Basketball practice

The boys have had a blast learning how to play basketball. At their last practice, the parents got to play during the scrimmage game.


Geoffrey and Todd played against each other and Austin and I.

The only problem was a little boy who kept getting on the floor trying to get at Todd or myself. Todd finally helped him up and let him put some shots in the hoop.

New Experiences

For the first time ever in my life, I have gone skiing. Todd and I have always talked about doing it ever since we got married, but something always came up so that we couldn't go. At the beginning of the season we thought that once again it wasn't going to work out, but circumstances changed and we were able to do it.
Salt Lake County has a winter wellness program that offers night skiing at Brighton Ski Resort for a very reasonable price. Luckily they offer lessons, otherwise I would never have gone back. After the first time, I wasn't sure that I would ever want to try this again. But I couldn't let the mountain beat me and I needed to do it for Todd. He has been so great in the last little while, that doing something like this wasn't very big.
The second time on the slopes went much better and I did a lot better during the lesson. The third time I was able to handle the speed and not get really freaked out. Now if I could just ignore the skiers and snowboarders coming down the hill behind me. I must say that even though Todd will always be faster on the slopes than me and be able to do a lot more runs, it has been great having these evening every other week to spend time with him. We have the car ride up and back and then usually stop in for dinner somewhere. Having this time together has been needed and helpful with all the unexpected things that come into our life in the last few months.

Christmas Eve 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas visiting with family and enjoying the time together. Before we could enjoy the travel to Logan and the festivities there, we had to do the traditional wrapping job. This entails disguising the present as something else. Todd is very creative in his wrapping jobs. We have now done a moose, snowman, turkey, camel, air plane and a boat.

We spent Christmas Eve with Todd's side of the family having dinner and passing out the gifts to the great-grandchildren of Grandma Gessel.

Crazy Moments

The other night we were wrapping presents and Evan discovered a new hat along with his horn/sword.
Todd had tried to get pictures at that time, but his camera phone wouldn't work.

Then on Friday night as the kids were waiting to go to the Tullis' for the weekend, out came Evan with his hat and horn.

With all that has been going on at our house in the last week,
it has been good when there are moments
that laughter enters the house.

USU Football

This year we took the opportunity of having season tickets to the USU football games. We purchased an extra adult ticket and took turns taking the two grandpas. We enjoyed the time with Jim and Sheila (Todd's aunt and uncle) along with some of there kids at the games. It was also fun spending some time with the grandpas and having the time as a family.

There were times that the kids were not too excited about going, but always had a good time once we were there.


At the last game, Elizabeth was excited to be wearing her Jr. Aggie shirt and had to make sure that everyone could see it.

Evan on the other hand wasn't too excited about the cold, but he is Todd's "Football Buddy" and enjoys watching the games.

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a wonderful weekend in Logan with both of our families. We had a quiet dinner with my parents along with Diane, Kathleen, Michael, Kaleb, and Aaron.

The kids were able to all sit at the same table and enjoy the wonderful food that had been prepared.


Diane brought up a game that the kids really enjoyed and they all had a lot of fun playing it together.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Todd wanted to beat our previous years with seating up the Christmas tree.
So, he and the boys all got together and set it up.


Todd hoisted Austin up to help fluff the tree and of course Evan needed to do the same.

Our Princess

It has been a long time since I last updated the blog. I have been busy with helping my mom with a Christmas project. Then Elizabeth decided that she wanted to be Cinderella for Halloween. I decided that she should have a real dress and not just a costume. So after much time and effort the dress is finished and we have an official Cinderella in the house. I had a lot of fun using my new machine and creating a one of a kind dress. Todd told Elizabeth that she is lucky to have a mom that can make her dresses that no one else will ever have. She wore it to church on Sunday and there was a little girl from the other primary that just couldn't help but think that there was a princess at church.

Zoo With Friends

While Teresa, Eric, and Seth were visiting from England we went to the Zoo.

We had a fun time seeing the Elephants reaching their long trunks to get some food.

Evan was pulling a lot of different faces the whole time that we were there.

The Rhinoceros was up close to the windows and that made seeing them a lot more fun.

Elizabeth was not too sure about riding the train sitting next to Amiee.


Eric had fun taking pictures of everyone on the train. So, I caught one of him taking pictures.