Happy 2008!

I apologize for posting all my Christmas posts now, when I should be talking about New Years resolutions and such. We have been so busy over the holidays that I have not had time to put up our Christmas pics. I hope you will bear with me and stay tuned for our New Year's pics.

Here are some pics from our last New Years party.

Great friends!




Good spread


Sledding in Cocktail Dresses Anyone?

For the love of fondue

It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but it was a little easier knowing that our friends Phil and Tara were having us over for fondue--one of my favorite meals ever! You just cannot beat dipping things into vats of cheese and chocolate. It was nice too to have a night to forget about the law and talk to people who do other things.

Phil and Tara's daughter, Lily, is such a cute girl. She likes to take the books off the shelf one-by-one, "read" each one, and throw it on the floor.


Leslie and Jeremy's daughter, Lucy, likes to wear princess dresses. She wears them everywhere. It is so cute to watch her twirl. Whenever I tried to take a picture of her, she struck a pose. SO cute!


Tara put together the cutest party favors. It was a "Winter Survival Kit" for the winter. It had soup, chapstick, pocket tissues, and other winter essentials.

Oh Brother!

The night before we headed back to Idaho, Rod and I went out with my family to celebrate Jordan's birthday. It is hard to believe my Buggy is going to be a teenager next year! It seems like not so long ago that he was born. He has always been my little Bug. I was 15 when he was born, so I babysat a LOT. Then, whenever I came to visit or home for the summer, we would always spend as much time as we could together. He would even want to help me cook and do dishes!



He has always been such a sweet boy. Last year, Jordan's school was trying to raise money for leukemia. To encourage the other students, Jordan approached his principle and got him to agree that if the students raised more than $1,000, they would both get Mohawks. The students ended up raising $1,600.


After this Birthday, he is going to have to beat the ladies off with a stick! He got a new Element Board (Bam of course) from me and an electric guitar. He is too cool!




I am so proud to be his sister and so excited that he has agreed to be a groomsman.

White Christmas

Surprisingly, the airport was not very hectic on the eve of Christmas Eve. We did hit a wicked storm on the way to Idaho though. It didn't stop either. In total there was almost a foot of new snow and no plow to be seen.

It wasn't one of those Christmas Eve's where you can't sleep in anticipation of what Santa brought you, but we still got up early to check our stockings and start preparing Christmas Dinner for Grandma and Grandpa. Rod got me a beautiful cherrywood jewelry box and I surprised him with a Dewalt hammer drill. He couldn't wait to use it.







At around 10, we headed out to Rigby to open presents with the kids. It was total carnage: a Wii, Guitar Hero, Ipods, gas-powered remote control cars, new skateboards. The wrapping paper was knee high. It was so fun to see how excited everyone was about their presents. We couldn't stay long, though, with a prime rib in the oven and Grandma's.

Although I hate to see how frustrated Grandma is about not being able to take care of herself, it was beautiful to watch how tender my Grandpa was with her. I would catch him doing the sweetest things when he thought no one was looking.



I had an opportunity to see how much my Grandpa does for my Grandma firsthand when Grandpa had to go to the hospital for his heart the day after Christmas. Grandpa only ended up staying in over night. I stayed with Grandma the whole time he was gone. It wasn't the Christmas we had hoped for, but I wouldn't have changed it. It gave me an opportunity to do something for the people who have done more for me than any one else. That gift was priceless.

Christmas in the South

It was a crazy Christmas this year. We started it off by flying to Louisiana to spend time with Rod's family and attend his brother's graduation.
Congratulations Stephen!



We were only there for four days, but managed to visit all of Rod's family. It was so nice to see everyone! It doesn't hurt, either, that we generally get to eat great seafood while we are visiting. I love that mussels are a daily occurrence. Usually we spend Christmas Eve going to church with Rod's dad and then going back to Rod's Aunt Jumy's (Aunt Judy + Uncle Jimmy = Aunt Jumy) house. Because we weren't going to be there on Christmas Eve, Aunt Jumy moved up her holiday celebration to Saturday night. Judy always does such a beautiful job of decorating and must spend a week getting all the food ready.

Rod's Aunts Patty and Teri, Maw Maw, Paw Paw, Fred, and Cole



Maw Maw and Cole


Mike


Aunt Jumy's

Holiday Letter 2007

I apologize to everyone who tried to access this letter earlier. I had enough time to send out Christmas cards, but not enough to actually write the letter. Oops! I hope it was worth the wait . . .

It has been another year full of wonderful surprises, the biggest of which you may have already noticed: Rod and I are sending out a holiday letter together. On October 4, I was shocked when I opened the door to find a pathway of candles and roses leading me to Rod on bended knee. Rod is generally not good at surprises, but I had no idea that he had even been looking at engagement rings, let alone purchasing them and plotting his proposal. I was thrilled and (of course) said yes!

Although they pale in comparison, we have had several other exciting surprises this year. Rod was unexpectedly asked to present at an environmental law conference in Arizona about one of his cases. I also had an amazing opportunity through the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association to organize a Pro Bono project, dealing with an issue that I feel strongly about: helping immigrant victims of domestic violence self-petition for legal status in the United States. Over 60 volunteer attorneys went to shelters throughout Utah to teach the victim advocates about the Violence Against Women Act and how to help victims apply for relief. Our chapter received an award from the National Federal Bar Association for the project.

My little sister (Jayde) graduated from Rigby High School in May and, as an early graduation present, we went to Bali, Hong Kong, and China. It was only two-and-a-half weeks, but we packed a lot into the trip. Some of the highlights were the Hindu temples and monkeys in Bali, the shopping and skyline in Hong Kong, and the Great Wall and Kung Fu in Beijing. We also got off the beaten path to visit the Hanging Temple and Buddhist Caves in Datong. The best part, though, was spending time with Jayde.



This summer, I was the social coordinator for Parr Waddoups’s recruiting program. It was so much fun to get to know the summer associates. It kept me pretty busy planning dinners, parties, concerts, trips to Jackson, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, rafting, and other excursions. Between work and playing with the summer associates, Rod and I did not have a lot of time to take off by ourselves. We did manage to do a three-day mountain biking trip with some of my bike team, Cutthroat Racing, to White Rim Trail in Southern Utah. We also did several unexpectedly long day trips. Rod misjudged the mileage for our “10ish-mile” mid-mountain trail ride and 22 miles later he was taking me to our favorite restaurant so that we could replace some electrolytes. I also took up road biking this summer, but I haven’t gotten good enough to do anything but short rides near our house. I think I’ll leave the century rides to my more dedicated friends.



Rod and I have also had the opportunity to visit our families more often this year. We usually only go to Louisiana for Christmas, but this year we had the opportunity and great excuses for going back three times–Rod’s dad’s 60th birthday (which coincided with his ten-year reunion), the LSU v. Florida game at Tiger Stadium, and Rod’s brother’s graduation from LSU. The reunion was an informative glance into Rod’s past. The Florida game, my first time at Tiger Stadium, was unbelievable. The crowd was louder, wilder, and about twice the size of any crowd I’ve seen in Utah (and that is not counting the 200,000 tailgaters who didn’t have tickets to the game). Although it was nail-biter to the very end, the Tigers were victorious and are now heading to the National Championship on January 7. Geaux Tigers!


We have also been back to Idaho several times to see my family. Unfortunately, my Grandma Ellis was diagnosed with Guillon-Barre Syndrome, a neurological disease that causes temporary paralysis, in May. The disease struck suddenly; one day Grandma was walking around doing her normal routine and the next she woke up and could not support herself. It has been so difficult watching her struggle. I am so grateful that her mind and the rest of her body are healthy. It has been seven long months, but she is starting to regain strength in her legs now and we a praying for her full recovery. My mother and the rest of our family were able to all be together for Thanksgiving, which I know meant so much to my Grandma. My Grandpa has been amazing, taking care of Grandma through the whole process. I love them both so much and feel so blessed to have such caring and supportive people in my life.

We are so excited for the New Year and look forward to planning the rest of our lives together (well at least the beginning of the rest of our lives together).

Happy Holidays!


Jen and Rod

A goat for Christmas

I was so excited to open my present from Nicole this year. For several years we have struggled to find a gift for each other, knowing that neither of us really needs anything. This year Nicole found the perfect gift for me: A goat. With Nicole's thoughtful gift, World Vision will provide a needy family with a goat, which will be used to "nourish[] a family with fresh milk, cheese, and yogurt, and can offer a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. It even provides fertilizer that can dramatically increase crop yields."


To return Nici's thoughtful gesture, I gave her a gift certificate to Kiva. Kiva is a website where readers can read about people who are trying to start small businesses in there country. For a small amount (as low as $25) the reader can loan the entrepreneur money to start the business to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Amazingly, there is a 99% rate of repayment. When the loan is repaid, the
lender can cash out or choose another business to lend to. It is just incredible to see how much such a small amount of money can change people's lives.

Bambi and the Bird O' Love and Peace

Instead of giving gifts to our friends, each year Rod and I have a small group of people over for a Christmas Dinner. It was so nice to take a break from the busy holiday schedule to just sit down and chill with our friends. In addition to great friends and conversation, our party had Rod's famous jalepeno-wrapped dove breasts, venison backstraps on sour dough croutons with white bean hummus, mexican wedding cookies (a recipe from Rod's Aunt Jumie) and, of course, enough egg nog to swim in. Allyson made her evil Kahlua brownies. Those things are seriously addictive!

Happy Holidays!

One of my favorite family traditions is decorating the Christmas tree. When I was little, my family would spend the weekend after Thanksgiving getting out the tree and decorating it. Dad would put on the lights, and the kids would take turns putting on ornaments while mom made brownies. When we were all finished, we would turn out the lights, turn on the tree, and sing carols.

Well, a couple of things have changed since I was a little. Since I don't have a family to help me decorate the tree now, I invite a handful of my friends (Nici, Mellie, Corey, Ry-Ry, and Toddy) over to help me, and now Rod, decorate the tree.

Instead of getting the tree out, Rod insists that we buy a real tree. Although I hate to admit it, I really love it. You just cannot beat the smell of pine.

Also, instead of brownies, we cook up a couple pots of cheese and chocolate fondue.

I love spending this time with my friends and how the house glows when the tree is lit.

Giving Thanks!

I started writing this some time ago, but have been so busy I haven't had a chance to post it. I usually don't make a list of things I'm thankful for at Thanksgiving, but several things have happened this year that have made me especially grateful for all the wonderful people in my life.



My Family:

First and foremost, I have the best grandparents in the whole world. My Grandma and Grandpa Ellis have been there for me through everything. The last 6 months have been very trying because my Grandma suddenly and unexpectedly lost the use of her legs. She was diagnosed with Guillon-Barre Syndrome (a neurological disease). Seeing her struggle with this and being unable to help her has been unbelievably difficult. I can't imagine where I would be without the love and support of my grandparents and it scares me to think of a world without them.

The rest of my family is really wonderful too. Most people are lucky to have just one set of parents who love and support them--I have three. In addition to my Grandma and Grandpa Ellis, who have always treated me more as a daughter than a grandchild, I have my Dad and Mom-Dena, who raised me, and my mom and her husband Larry, who have always made an effort to be part of my life even though they live so far away. It is such a great feeling to know that so many people love and care about me. I am also really glad that I have been able to develop a close relationship with my siblings. Although not all of us are close in age, we all keep in close contact with each other.

Very soon, I will be able to add another wonderful family to the list. Rod's family really is fantastic. Rod's dad is one of the nicest people I've ever met. It is clear that he has always put the needs of his sons before his own. (I may be biased, but I think he did an excellent job). I always look forward to visiting with Maw Maw and Paw Paw, Rod's grandparents who would do anything for Rod. Sterling, Rod's stepdad, is a lot of fun. He always makes sure that we have seats to the football games (Geaux Tigers) and takes time out of his schedule to visit with us. The list wouldn't be complete, however, without mentioning Rod's brother Stephen, who provides us with endless amounts of entertainment. All of these people, in addition to Rod's aunts, uncles, step-brother, and cousins have bent over backwards to make me feel like a part of the family.




Rod:

He really is the best. He is so thoughtful and generous. Whenever I'm busy or stressed, he always goes out of his way to make things easier for me. I can't tell you how many times I've come home to have an amazing dinner waiting for me or walked into the laundry room to find the laundry all washed and folded. He has been really supportive with my career and is always here when I need a shoulder to cry on. We make such a great team. Coming home to him is the best part of my day.

My friends:



I have the most amazing friends! This last weekend, Mindy (my maid of honor) made a quick trip to Idaho. She, Carley (another bridesmaid), and I got silly over cook-n-serve pudding. We have been friends since junior high and have so many memories together. While I was home for Thanksgiving, I saw LisaDawn, who I have been friends with since 7th grade. We still keep and touch and whenever we see each other we have so much to talk about. I feel so lucky to have met my best friends so early in my life. Every one of my bridesmaids is someone who I have known and counted on since high school. Since them I have made close connections to so many people. It has been next to impossible to come up with a guest list for the wedding because there are so many people that I consider to be close friends. I have such great friends from undergrad and grad school, my internships and clerkship, and all of my trips. You know who you are and that even though I've been really busy that I'm so glad that you have been part of my life. :)

My Job:

Don't get me wrong, it's still work, but I LOVE what I do. Not only is the nature of the work challenging and exciting, but I think I'm pretty good at it. I work with so many talented attorneys who are willing to give me all the guidance and opportunities to learn I need. I have had the chance to play a meaningful role in some significant cases. It is so great to be exposed to this kind of work so early in my career. Now I know this overlaps a bit with number 3, but I also have great friends at work. It is a rare and wonderful thing to like the people that you work with.

Cheers to another wonderful Thanksgiving!

A busy week

This week was another busy week, but this time it wasn't just with work. Tuesday night was the Federal Bar Association Award Banquet. I'm usually at this banquet because I've been on the board for the last two years, but this year I had a couple of other reasons to be there. The attorney that I do most of my work for (Jonathan Hafen) was inaugurated as president. Also, another attorney that I'm working with, Rob Clark, was honored as the Distinguished Attorney of the Year Award. Then, completely unexpectedly, last year's president Diana Hagen awarded me with the National Award for the Pro Bono project I arranged this last year. The best reward was knowing that I helped make a difference in the lives of battered women in the state of Utah, but the recognition was nice too.

The week didn't slow down any after that. On Wednesday, I had to present for Inns of Court. My role was that of a sideline reporter. It was pretty amusing. Friday was game night with Ari and Patty, and on Saturday my family came to town.

On top of all of this, our kitty has been sick. She must have gotten into a nasty cat fight. She had two abcesses. One drained on its own, but the other had to have a tube placed in it for drainage. Ani was not happy about the drain, but she was even less happy about the fact that she wasn't allowed outside for three days. Poor kitty!

Jayders

There is an eight-year age difference between me and my baby sister, Jayde. The first time I learned of her existence was immediately prior to introducing my family for show and tell. That night, I told my mom that she shouldn't being doing dishes in "her condition" (and I ended up doing dishes from then on). Jayde was such a cute baby with a huge mess of wild blonde curls. When she started walking, though, she followed me everywhere. It was fine when we were home alone, but she always had to follow me around when I had friends over too. Luckily she grew out of that . . .

When she graduated from Rigby High School this last spring, we celebrated by taking a trip to Bali, Hong Kong, and China. It was so fun to spend three weeks seeing the world and bonding with my lil' sis. Jayde just started her first year at U of I. I miss having her close. I feel so lucky (and proud) to have Jayde for a younger sister.