Merry Late Christmas

This year we went to Utah for Christmas. It was the first time we have been to Utah for Christmas since we have been married. We were both really excited to have a white Christmas. I was so happy that it snowed! We didn't do too much just a bunch of shopping and hanging out with friends and family. We had a great time seeing everyone and catching up with everyone. Here are a few of the pictures we took.

Kathy with our newest nephew Reed! Soon he will be demoted to second newest when our sister in law Lisa has a baby boy in the spring! He took a while to warm up to us but by the end of the week we were having lots of fun playing together.

Alivia showing off her new digital camera. She took over 300 pictures on Christmas day of everyone. Cory got a Nintendo DS that he couldn't put down.

IT'S SNOWING YIPPEEEEEEE!

Levi was such a trooper, every time it snowed he went outside a shoveled the walks! I think he enjoyed the snow too!

Christmas morning in front of the tree. We ended up leaving most of our presents for each other at home because we didn't want to haul them up in our luggage on the plane and on the way back too.

Overall we had a great trip and it was fun to see our friends and family. We also got our fill of winter weather so we won't need any more for a while.

The Elk freaks my dog out

I could only do a picture with the head because the rest of it is already at the meat cutter's. I also tried to get Shaka into the picture but she wouldn't come near the head. She might have been scarred for life when I chased her around the back yard with the head of the last elk I shot.
I should also add that I took along the single most important piece of hunting equipment on the trip: a beard. Not only does it make you look manly and rugged, but it keeps your face warm while you ride your atv and you don't have to worry about dropping it in the forest.

The Elk Hunt

Levi and his dad got drawn for the elk hunt this year. He left Thursday to go set up camp with his dad. The hunt started on Friday morning and goes for a week. Unfortunately Levi had finals that start on Monday so he only had a couple of days to hunt. He went out hunting each morning around 6:00 and hunted until sun down. The first day they didn't see any elk. On Saturday they hiked over mountains and valleys and shot at a couple of elk but by the time they got to where they were the elk had disappeared. They were pretty beat on Saturday afternoon since they had hiked for so long. But Levi went back out with a friend and just before sun down he shot at an elk and was pretty sure he hit it. They hiked over to were it was and they saw all the blood but couldn't find the elk. The next morning they went to check it out and they found him on the other side of the mountain so they cleaned him all up and took it to the butcher. The elk he shot was a young one with a short 5x4 rack. The pieces they took to the butcher weighed 3oo pounds. Levi made it home tonight and I am so glad! I was lonely every night without him here. This was the first time we have been apart since we have been married. It is scary staying in an apartment all by your self. For some reason you hear all these noises that you have never heard before. And I am a freak and watch all those murder mystery shows like "48 hours: mystery" and then I really get freaked out and make sure the door is locked like twenty times. At least I had the ward Christmas party to go to on Friday night. Then on Saturday night I went to a work Christmas party! So at least I wasn't home all night every night listening to all the strange noises. I am so glad Levi was safe hunting and that he made it home safely. I can't wait to try some of the Elk meat!! Levi's dad is still out hunting and hopefully he will be able to get one before the hunt ends on Thursday. Sorry Levi didn't take the camera so we don't have any pictures of his elk.