December 2012

Holy Cow! December is pretty much almost over and I have no clue as to where it went. It was a good month just very busy for both Brendan and I. At least we both love our jobs and if there is extra work to be done we are still grateful for employment. Weekends have been busy between our usual mountain activities, work parties and shoveling snow. We volunteered this month for work for Toys for Tots, it was pretty incredible. You never realize how many families an organization like that serves until you see the desperate need for toys and a huge warehouse filled for just two counties. It was a good experience for us both. Brendan also had a work party this month in downtown Salt Lake City that was a lot of fun. He has some great co workers and we both had a good time. I finally took my early Christmas gift of back country snowboarding out for a spin this past weekend. We went to Mill D in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was a fantastic work out, I just need to figure out the whole carving in powder on my snowboard bit. I have been too spoiled on groomed runs in Park City the last few years. I'm sure I will get the hang of it but I might need to pull out the old school learning flask again. Brendan and I both hope all of our family and friends have a wonderful Holiday and great 2013!

Love,

Alyssa and Brendan

November 2012

They always say as you get older time goes faster, I never believed it when I was little but as I blink it feels like it was just June and we were still in Park City. Love, love, love our new house and all of the blessings we have in our lives. I am always surprised at how much Utah has been such a wonderful fit for us. I would have never expected to be as happy and surrounded by an amazing landscape and good people here! Enough of the cheesy stuff but we really have it good, and this month I feel like taking a moment to be grateful is okay. I miss Minnesota for the family and friends we have there but Utah truly has become our home. We have been lucky enough to have family here like Brendan's brother Tommy and his girlfriend Brandy and his cousin Charlie. We also have friends here that are like family and have also helped immensely make us not homesick. Facetiming on the iphone with my Mom and emails/calls with my other Mom Kathy also help. Brendan and I are also lucky that the people we spend quite a few hours a week with are also incredible, having great co workers is also something I know we are both grateful for!
Thanksgiving this year we continued the third year of out traditional turkey day 5k and feasting at the Mays. It was good as always and was nice that the weather was mild enough this year to allow for some hot tubbing and yard games as well. As November comes to a close I find myself thinking about this past fall and it has been good. Now just bring on the snow so we can start some real winter here!
Love,
Alyssa and Brendan

P.S I have also included a picture of my lovely nephews Eli and Westin in this post, I love this photo Jack took of my little boys!

Lexis Baby Shower

November has gone by way too quickly! It has been good just busy. One of the first weekends in November myself and my friend Sara hosted a baby shower for our really good friend Lexi. She is due with baby boy Mayhem in February. So far we have had a pretty mild fall and beginning of winter. Baby May decided that his shower should begin with some mayhem. What was suppose to be only a few inches of snow turned into a full on blizzard in Utah starting the friday prior to Lexi's baby shower. Lucky enough for us the weather semi cleared up for the actual shower brunch on Saturday early afternoon but their were some moments of worrying! I had no choice but to bust into the champagne and mimosas early, right? All in all it was a great shower with good friends and the sun even peeked out for a little. Can't wait for this little boy to join all of us in February, adding another "nephew" to the hockey roster!

Halloween 2012

I love Halloween! When I was a little I would decide on my costume in July or August. I was usually a witch... for almost five years in a row (my mom had to stage an intervention). I asked Brendan what he liked to be and he said he always liked to be a football player but never really put much thought into his costume. We had a great Halloween weekend this year. On Saturday I went to a witches brew at my friend Kelly's house. It was so much fun, yummy food and really cute decorations. Saturday night we had friends over for a costume game night. I really do believe dressing up and yahtzee should always go hand in hand. We carved pumpkins last night, I am great at scrapping the pumpkins out and baking the seeds. Brendan is the expert carver, each year he seems to find a new design to try and do. Try to guess which pumpkin I did? Can't wait to pass out candy tomorrow night and see how many trick or treaters we get at the new house!

Love,
Alyssa and Brendan

Pictures from October

High Tea with Barb and Kathy at the Grand America

Brendan and Bud just enjoying the porch

Halloween 2012, Flapper and Rockstar

Lexi, Sara and I

Now hes blonde again!

Bring on the Snow!

We are ready for winter, got me all set up with my back country gear! I have been stressed out this fall because Brendan and I decided not to get season passes and instead get myself equipped to enjoy back country skiing. As the weather has slowly changed I started feeling panic about all the equipment and what would happen if I miss out this winter. We have been watching online sales and this weekend a second hand ski shop had a ski swap and I was able to pretty much pick up most of my gear for a ridiculous deal. All I have left to get is an avalanche beacon. I'm so excited, it can snow tomorrow!!
We have been good, September ended with family in town. We had a lot of fun having everyone stay with us and see our new house. We felt really lucky because Brendan's grandparents also made it into town. We had so many good meals, nice weather and just enjoying the company. Next time we will all be together will be in the Florida Keys this winter, should be a good time.
As the days get shorter and the weather changes Bren and I have been trying to enjoy what is left of mountain biking season before the weather changes. We found some great rides that leave from our house, which is pretty neat. We have also enjoyed some yardwork, planting a new tree and getting the house/yard prepped up for winter. Next up is Halloween, should be fun having trick or treaters this year!

Love
Alyssa and Brendan

September 2012

I love fall, its my favorite season. I know a lot of people don't enjoy it as much because it means winter is on it's way but winter means snow and Christmas, Love it!!! My good old dodge stratus hit 203,000 miles this week and has been like a cat with nine lives. Brendan and I have known for awhile that we would need to get me a new car before this winter, we finally did it and bought a new car. We got a good deal on a Mazda CX5, it is a small SUV with great gas mileage. Since we have a 10% mountain grade to get to our house a four wheel drive was a requirement, with how much driving I do for my job good gas mileage was also high up on the list. We looked at a few different cars but I really liked the Mazda because I did not feel like I was driving a boat. I love it, it's nice having a reliable, safe car.

We are really excited because next weekend Brendan's Mom, Aunt and Grandparents all come to town.  We are so excited to show them our house and just enjoy their company. This weekend should be great, delicious dinner in the crock pot and some gardening in store! Love being a home owner!!

Love
Alyssa and Brendan