January

It's been a LONG time since I've updated this blog. Life has been full of activity lately (I guess that's a better way to say it than "busy"...). Todd's second semester has begun, and he's happy to have slightly smaller class sizes. He has had a few meetings with the track team and it looks like he'll have a small squad of distance runners. Their first (and only) indoor meet is this weekend. He was excited to get an iPad from school which he will use as a teaching device but also for personal use! I'm adjusting to a much fuller schedule this semester. I spend a lot of time in classes! I have some opportunities coming up that I'm really looking forward to. I'm teaching sports nutrition to a middle school class in Park City and also working at a Diabetes Expo as an educator.
Last weekend Grant came to stay with us for a while. We had a lot of fun skiing, playing games, checking out the Tanger Outlets in Park City, and Todd and Grant played indoor golf. We skied at Alta ski resort since they have "free ski after 3". The conditions were great. There was even enough powder for me to get buried in (thanks for getting me out Grant!). It was our first time skiing on "real mountains". Each run is A LOT longer than the runs in Michigan :).
A few weekends ago Todd and I went out to the Dodo Restaurant to celebrate our 6 month anniversary. We had spotted the restaurant earlier that day on our run and decided to check it out. It was great!
Here's some pictures from Grant's visit and our 6 month anniversary:

Heading out to Dinner on our 6 month anniversary

At Alta Ski Resort

Grant and Todd

One of our long rides up the chair lift

At the top

Christmas!

We had such a great time with our families during the past couple weeks! We are so thankful for loving families.  The first stop was MN. We enjoyed playing games, going to Sherlock Holmes 2, many games of pool, baking cookies, spending a couple days in Sheldon, Iowa (where Todd's mom's family is from), and hanging out with some of Todd's high school friends.
Next, we drove to Michigan. We were thankful for clear roads, especially since Mom & Dad and Holly & Matt were also traveling to Michigan that day, from Georgia and NJ. We played lots of games, made a few puzzles, spent an afternoon with Jake and Alissa, celebrated NYE with the Haagsmas, and enjoyed seeing Grandma and Uncle Bruce on New Year's Day. Since Todd had to go back to teaching and Holly and Matt to work, I stayed a bit longer and was able to see some more GR friends. I even ran with the Calvin XC girls--and learned that I am not in the shape I used to be :).
Now Todd is in MN again. He is a groomsman in Travis Schultz's wedding which is tonight. He'll come back tomorrow night. It's strange being home alone for a few days after a couple weeks of many familiar faces.
I start school again on Monday. This semester is looking to be more demanding. I'm taking a few more credits and some more challenging courses.
We got several inches of snow last night and it's continuing to come down. It's very pretty!
Here's a few pictures from MN and MI.

Todd, Allison, and Skip

Grant and Todd searching for the pickle

VanWyk family

Dad's gift from Matt and Holly

The girls

The boys

So close!

We are getting so close to seeing our families again! Only 2 more days until I fly to MN and 3 more days for Todd. We are really looking forward to spending time with the Mitchells and VanWyks.

Todd has three more days of teaching this week. I have been done since my last final on Wednesday morning. 

There is still no snow in Utah. It has snowed a bit, but its never stayed on the ground for more than a few hours. We are hoping that MN or MI will have a white Christmas!

Todd and I went out to eat downtown last night and then walked around a bit. The city looks beautiful with many Christmas lights! We exchanged gifts at night with each other. 

Not much else to report from SLC. Below is a picture in front of our Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving, Mount Olympus, and a Christmas Tree!

We have really enjoyed our 5 day weekend for Thanksgiving break! It's been nice to relax, spend more time together, and get ahead on some work (for one of us, at least).
We spent Thanksgiving with friends from Church.  Everyone brought a dish or two to pass and we enjoyed delicious food, football, and talking together.
Yesterday, we decided to hike Mount Olympus. It's a 4000 foot climb. The peak is over 9000 feet high. It ended up being very slow going because the snow towards the top had turned to ice. We were slipping and sliding a lot. We used a lot of trees to pull our selves up. Since we got a late start (we had to see the end of the Michigan vs. Ohio State game---GO BLUE!), we weren't able to make it to the top. We turned around about a 1/2 mile from the top to avoid going down on the ice in the dark. Going down was interesting. I crouched down and slid down on my feet for a lot of the icy parts. Todd  had a few good wipe-outs! The last 40 minutes of the hike were in the dark with headlamps. It was really pretty to watch the sun set over the mountains and see all of the lights in the valley.
Today we got our Christmas tree. We got a small one--about the same height as me! It smells wonderful.

On our way up

Taking a break towards the top

The view of the valley

On the way down--sun is beginning to set

Salt Lake in the distance

DARK!! Using the head lamps.

Our first Christmas tree!

We can't wait until our Christmas travels! We excited to see friends and family!

Oh November

I haven't posted in quite some time. We've both been busy--too busy to take weekend trips.
Since I last posted:
1. We celebrated my birthday at the beginning of November. Todd and I went to a dinner I was invited to through my program. It was put on by the food science association in Salt Lake City. There was delicious Hawaiian food and chocolate tasting. We both discovered that chocolate liqueur (the most unprocessed form of the cocoa bean) is disgusting! Todd got me a painting for our living room. I attached a picture below.
2. We played lots of board games and card games with friends. We are so thankful that we've met so many great people here. We are also thankful that they love to play games as much as we do!
3. I gave my graduate seminar presentation. Glad that's done! Each first year graduate student gives a seminar based on primary literature to all of the department of nutrition.
4. We went to IKEA and came home with a new living room chair (picture below). Todd likes to put it in the middle of the room to watch football, and I've done lots of reading and homework in it. It's perfect! Thanks Jeff and Bonnie!
I think that's it. As I said, we've been busy with school and work. We are really looking forward for a few days off for Thanksgiving!

Our new living room chair

Painting from Todd for my birthday

Some new pictures on the wall--all scenic shots from places we've gone since we got married

Halloween Half

After months of training we finally ran our half marathon. It was an interesting experience to say the least :). We woke up at 4:00am to head down to Provo. Buses brought all the runners up to Sundance resort where the race started. It was so cold! There were lots of crazy costumes, including a couple Captain Jack Sparrows and a Cupcake. The first 4 miles of the race had an 1000 foot elevation loss. Going into the race, I thought this would be awesome. After about 1 mile I realized it was awful. My legs were numb from the cold and the downhill put so much pressure on my joints that I was sure my legs would give out. Todd and I both went out much faster than we intended, and didn't slow down for awhile even though we knew we should....and we paid for it. Todd ran an 8K pr in the middle of the race! I averaged 6:20 pace through the first 6 miles--bad idea! We both finished with decent times, but  an even paced race would have felt a LOT less painful. Next time I know what NOT to do. Despite the pain, we had a lot of fun. The course was beautiful and it was great to be racing again.
Here are some photos from the weekend:

Trying to keep warm in the tent before the race. All 4000 runners were crammed in the tent.

The view from the top where the race started.

Happy to be done!

Familiar Faces

Todd and I had such a great weekend with his parents! Jeff and Bonnie were in Utah from Wednesday to Sunday. Todd had a couple days off for UEA which worked perfectly for having his parents come. Together we went to Temple Square, both of our schools, Park City, Olympic Park, Red Butte botanical gardens, and Sugar House. Here's some of the highlights from the weekend:
1. The drive to Park City was beautiful! The trees on the mountainside had turned to bright fall colors and were a perfect contrast to the clear blue skies!
2. The Pie Pizzeria! We had heard it was great--and it was!
3. We sat in the Olympic bobsled at Olympic Park.
4. Playing card games and board games at night.
5. Driving around the upper avenues at night and seeing all of the lights in the city.
6. Many beautiful flowers at the gardens.
7. Catching up on life in Minnesota!
We are blessed with such great families and wish we could see them more often.
Here are some pictures:

The Mountains between Park City and SLC

Eating on the rooftop of the No Name Saloon in Park City

In the bobsled at Olympic Park

Todd steering the skeleton sled 

Freestyle ski practice jumps