MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas. We miss not being able to be with you all during this time of year. We decided to stay put this christmas since we had been back several times throughout the year and enjoy some much needed time together with our own little family. Its been a busy couple of months at school at it'll be good to get some R&R. I kicked that off yesterday after my last final with a round of golf in this beautiful 70 degree weather and i will continue that R&R with another round today. YOU CANT DO THAT IN UTAH! Its great to have school over with. It has been the hardest trimester so far. We began our clinic experience this fall. We had a pt(student in our class) and we had a staff dr. who helped us and signed us off. We learn a new technique every tri and then we practice that in the clinic the next tri. So it was fun to get in there and act like a Dr. for a little bit. Come this summer we will be official student clinic interns working on the students tri 1-5 and their families. Then the last year we will be in the outpatient clinic working on the public. So there is the run down. The next tri is going to be really busy with our 1st boards in march. We have about 12 board reviews that takes place on saturdays and sundays. So i am sure i will be really burned out next tri. But for now its good to be done and spend time with my girls.

Megan-ran a 1/2 marathon in november and is now training or a full marathon in February. She has a friend that is doing it with her so she has someone to run with. She runs 3-4 times a week. She is also planning on going back to school next semester. She has been accepted but is still trying to figure out financial aid. The 1st little while she will be finishing her pre-reqs. She can do most of them online or take some night classes. She wants to get a degree in diet and nutrition. Hopefully it all works out and she will be able to do it. It would be good for her to get out and do something other than running and being a mom all day long.

Mckenzie-is at a funny stage right now. She is either so cute or so annoying. She is a fast learner and loves to read books. She reads them outloud to herself or grabs any stuffed animal that will listen. She is into playing "mommy" with all her animals. She wraps them up in her blanket and takes care of them. She kisses them and tells them to "Shhhshh." She has a huge vocabulary. We do have to be careful what we say around her or she'll repeat it right back to us. She is the center of attention where ever we go. She thinks everyone around us is there to see her. Which is usually the case but its just funny. She is also into proving us wrong in anything or into doing what we tell her not to do. Then she gets frustrated and cries her head off. She is excited for this thing called "Santa Claus." She still doesnt want to sit in his lap but we are sure trying. Maybe she needs grandpas touch. Christmas will be a lot of fun!

Me, not much is going on now! I am just glad to be done and to actually get some sleep. Unless Jared keeps me up playing on the internet all night. Its always his fault. I have been valeting every friday to try and get some extra money. Over the break i will work about 2 days a week. Its really easy money and its fun to lust over cars all night long =). Lately I have been trying to work out at the gym more. I will be ripped soon!!!! j/k just trying to keep my belly from getting jiggly. This spring i am probably going to start an acupuncture program on the weekends. There are lots of things/certifications offered to us at school. I would like to do them all but the problem is they are really expensive and i have already had to back out of a few. I do want to find the money to do some of these as they will only help my practice out in the long run. Occasionaly i will go to seminars where they give you the shortened version but there usually is no certification. These programs are just extra tools i can fall back on if the pt is not seeing results. Wish i had lots of money to do all these things. Donations anybody??? j/k Anyways, hope everybody got our Christmas card in time. We miss you all and we wish we could be with you.

Love,Russ

p.s. GO UTES!!!!!!!!

Seven-Layer Dip

So, we are having seven layer dip tonight. Nothing better to break a fast with than all that goodness! And as it includes guacamole, I thought that it has been awhile since my last posting. Thus, here is my 7 layer post.

1. Here is a pic of me and Adam before the big game. Add him to the list of sons who has been influenced by their mother. (At least I got a red shirt on the lad.)

2. We had a very nice Jepson Family Night at Steve's place. We missed everyone in Texas. Our assignment was treats, so I busted out the Pinwheel Tarts, which we enjoy on a fairly regular basis at our home. I figured that for Brett and Steve it had probably had been close to a decade or more since they had them last. This upcoming month the party is at our house, Dec. 21st. Steve has lesson, Brett has treat, Mom and Dad have talent.

3. Happy Birthday to Laurie, Ben, Brett, Liz, and Christy this month. Did I miss anyone? Congrats to Ben on receiving the priesthood and graduating from Primary! We wish we could be down in Texas to take part with you on that important day.

4. The Utah Jazz are looking good. We just need to keep things steady, trade Gierichek if we aren't going to play him, and continue to let players develop. I think Fess is going to be a steal of a draft pick. He will become the type of big man we have needed since Mark Eaton left.

5. Isaac had a history report on Ben Franklin at school. Here is a picture. He did a great job. He gathered all the facts and created the layout for his poster board stuff. We did the best we could at dressing him up.

6. Christy has accepted a part-time job at the Lakeview Academy (the boys school). She is writing the curriculum for and presenting a class once of month for the Journalism class at the school. The curriculum writing is ongoing and will take the most time, stuff she can do at home. What is interesting about the class is that it is made up of kids that are struggling academically. The aid described the students as having the attention span of kindergartners and struggle to write a complete sentence. They will make perfect media members. Ha Ha Ha!

7. Here is some Christmas cheer.