On Thursday night we took off to Idaho to visit Kristie’s family. We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend hangin’ out with the fam. It was a particularly big weekend for Cole, who was celebrating his 16th birthday, getting ordained, etc. He had actually planned his own surprise party for Saturday with a couple of friends, where he wanted to surprise all the people that had come to surprise him. But in a classic twist, his mom told his friends switch the date of the party to the evening before, so he was completely confused when he walked into a yelling room of friends on Friday night.
[Yes...that's Cole's head]
We also got to see Kenny, Mari, Grandma, Grandpa & others at the Tanners on Saturday night where we watched BYU stomp on Utah in a great men’s basketball game.
Friday was the last day of work at my previous job. It had been a terrific 3 years, and I’m really proud of the things I learned and accomplished. My decision to move on came about when I received a job offer from another company–but then within days of that first offer, I was given a second, even better one that I couldn’t pass up. As a result, I’ve accepted the position as Director of Marketing at Qualtrics Labs, a really awesome survey software company based in Provo. The people I’m working with are terrific, and I can’t say enough about the unique company culture.
As a result of this shift, I had a week of unemployment that I spent most judiciously. Skiing became priority #1, since I received a few complimentary lift passes as a gift from my new employer. If any of you have skied Deer Valley, you’ll know why it’s been rated the best ski resort in the nation 3 years running. I was lucky enough to have the company of Jer and Nathan for two of the trips. The picture below is of some of the amazing terrain we got to ski.
I can’t wait to get rockin’ and rollin’ at Qualtrics this next week…
It’s official, Kristie and I are going to be the parents of a baby girl come June! We had the week 20 ultrasound today and she looks healthy, active and squished and adorable. I think she’s gonna be a daddy’s girl if I have anything to say about it.
We’re so excited. Thanks all for the love and support — we’re probably going to need a lot more of it!
Our new friends Jared and Kayleen gave us some extra tickets to the men’s hoops game on Wednesday and it was a blast. BYU’s team has had a killer season so far [watch me jinx it], and they’re playing lights out. Maybe we’ll finally make it past round one of the big dance this year..
It had been ages since me, Ryan and Brent got together, so we decided to go out to dinner with the ladies. For some reason Brent wanted to eat at Cabellas, which was a really cool place, but was closed by the time we got there. [Nothing says fine dining like sporting goods outfitters!]
So we piled into one car and headed over to the Tepanyaki in Lehi. Great entertainment comes standard with the food. It’s the only place where the waiters throw food at you, and you tip them better. A quick vid that Ryan took with his phone:
After the cruise we got to spend a week at home with the McConnons, and it was a blast. Some of the highlights include:
New Hampshire: We headed up to the cabin to spend a couple nights. It snowed a bunch so we got to play with snowmobiles, sled, and try to figure out how to get the cars back out from the long, treacherous driveway.
New Years: Cozy by the fire at the Ponderosa.
Spa: Mom gave me and Kristie a trip to the spa where we got pampered with massages, etc. It was a first time for me — so relaxing.
Date night in Boston: Kristie and I met up with some friends in Newton, and then went to grab dinner at Bertucci’s — a favorite local restaurant of ours.
Lunch with DD: Mom, Coleman, Kristie and I headed out to Sterling, MA to have lunch with my aunt DD at a wonderful little apple orchard cafe. We also met her fiancee Johnny, and they’re a wonderful couple — totally in love.
Spending time with the fam: Even though we just barely had the cruise together, it was so much fun to hang out in our element.
Picking Coleman up at the ER: Coleman went skiing with his friends, and got clotheslined by a metal cable, which resulted in a pretty nasty cut above his eye. We all went to Emerson Hospital to pick him up and make fun of him. The receptionist complimented us on being a pretty “fun” family. I couldn’t disagree.
So about a week before the cruise Kristie and I decided to modify our itinerary. Instead of heading back to SLC after the cruise, we thought it would be fun to head back to Massachusetts for an extra week of vacation. We knew mom would be really excited about this idea, but I only discussed it with dad, and we decided to keep it a secret. Coleman was flying back to Utah with us, and had really wanted to go home too, so we switched his itinerary to match ours without him knowing.
So when we got off the cruise ship, we all headed to the Orlando airport. Coleman, Kristie and I went to one terminal, and mom, dad and Andrew headed to another. I had wanted to see how far we could get Coleman before he realized the final destination, but he ended up figuring it out at baggage check-in. The guy said, “so your final destination is Boston?” and Coleman nodded, then looked really confused, and said “wait…no.” Before too much protesting we caught his attention and shouted “surprise! Merry Christmas!” It was pretty funny to watch his confusion give way to excitement.
So we boarded a Jetblue flight to Logan Airport in Boston, while mom and dad flew Southwest into Manchester, NH. Dad made up some excuse about having to drive over and pick up a package for work at Logan, and mom (somewhat annoyed) said “fine.” When they drove past us along the curbside pickup, we saw mom in the passenger side window and began waving. Her face was priceless, she looked like she just woke up in an episode of the Twilight Zone. I was just glad she managed to wait till dad stopped the car before she launched herself out of it. I think she was trying to figure out what state we were all in at the moment.
Anyways, at the last second I pulled out my camera and switched it on to video…here was the latter part of her reaction:
This year we spent Christmas with the McConnon family. On a boat. In the Caribbean. It was so, so much fun.
After Coleman wrapped up his finals, he drove down from Rexburg, and the three of us flew out to Orlando on Saturday morning. Mom, dad and Andrew met us there and the next morning we boarded a massive, decked-out-for-Christmas Royal Carribean cruise ship, to set sail for 7 days. Arriving on the boat :
Our rooms looked over the 5th deck promenade that you see behind us, which was filled with shops and stretched from one end of the massive ship to the other.
Monday: Coco Cay, Bahamas
We were the first passengers to arrive on the island (excited much?) and spent the day exploring the island. We saw stingrays, starfish, and all kinds of other cool stuff. After lunch we joined a volleyball tourney and layed out for a while in the island sun.
Sunrise on the beach
Florider surf park on the back of the ship
Cantilevered hottub...look below and there's nothing but ocean
On the way to dinner
Late night surfing
Tuesday: At sea
We spent today running around and exploring the ship. The enormity of the boat, and the quantity of available food, still had us in awe.
Dodgeball tournament on deck.
Kristie and Tom on the ship's climbing wall
Wednesday: St. Thomas
Afternoon at the secluded Lindquist beach
A McConnon family portrait
The boys
Thursday: St. Martin
Philipsburg, St. Maarten (Dutch Side)
A huuuuge live lobster that was about to end up on the grill
Kristie, island fairy
Coleman leaving the runway
Kristie lee
Sunset on the pier
Singing carols on Christmas Eve
Friday: At sea
The dining room
Custom-made cookie sandwich
Candid shot
Saturday: At sea
Mom, conquering her fear of heights
Filming "On a Boat." L-R: T-Pain, Andy Samberg & Kiv. Don't ask.
This evening we traveled up to SLC with Leah and Jonny to see the lights at Temple Square, and catch a portion of the ‘The Wondrous Gift of Christmas’ concert presented by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra. It was beautiful…highlighted by exceptional performances from Grammy-award winning singer Natalie Cole, and Pulitzer prize winning author Frank McCullough (one of my all-time favorite nonfiction writers)
Kristie and I purchased our first real Christmas tree this year, and had a blast making our home feel all kinds of Christmas-y. Here’s a shot of Kristie putting the finishing touches on the lights and ornaments:
**Special thanks to Joe Meservy who has provided the soundtrack to our last three Christmases in the form of a classic mix, lovingly dubbed Christmas Nog.
