Momentum

Shaun and I did it! We joined a rock climbing gym. On Saturday we went to a couple of different rock climbing stores and purchased some shoes, harnesses and chalk bags. Today we finally had a few minutes to sign up and take our first climb. It was so much fun! And even better, I got in a great workout without even feeling like I was working out. How awesome is that?

How Firm a Foundation

They poured our foundation last week! I'll spare you from a long explanation or a lot of pictures, but I can't help myself from posting just one.

Breaking Ground

They've finally started our house! We were supposed to do our "pre-dig" meeting on Monday morning, but we couldn't make it to our lot because of the crazy snow storm. So we had the meeting yesterday morning instead, and today they started digging the hole for our house. Yay!!!

A Belated Happy New Year!

So, here's the family update I intended to send out a month ago. I'm thinking that since we're almost halfway through January, I'll just post it on here and call it good.

We can hardly believe that another year has come and gone. This last year was very good to us—we visited some fun places, tried a few new things and made a lot of great memories.

Shaun is still taking a few classes up at the University of Utah. He’s finished all of the requirements for his Psychology major and is now squeezing in a few business classes before he graduates sometime this year. He’s decided to forego a career in physical therapy and instead follow his dream of running his own auto mechanics shop. So, if any of you find yourselves in need of a good mechanic keep Shaun in mind. :) Shaun is currently serving in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency after working with the Young Men for several months. He still loves mountain biking and fly fishing and has developed a new talent for taking pictures after taking a digital photography class this last semester.

Nicole has officially finished her first year of practice as a new attorney and now proudly claims the title of second year associate. She works with a law firm in Salt Lake City called Chapman and Cutler and her practice consists of various types of corporate law. Nicole loves being an aunt to her niece and nephews and wishes she could spend more time with them. Over the course of the last year, Nicole has worked with the Mia Maids, Beehives and now the Laurels and thoroughly enjoys working with and getting to know her girls. She has also developed a serious talent for sleeping in and loves to spend time with her family.

The highlights of this last year have definitely been the fun vacations we’ve taken together. We went on a cruise with Nicole’s family to the Eastern Caribbean in May and hiked Havasupai Falls with our sister-in-law’s family in July. We also ventured out further east, visiting both the Big Apple and the Windy City. I think we’d spend every spare minute and extra dollar visiting new places if we could.

We are so grateful for the friendships we’ve made through the years and hope that 2008 brings opportunities to reconnect with each of you. Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Love,
Shaun and Nicole

In front of our ship in the Bahamas.

I twisted my ankle on the last mile into camp, so Shaun carried both of our packs. What a stud!

One of the waterfalls in Havasupai.

A view of midtown from Central Park.

Eating a slice of deep dish at Gino's East before hopping a plane to come home.

Hanging Out with Brandon, Janae, Avery and Mason

I think I just might have the cutest niece and nephew in the whole wide world. While they were in town just after Christmas, we did lots of fun things together. My favorites were definitely rock climbing and feeding the ducks.

Avery was a hilarious little climber! She'd get all excited about climbing the wall and then after she'd get about 6-7 feet up, she'd get scared and want to come down. Then as soon as someone else started climbing, she immediately wanted to go again. What a little monkey!

Mason also enjoyed climbing, but lost interest a little more quickly.

I tried rock climbing for the first time ever and found that I really loved it. Shaun was also pretty entertaining--the higher he climbed, the more scared he got. But he still had a great time--we're even considering joining a rock climbing gym.


Feeding the ducks near our apartment was also a riot. Those ducks are fearless. They came right up to us. I was afraid they were going to bite Mason. Anyway, we took a bunch of bread and tromped through a foot of snow to get to the ducks. Both Avery and Mason were freezing to death, but neither wanted to stop feeding the ducks even after we ran out of bread. When Mason had to get back in the car, he cried and screamed the word "DUCKS" at the top of his lungs the whole way back to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Christmas Morning

Here are some photos from Christmas morning with my cute family.


How's this for a White Christmas!


Doesn't Ayden look cute in Uncle Ryan's hat?


A Carlisle tradition . . . curlers on Christmas morning.


Chelsea with her video camera.