Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Here we are all at Grandma Jeppsen's. We have survived the bitter cold of The Canyons, a day of shooping and who knows what else. We have just read Mandy's blog and thought we ought to post a quick blog also. We are doing this so that we can show Grandma how to put pictures on the blog. Here we go.....

Greetings from New York, New York

Hey family! I just thought I'd fill you all in on my New York adventure thus far. My good friend Jami's Mom and Step-Dad are on a mission in New York City and invited us out over our break to come visit them. They live right next to the Temple here...its amazing! City life is a bit crazy for me, but I'm really liking the adventure I am having thus far.This is a picture of Jami's Mom, Jami, and me on top of the roof of our apartment. Jami's parents are extremely nice and I am having fun being here with them.
This is the spectacular view we have from the roof. We are right next to the ABC building and only blocks away from Times Square. We are really close to Lincoln Center.
Though I've only been here three days I have managed to see quite a lot. I'm sad I'll miss out on New Year's with the Jeppsens, but I think this trip has been good for me. Eric, please don't disown me from the family:) Anyways, I posted a lot of my trip so far on my blog so you all should check it out...there's some cool stuff I think. This picture is of Jami and me contemplating life in some chairs we found in Brooklyn. There's not very many places to sit down in New York so we enjoyed the moment when we found some. :) Love ya all and Happy New Year- this year I'll be ushering it in right where all of you will be watching!

I'm trying to get out of a bit of work on this wintry day so I am playing with the Bolg. I have read a few and written a few comments. There were some I could not get up but I will work on that. It has been a great Christmas Season and is not over yet. I went to Arizona to visit Brenda and Family, we had an "Anyone in the Area" when the Ipsons came to town, (19 of us) and Christmas Eve with the Biesingers. The California Jeppsens should be arriving from sunny California tomorrow to be greeted by ten inches of snow and more to come. All of you seem to have been in a good and happy place for Christmas Day. In a week or so everyone will be home again with good memories and happy faces. I am going to have someone help be put snow pictures on the blog one day. Love you all.

Thanksgiving in Michigan

We woke up to our first snow of the year on Thanksgiving day here in Ann Arbor. It was just a dusting, but it did stick, and on Sunday evening, a few days later, it came down harder still. I guess winter is here, and in this part of the country it's here to stay for a good five months. It was fun to see the snow, but a little daunting because earlier in the week a friend had told me about the Ann Arbor turkey trot and I had signed up to run it. The course was cold, but it wasn't snowing at the time, and the ground was wet but not icy. (I was going to post pictures of the snow, and of the finish line, but I'm having trouble uploading files right now.)

I felt pretty good about the race. I knew I was running it faster than other 5Ks I've run, partly because the cold weather here in Michigan has got me running on the treadmill a good portion of the year, and it's easier to go fast on the treadmill. Still, I was surprised when they announced the winners for my age bracket (women 25-29) and I came in second. Instead of a medal, I got a bottle of sparkling cider with a "2nd Place" sticker. The next day my friend checked the stats online and announced that I had not only gotten 2nd in my age bracket, but I was fourth overall for the women. I certainly wasn't competing against a lot of elite runners, but I was still pretty pleased with those results, since I never expect to be competitive when I run.



I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekends, wherever you ended up. I missed being with my family, but had a nice Thanksgiving with friends in the ward. I'm grateful for my family away from home out here, but I'm even more grateful for all of you and for all the good memories we share. The more I talk to people, the more I realize how lucky we all are to have been blessed with each other, and with the good times we've been able to enjoy even as we all grow up and go our own ways. Happy Thanskgiving, everyone!

I'm in.......

With Eric's help this evening I now have my Blog on the Family Blog. Next step will be to learn to do pictures. That will be the next time he is here. Have a nice Thanksgiving everyone.

Anniversary

We have been thinking about Mom and Dad's Anniversary coming up tomorrow and how glad we are they got together!!!! What a great team and example for all of us, fot their love and support of each other .... as well as their love and support of each of us. I have such great memories of growing up and I am so appreciative to Mom and Dad for making those memories. I will always remember how Mom and Dad first met when they went on a double date (not with each other) and how Dad always said that he knew he was with the wrong girl...that was the beginning...and look at what happened from there. Of course Dad's sporty car helped to get Mom's atention as well (as I remember it). Is that right Mom? Thanks for getting together those "how many" years ago? Love, Jerolyn

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Brenda - You have not changed!!!!

Look guys one Biesinger is finally here!

This is a picture of me and some of my friends on a night hike up Logan canyon. The sky was so clear that it was perfect for star gazing. I almost fell on the way down, though, it was so dark. Go figure huh? :)
For Halloween my friends and I went out to dinner. My roommates and I are really close with the boys next door, especially Ben and Garth (Garth has on the hat). For more pictures check out my newly created blog...hopefully it looks alright...remember I'm new at this:)

Let the Ski Season begin!!

It's official, the 2007-2008 ski season is now underway! This past weekend was opening weekend at Mammoth Mountain California and Colette, Logan and I were there to enjoy. Not much snow (as you can see from the pictures below) but it sure was fun.

The day turned out just as we expected. After all, the point is not really to go up and ski all day. The point is to say you were there. Since we've done this many times before we knew exactly what to expect. We skied for an hour-and-a-half or so and then went and played with the dog for bit. We then headed up over Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park (we hope the pass will be closed within the month due to snow, but it's currently wide open).

All in all it was a fun trip. Now we have plans to start our ritual snowdance as we hope for better days ahead.

Boy, you certainly want to be on your "rock skis"!

That's one of the best sticks I've had in a long time!

A good view of the mountain. Not much snow yet but hope springs eternal.

Colette and her favorite hound! No snow on those mountains now but

in a couple of months there will be more than ten feet of snow where

Colette and Logan are standing and the mountains behind will be pure white!

(I can hardly wait)

We are attempting to add to the Blog again. The picture of the snow was taken this morning off of our deck. We got 3-4 inches, Stan are you excited? The Grandparents admiring the cutest little guy in the world (we are bias). He does not have Todd's hairline. We had a great trip to Rochester. Caleb's parents got there a few days before us and did the hard work. A dishwasher to install that lead to a new counter top, sink and a new wall behind the sink. One project leads to others, We were glad it was them and not us. We painted, made curtains, a little plumbing and various odds and ends. We picked pumpkins, went to an apple ordchard and picked apples (the best apple cider I have ever tasted came right out to the machine).
We had a great time. One trip to a wedding this coming weekend in DC and then home for a while.

Love,

Todd and Jerolyn

We're Finished!!

Well, the project has finally come to an end (or almost). We still have to install the cabinets in the laundry room, but at least we have a washer and dryer while we wait.

Anyway, we think the kitchen turned out great--well worth all the pain of the last few months.

Come see us sometime and we'll show you around!

William Jameson Fairbanks

Check out the Kattie and Mark blog for some very cute pictures of our new baby. His name is William Jameson Fairbanks and we get to take him back to Utah tomorrow! Yeah!!! (obviously we don't know how to change the view of the pictures....sorry)

Slideshow!

Yeah - I am finally a part of the blog, thanks Eric!!

Here is the link to the slideshow in case anyone hasn't seen it yet!

http://www.ivystudiosphoto.com/familyreunion

We are in process of all of the photos - do you all want me to send you all discs, prints, books, etc. - I will take a vote and send out accordingly!!

Thanks guys!

Have a good day :) - Shelly

This One's In The Books...

Another Jeppsen family reunion has come and gone. We hope everyone had as much fun as we did.

For your viewing pleasure...

Jackson Hole

Mark and I went to Jackson Hole with his family over the weekend of the 24th of July! (my birthday) We had a really great time! The Bar-J Wranglers' performance was my favorite part. I am sure some of you have seen them before, it was great!

Family Reunion Emails

I am unable to check my school email anymore. That is the email on the family contact sheet. Could someone forward me the 2 family reunion emails sent this weekend to our new email: markandkattie@yahoo.com

Thanks! Kattie

Kelsey's Last Weekend in Michigan

This is Kelsey's last week in Michigan, and we've been trying to make sure we do everything she wanted to do this summer. This past weekend we took one last big trip, up to Mackinac Island. This is a little island up by the Mackinac bridge, between the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. Back when the first horseless carriages began to appear, the island banned them, and the ban is still in effect today. The main modes of transportation are bicycle and horse-drawn carriage, and the island is encircled by the only highway in Michigan that doesn't allow cars. If you have seen the movie Somewhere in Time (and I have to confess I have not), this is the setting. I had visited Mackinac Island with some friends last year, and I thought it would be fun for Kelsey to see while she was out here. We drove up to Mackinaw City on the shore of Lake Huron on Friday with a friend of ours from the ward, and then took the ferry out and spent the day on Saturday. We rode bicycles around the island, visited Fort Mackinac, took pictures of the Grand Hotel and Arch Rock, and bought Mackinac Fudge ice cream. I think we all had fun, and it's sad that Kelsey will be leaving in less than a week now. I've enjoyed having her out here.


At the hotel Friday night.


Biking around the island.


Turn-of-the-century houses on Mackinac Island.


The Grand Hotel.


Arch Rock.

The Jeppsen Family Reunion Agenda

Okay everyone, the agenda is set (pretty much). We reserve the right to any last minute changes. A packet has been sent out which includes directions to the hotel and some other information, so be watching for that.

We will gather Friday at the hotel and then go to the city park for pizza and reunion kickoff.

Saturday is reserved for a day at Jordanelle Reservoir. We will eat breakfast at the hotel and then will head to the lake where we have ski doos and ski boat reserved. They are available to us until 8:00 p.m. so we'll see how long we actually want to stay. We're tentatively planning a picnic (sandwiches, chips, fruit, etc.) for lunch and a bbq for dinner (hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, etc.). We're still trying to find out if there's a place to have a bbq there, so that may change. After we're completely exhausted, we'll head back to the hotel where we have a room reserved to hang out and do some family activities.

Sunday morning: Once again, breakfast at the hotel. Those who wish can attend Sacrament Meeting at the local meeting house. Then we will pack lunch fixings and head to the mountains for light hiking and enjoying nature. That evening we will have dinner at the hotel and more family activities in a reserved room.

Monday morning: Breakfast at the hotel and then off to the alpine slide and possibly one more Park City event (we'll see what the time looks like). We need to check out of our rooms by noon and some have flights out in the early afternoon so it will be a little relaxed as we say goodbye for this year's reunion.

Apparently some people have wondered what kind of clothes to bring. Hopefully this helps. If you have any more questions, please ask us. We have a phone and an email address and we actually answer/check them.

See you in two weeks!

Back in the Game

So, things are starting to look up on the bike. I'm still not where I need to be, but it looks like I may finally be moving in the right direction. I went out to the Royal Street Hill Climb last night and had a respectable showing. The best part was that my friend Rex showed up to photograph the whole thing. The first picture is on the switchbacks just above Deer Valley. The second is at the finish line.

Yosemite...

Here's a few pictures of our visit to Yosemite to see the Biesingers...

Then we said goodbye to the Biesingers and went over the Sonora Pass...

And on to Mammoth Mountain...

We had a good time. We'll let the Biesingers fill you in on the rest of their vacation (hint, hint).