January Vacation

The week of my birthday, I took some time off of work. It was a really fun time for Spencer and I to spend together. We slept in every day. We watched a lot of movies. We played a lot of games. We cleaned the house a little. We played in the snow with the dogs. We went to movies. And did other activities. It was a wonderful vacation. One in which we could really rest and be lazy. I loved this time that we got to spend together without work or school or anything else that we had to do.

Here are some videos of Spencer snowboarding. He's pretty good. He did better than I did.

Brianna's Birthday

I have always wanted to share skiing with Spencer so that we would have a winter activity to do together. I tried taking him once, but it wasn't a very good experience. So we decided that we would both try snowboarding. Spencer took me snowboarding for my birthday.

It was a really snowy day at Kissing Bridge ski resort. We got a lesson together. It was alright when we were just going down a tiny part of the hill and hiking back up. But the rope-tow was another story. It was the old-fashioned rope-tow, not like the fancy kind you stand on at Targhee. It was like flashing back to being three or four again and trying to hold that stupid rope and keep it from sucking your hands down to the ground. It was so hard to keep from getting tangled or falling and holding everybody up or making the rope-tow stop. I would just hurry out of the way so they wouldn't have to stop it. It was really hard.

Going down wasn't too bad, as long as you stayed straight. Anytime we tried to turn, we would fall. We got really good and going straight and fast and then falling at the bottom.

The thing about snowboarding for me, is that you have to twist your knee into anatomically incorrect positions. My knee didn't like it at all. I feel bad because I guess that the only thing I said all day is that my knee hurt. However, my hands stayed super warm thanks to my new gloves from my parents. In fact, they were so hot that I took them off once and a while to cool them off. Thanks mom and dad for my awesome Christmas present. It is great for the weather here in Buffalo.

Here's some pictures.

The evil rope-tow.

We ate some food at the lodge and then went home. We put in a good 5-6 hours of trying, though. I was proud of us. We both got hurt. My knee was shot and Spencer swore he broke his rib. When we got home we were both very tired and didn't feel like doing much except sleeping. Spencer got me a red velvet cake. I had been craving red velvet.

Spencer also got me a GPS system. Out here in Buffalo there are no mountains. So I can't tell which way is north/south. Therefore, I get lost often. The streets here are really confusing, too. So Spencer got me the GPS to help me out when I need it. It also works in Canada. This is nice because we are so close to Canada. The GPS also finds nearby restaurants, gas stations, and other important places. We are excited to use it for mini-trips this summer.

He also got me a couple of really cute tee-shirts. It was an exhausting birthday. It was harder than others that I've had, though. I really feel like I am getting old. It's tough.

Beauty School?

Since we've been married, Spencer and I have talked about having me cut his hair instead of going to Super Cuts. He doesn't have enough time to go get his hair cut as often as he would like. And his main issue is just his neck hair and the sides of his hair.

Shortly after we got married, I began to shave his neck hair with his electric razor. I did a pretty good job at this. So I started to feel more confident in the idea that maybe I could cut Spencer's hair. Last fall, I bought a razor that has guides and instructions on how to cut hair. I was really excited about it. Spencer on the other hand was very hesitant.

Now I can't blame him for being scared. After all, the only thing that I have ever used an electric razor on is a horse. I am awesome at a full body clipping and show clipping and touch ups for horses. People, however, I have never attempted.

So after a few months, Spencer decided to let me try. It was in January when he wasn't going to school yet and wasn't working. I guess that he figured that if I messed up, at least no one would see it.

Here is a picture of my kit.



I cut Spencer's hair for the first time at the beginning of January. It started out really well. It looked really good on the sides. Then I did the top....yeah...I cut it way too short. I also really messed up around the ears. It was a disaster. I felt really bad. Spencer was really sweet about it and didn't get mad at me. At least his hair grows fast.

Here is a picture of the bathroom after. Spencer wouldn't let me get a picture of him.

About a month later, Spencer asked me to try cutting his hair again. I was like "Are you serous?! You really want me to try it again after last time?!" He said yes, just not to cut the top at all because it doesn't need it and to not go so crazy around the ears. I said "Okay..."

It turned out awesome!! I did a great job. I was really proud of myself. I was super nervous the whole time that I did it, but it turned out good. I never thought that I would be the type to cut her husband's hair, but I think that I'll be alright.

Happy New Year's 2009

This was our Christmas card we sent out this year. We wore the actual player's jerseys and helmets. We miss everyone and wish you all the best of holidays, even though we are late.




We have never been big on New Year's. We like to just hang out and keep it low key. And almost every New Year's, one of us gets sick. And this year was no different. Spencer's teeth were bothering him and he had to take pain medicine.


We played with the dogs out in the snow. And then we came back inside and cuddled and played NHL on the PlayStation. Then we went out to Outback for dinner. Then we came home and watched Dick Clark's New Years. Fall Out Boy (our favorite band) played a couple of their new songs. We just chilled and rung in the New Year together.









I think that 2009 holds a lot of promise and that some great things are going to happen to us. I have a really good feeling that this is going to be an awesome year!!

Sugar Cookies

Spencer loves to make sugar cookies at Christmas-time. So I try to do it with him every year. Somehow in the move, we lost our cookie-cutters. And no matter where I went shopping, I could NOT find cookie-cutters. We decided to make them anyways. However, we had to cut shapes with a knife. This was difficult, but the good new is that we could be extra creative.

Here is Spencer cutting sugar cookies.





Here you can see what we were doing. Spencer is cutting an octopus or spider-monkey or something. I'm not quite sure.

I made a moose and a football and different fruits. Spencer made a football helmet, a snail, a star, and some other unidentifiable animals.

Then we decorated them. It was fun to make different colors of frosting.

A Very Sabres Christmas

We had a good Christmas this year. It was quiet and simple and we both had to work, but it was still really nice.

Here are our stockings. Yes two of the stockings are Sabres stockings. Each year, there seems to be a theme to Christmas. Our first Christmas was football helmets. Our second Christmas was Vikings. And this year, it was the Sabres, since that is Spencer's new obsession.

Here is our little tree. Yeah! for fake trees. They are so simple. And the lights are already on. You just pull it out, stack the pieces, and fluff the branches. Then just add the decorations and wa-la. You can't see the ornaments very well, but they are an assortment of BYU, Buffalo Bills, and Buffalo Sabres. Underneath are all of the gifts from our loved ones. Everyone was so nice to spend the extra money to ship us gifts. It was so sweet, thank you everyone!!

Santa didn't forget us this year. We got a DYSON vacuum that is good at cleaning up animal hair. It is awesome!! I recommend everyone gets a Dyson. We used to live with hard floors and didn't really need one. Now, we have mostly carpet and this vacuum is a life-saver, especially for Spencer. He really hates the hair.

We also got street hockey sticks and pucks so that our passion for hockey can continue. We like to play it gently in the house against the dogs (well, mostly Brady). We pass the ball back and forth and try to play keep-away from Brady. If he gets it, we tell him to drop it, and he does. He is a good sport. This is another useful way to get out the dogs energy. We haven't used it outside yet, but I hope that we do.

We got a lot of movies and cd's. We also got Sabres jerseys. We got some games from our friends, some jackets from our parents, a toy helicopter to chase the dogs with, and a lot of other great gifts.

I really wanted some warm gloves for Christmas because my mittens were old and just didn't keep my hands warm enough during Bills Games or skiing. My parents got me some AWESOME ski mittens. I love them.



Sorry I look like crap. We had to get up early so we could do Christmas before work and I didn't even put on any make-up or brush my hair.

The dogs got some treats from Homely and Joyce. They also got some bones. I even got them a goose and beaver toy. Mia loves to get out the squeakers. These ones actually lasted more than one day.

In this picture you can see a little piece of the goose stuck to Mia's lip.

After we opened Christmas presents, we had to hurry to work. Yes, the Bills had practice on Christmas. And of course the hospital never closes. Although it was a very quiet holiday.

We all had a good Christmas. Thanks again to Spencer's parents and my parents for going above and beyond on giving us gifts. We are so grateful to everyone. Thank you. I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas. We missed you all so much.

Bills Christmas Party

Before Christmas, we received a mysterious package. We opened it up to find a giant chocolate football. It is the size of an official NFL football.





Inside was an assortment of chocolate coins and buffalo chocolates.




We also went to the Buffalo Bills Christmas Party. It was held at the stadium in Jim Kelly's Club House. It was really fancy. There was valet parking and lots of lights and decorations. Everyone was all dressed up. There was a huge buffet laid out with caviar and shrimp and fillet mignon. Our favorite things were the chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecake. There was also a bar and we ordered our Roy Rogers and Shirley Temples. Spencer's co-workers actually have some on-going jokes about how he needs to be careful how many "drinks" he has (of Pepsi or Coke) and that he may not be able to drive home. They also joke about his Mormon coffee, which is hot chocolate.

It was funny to see some of the players dancing and having a good time with the music. We didn't stay for very long. I kind of felt out of place, but it was a surprisingly good time.

I am really grateful that Spencer has had this wonderful opportunity. It has been a lot of fun and just a neat experience. Go Bills!!