

Fun in Utah

Becky and her family came to Utah to play! We were able to do lots of fun things including:

Temple Square

Conference Center ( we even got to go on the Roof! )

But, Jared slept through most of it.

Playing games at Scott and Sharon's

We ALL really did have a good time

Walter Wick exhibit at the BYU Art Museum and ate lunch at the Cougar Eat!

Buying BYU hats and t-shirts

And spending lots of time at the Children's Museum at The Gateway. The kids loved it!

So glad they came to play and that I took time off work to play with them!

Busy Bee

Life seems to be getting busier and busier. I like it that way though!

I have been snowboarding 3 times a week for the past 7 weeks. My total is now 28 with at least 3 trips planned this week with a possible 4th. So, I am happy to report that I will make my goal of 30 times this season with no problem!

There was one particular day that was especially exciting. We had made plans to go and I just wasn't excited about going. I did not know what was wrong with me but just didn't feel like it. I went anyways, and when we got up to Sundance, I realized that I had forgotten my pass. We left late and it took forever to get up there. It was snowing pretty hard and the roads were messy. The lifts opened late due to Avalanche control so we were trying to decide if we wanted to stay. It was also very cold and windy as well as snowing. The lift opened and we decided to stay. They let me on the lift without even asking to see my pass. We got off at the top and the wind was really blowing and it was super foggy. The visibility was not the greatest and the wind blowing all the snow didn't help much. We made it to the bottom and decided we had had enough. After getting all of our gear off and packed back in the car we headed out of Sundance only to find a police truck blocking the exit. They had closed the Canyon for Avalanche control and it would not be open for at least an hour. So we sat in the car and waited and waited and waited. Finally, they came and told us that the Canyon would not be open until 1pm at the earliest. Keep in mind we were supposed to be to work at noon. They told us we had to go and park back in the lot. So we decided to get some lunch. We found a spot in the front and headed to the lodge to get some food. We continued asking for updates on the status of the canyon and were told it will be closed for at least another hour multiple times! We ate, people watched, looked around in the gift shop and then headed back to the car. We plugged my iPhone into the car's stereo system and watched a movie while we waited. The Canyon finally opened at about 1 :30 and we made it to work by about 2pm.

See how much snow there is? And it kept coming and coming!!

Basketball season is almost over. We had our final game yesterday and our ward won in overtime! It was a close game and I got a ball thrown HARD at my face that I failed to stop before it impaled my nose! Other than some pain and watering eyes I was and am fine. I was surprised it did not bleed/ bruise or give me a black eye. I made a few points as well as giving some perfect passes to the other team. This was the final score:

The stake is forming one team from all of us that have been playing to go to Regionals. I signed up to play with the team but will most likely not be able to as the games are going to be on weeknights. I hear that the BYU wards come to Regionals and we get creamed and it's not even fun.... so I don't mind if I end the season with this win!

In addition to camp director I am now the Beehive Advisor. So I will be teaching lessons on Sundays. There are only 3 Beehives in the ward so the Mia Maid Advisor and I may teach every other week and keep the classes combined. I have been to 2 camp meetings and am impressed with the organization and planning of the stake leaders. We will be going to Heber Valley Camp. Check it out at http://www.hebervalleycamp.org/

We will be sleeping in cabins and have hot showers. I know what you are saying- That's NOT camping! I agree. But, hey posh is nice too. I promise to still try and enjoy the experience.

I am in charge of the Challenge Course for camp. It is run by CLAS Ropes Course which I have been certified through. I am not sure what all it entails but am excited about it!!

Wistful Winter

My winter has been great so far! I have been skiing/ snowboarding 18 times already! My goal is to get 30 in this season.

Canyons with Coventry on December 17th:

Brighton with Manda and her niece Kaelyn on December 30th:

Brighton with Tiffanie on January 8th :

The Canyons with Scott on January 27th:

And numerous times with my co-workers:

(Dec 20, Jan 2, 6, 9, 12, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 30, Feb 3, 5, 6)

With Coventry:

With Coventry and Nicholas:

With Ashley, Coventry, and Rich (my boss):

With Ashley and Emily:

I have also been learning how to ski for work. I am actually starting to enjoy these days rather than dread them. The boots aren't as bad as I remember them being and I am getting some great pointers and can actually make parallel turns!

Other news for 2009:

I got a new calling: YW Camp Director. This is a dream calling for me and I am really excited about it. This ward does Stake Camp every year and it seems (from the one and only meeting I have been to) that they have everything planned out and set up. I think it will be really fun but am a tad bit disappointed that they use cabins and have hot showers--- that's NOT camping! I understand why they do it and I am sure it will be a great experience. We are going to the Heber Valley Camp and they have a Challenge Course that I am going to sign up to help with during camp!

I went swimming in The Crater at Homestead Resort for the first time with the YW.

I went to my first Auto Show with my boys from work. I laughed when I saw them set it up so that one of the boys jumped inside the trunk while another posted up next to the trunk. When someone was walking right behind the trunk, the second boy would knock on the car to have the first boy pull the emergency I'm stuck in the trunk chord and pop out to startle people. I asked them to stop but thought it was a clever idea. After that we had to keep telling them to turn the radios down and get out of the cars. They loved seeing how many of them they could pile into the cars and then blast the radios.

I joined the ward women's basketball team. We have practices Thursday nights and games on Saturday mornings. I am starting to LOVE Thursdays! I start the day by going skiing for work or snowboarding before work and then get to play basketball after work. Two of the women that come, teach all of us how to play and give us tips. I remember some things from eighth grade but forgot how much I enjoy playing basketball! We have lost all games so far but we are having fun and improving so that is all that matters!

We finally got home teachers. They are great!

I attended my first Rook tournament. It was really fun and Dede and my visiting teacher partner (Janell) won the crowns!

I went snowshoeing for work several times.

I helped plan the games for a coworker's (Becky) baby shower and got to see an old coworker (Jolene).

So, life is good and I cannot complain one bit!