Backcountry.com Hair Farming Experiment - October 1 - January 2, 2010

Backcountry sponsored a beard-growing contest. You had to start clean-shaven and only trim the upper lip and neck. It went officially from October 1 through December 18th. There is an "over achiever" category, "under achiever" category and "weird beard" category. The prizes included skis, boards, and clothing. Photos for your enjoyment!

October 1, 2009

October 10, 2009

October 28, 2009

November 19, 2009

December 7, 2009 - my personal favorite photo of the beard!

December 17, 2009 – OFFICIAL FINAL BEARD PHOTOS for the contest. The winners were all out of the Park City office. RIGGED!!!

December 31, 2009 – last photo of the bushy woodsman

January 2, 2010 – Woooo hoooo! Who is that good looking man!?!

2010 Resolutions - January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!

 

James resolves to

• get into better backcountry skiing shape (meaning: use the gym membership) - UPDATE: cancelled the gym membership due to lack of use and to save money.
• play more games and read more books (meaning: watch less mindless TV) - UPDATE: purchased an XBox 360 and plays more games on the TV.  Also plays card games with me.
• reapply for the Alaska State Troopers - UPDATE: applied, then withdrew for financial reasons

Jessi resolves to

• reduce weight and credit card debt (meaning: keep that slow, slow, slow train moving!) - UPDATE: forgot to record beginning amounts, so probably hovering about the same.
• increase temple attendance - UPDATE: Reno Temple, Idaho Falls Temple, although we made it to new temples, I don't think I went more often. 
• be more productive with time (meaning: watch less mindless TV) - UPDATE: It is hard to resist snuggling with my James to watch our favorite programs.

  

And a review of the 2009 resolutions:

 

James resolved to

• reduce caffeine intake - sometimes successful, sometimes not.
• increase days of skiing over last year - success! But never enough days have been spent skiing.
• material wish list: backcountry skis, bindings, skins - skis, check. bindings, check. skins, on order - should get here during January.

 

Jessi resolved to

• reduce weight and credit card debt - slow, slow, slow, slow, slow.
• increase temple attendance - success!
• material wish list: digital camera and accessories - Thank you Kurt & Carlee!

2009 in review - December 31, 2009

Last New Years, I reviewed 2008 in photos. I enjoyed it so much, that I decided to review 2009 as well:

There was much skiing:
January 1 – Brighton w/Doug, Suzie, Michael & Shelby

February 7 – Snowbird w/Dad


February 21 - Brighton w/Dad


March – Brighton & Snowbasin – two weekends of skiing w/Michael


October 28 – Alta – hiking for turns


December 26 – Bogus Basin w/Dad


Attended many weddings:
March 7 – Logan - Brett & Tammy


May 9 – Harrisville - Chad & Kelley


November 7 – Ogden – Craig & Ariana


December 30 – Idaho Falls – Cody & Lisa


Temple Open Houses:
March 4 – Draper Temple


July 29 – Oquirrh Mountain Temple


Exploring Utah:
April 16 - Bryce Canyon National Park w/Brian & Kathleen


May 24 – Zion National Park w/Kathleen


July 3 – Utah Kennecott Copper Mine w/ Kathleen


July 4 – Brighton w/ Kathleen


August 15 – Cecret Lake, Alta


September 27 – Nebo Loop


October 10 – Park City

October 12 – Jeremy Ranch


October 26 – Arches National Park


Visiting Idaho Family:
January 2-4 – Eagle, ID – Ellie’s Blessing


July 8-11 – Cascade, ID – Simpson Family Reunion


August 21-24 – Hidden Lake, Cascade, ID


September 4-6 – Wyoming - Greater Simpson Reunion


September 6-9 – Yellowstone National Park w/Kathleen


December 24-27 – Eagle, ID – Christmas!


And A Little Volunteering:
July 18 – Snowbird – The Speedgoat 50K Race


September 19 – Salt Lake City – The Summer Dew Tour


We look forward to many more adventures in 2010… Happy New Year!

Hiking for turns - New Year's Eve - December 31, 2009

I had to work until 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. On the last day of the month, every month, one of us works until 9 p.m. to get as many of that day's bills done so that the statitics for that month include as many transports as possible. And being the end of the year as well, any transports that happen after 9 p.m. are billed at the 2010 rate instead.

James had to work too. But it was his regular hours of 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. And then he decided to go skiing. In Bountiful. Just grabbed his ski gear and drove up through the hills until he couldn't find any roads above him. And then hiked. And hiked. And hiked across a pretty flat plateau. And never did make it to the bigger mountains. But he still got in some good turns. And he learned that there isn't much worth hiking for near Bountiful - but at least the avalanche hazard is low!

James was mostly asleep on the couch when I got home from work. So we called it a night and watched the festivities on TV with a glass of Martinelli's sparkling cranapple juice. Here's to 2010!

Cody & Lisa wedding - December 30, 2009

Uncle Glen & I drove out to Idaho Falls for Cody & Lisa's wedding. James & A.Nancy had to work, so we headed out on the snow roads by ourselves. I LOVED hearing all of Uncle Glen's stories. I don't know if my favorite was the one about Grandpa Price and his everyday bat-cane and the brandishing of the Sunday cane when the bat was stolen for a baseball game. Or the one about Aunt Nancy refusing his first proposal and then getting engaged on the steps of the Idaho Falls Temple: this exact spot:

Aren't Grandma and Granddad cute!!

Even the statue of Angel Moroni had snow on its shoulders and head!

The Castellaws - Mike & Janeal, Jayme, Cody & Lisa, Katie, Mike, Megan & Annessa.

Idaho Falls & the Idaho Falls Temple

We stayed for the luncheon and all the visiting that goes on. And I was so happy to see some of my favorite small ones! Tyler:

Christy, Tyler & Jake - how did they get so big!?

Then we skipped out on the reception to drive home again in the snow. I left home in the dark and arrived home in the dark, but it was a very fun day!

Christmas in Idaho! - December 24-27, 2009

We arrived in Eagle on Christmas Eve. Just in time to give hugs to Clay, Kristen, Emma & Aspen on their way home. Then we talked Jed & family into staying long enough to open their gift from us. I love presents! (Stella, Jed, Zoe, Maria, Hallie, Tucker, Hannah)

Then a little visiting before heading to bed to wait for visions of sugar plums and listen for Santa's sleigh! And suddenly! It is Christmas!

Search through the stockings...

Play with toys (this actually wasn't taken on Christmas, but the kids did play on this little 4-wheeler a lot! and I love this picture of Ellie & Bree)...

"Pet" Uncle James... (McKayla & Carter)... When we arrived, Hannah (not pictured) ran out to say hello and give hugs. Then she ran back inside to tell her Mom that "UNCLE JAMES LOOKS LIKE NOAH!!!"

Whack a mole... It cheats.

Carter, Deven & McKayla....

Inspect the left over boxes and wrapping paper (Ellie)...

What did you get for Christmas? (James, Opa & Ellie)

And a long established and well-cherished tradition of skiing during Christmas - glad we did, the inversion was starting and it was so sunny, beautiful up at Bogus!