A White Christmas

Our Christmas was beautiful! We had about a foot of snow on the ground and it was bright and sunny. From what we've heard this was the first white Christmas in about 10 years. On Christmas Eve day we took the dogs up on the Rims to Zimmerman Park. It was so beautiful, all the snow as you looked down on the city. Jeff and I were saying, "who would have ever thought we would be out walking in the snow on Christmas Eve?!" It is amazing where life can lead you and the experiences along the way. This Christmas was not sad at all, just a little different. Being away for the holidays really gave us time to reflect on what the holiday is all about and everything that we do have to be grateful for. We have some wonderful people here in MT that we shared our holidays with. Christmas Eve we spent with Jeff's boss and his family. They have been so inviting and are really like a second family for us here. Then Christmas morning was just Jeff and I (and our dogs!). It was fun and relaxing. We actually slept in until like 8:00. Then we drove up to Miles City to spend the day with Jared, Julie, Claire, and the Murnin family. It was a very nice day and so nice to spend it with extended family. We did miss everyone at home and hope that your Christmas just as good as ours!

These past few days I have been spending with my precious little niece, Claire. And my sister too! It has been so fun. Claire is at a fun age and is playing and interacting so much now. It has been so fun to watch her and the dogs get acquainted. Miley wasn't so sure of her at first and now she won't leave her side. Wherever Claire goes she goes and just sits and watches her. And well Roy just loves to lick her face, which Claire isn't too keen on! She has learned to call the dogs "woof." So anytime the dogs are near she says, "woof." It is too cute.

Well we wish everyone a Happy New Year! Hope all is well.

Love, Jennifer

Success

I have successfully finished my second semester of PA school. It is a great feeling to have a little free time and not have to continually be studying. I have three weeks off and plan to do a lot of baking, scrap booking, running (inside of course), and whatever my little heart desires!

And Jeff had a successful pheasant hunt yesterday. He and his boss decided to hunt in the midst of a snow storm. Jeff came home with two pheasants and was all so proud to tell me "two shots, two birds!" I think we have lost him to the great outdoors :-)

So for all you Californians who keep complaining to me how cold it is at home, try this out, the high for today is 5 degrees below zero. As we left for church it was 14 below and right now it is 9 below. The air takes your breath away and your nose hairs freeze instantly! I'm not kidding. We have about 6-8 inches of snow and the sun is bright and shiny. Just a typical winter day in Billings, MT.

Well we will not be coming home for Christmas. It's not going to work out this year, so we will be celebrating here in MT. My sister's husband, Jared, is from Miles City, which is about two hours from here. They will be there for Christmas this year and his family was so kind to invite us to join in their celebration. So Jeff and I (and Miley and Roy, of course) will be going to Miles City for Christmas Day. We are so thankful to have a wonderful family to celebrate with. Although we will miss everyone at home very much!

We hope all is well for everyone and wish you a Happy Holiday season.
Lots of Love,
Jennifer

First snowboard trip of the season

This past Saturday Jeff and I went to Red Lodge for some early season snowboarding. It's only about an hour drive and a nice place for an amateur snowboarder like myself. We went with our friends Travis and Lyndsey. It was a lot of fun and nice that we live so close. Plus I get a student discount! Hopefully we'll get to go again over my Christmas break. It had a beautiful view.

Well I better get back to studying. I am the world's best procrastinator! One final down and two more to go.

Love, Jennifer

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I believe the high for today was 19 degrees and last night it got down to 7! It has been snowing here for the past two days and been very cold. There is ice everywhere and it's not melting! This is pretty extreme for me. The cars actually get icicles on the bumpers and undercarriage and they don't melt all day. So you drive around with icicles hanging off of your car, hahaha!

Jeff had a fun adventure last Sunday. His boss took him pheasant hunting out on the Big Horn River. It was a quite an experience for Jeff even though he came home empty handed. He is hooked now and wants to do more. We're truly soaking up the Montana lifestyle. It's a fun adventure.

As for me, I have one more week left of this semester. I had my physical assessment final yesterday which entailed performing a complete history and physical on a hired patient. It went really well. I was so nervous before, but then as soon as I got in the room I calmed down and just did my thing. One of the guys in my class knew my patient and she told him later that I did very well and had great bedside manner. So that was encouraging. Now I just have to get through my three finals next week and I get a three week break. Yeah!

Well we hope all is well with everyone. Miss you lots!

Love, Jennifer