The Polar Bear Club

Every year just after midnight passes and we begin a new year, Steve, Jared, and Chaz jump into our pool. It started the first year we lived in this house and each year someone has jumped into the pool to bring good luck and good health for the next year.

So on the 5th New Year's we have spent in this house, ringing in 2009 it was no different except...Jared said he wasn't going to jump. He didn't even bring his suit to the party! We had a great party, baked brie and everything. I even cleaned up and beat everyone, that's right everyone at the games we played! But I was bugged...no Dutton blood would be jumping into the pool at the start of the new year. I couldn't believe it, Jared didn't even have a good reason, he just didn't want to.

Now on other years I have said I would jump and then something happens. Two years ago, the start of 2007 I had a large hole in my abdomen from a surgery that had gone wrong trying to discover the cause of our infertility. So jumping into the pool was forbidden as my wound was not yet closed. The start of 2008, I was simply...a chicken. I have no good reason for 2008, sorry to say.

As the night grew closer to 2009 we did the usual, pull out all the big towels, turn on the lights to the pool, and get ready for a good kiss before the big jump. So here are the jumpers, Steve and Chaz, they look reluctant don't they?


But, they go for it as you can see. This is the look of, "I can't believe I do this every year!"


"OOOOOOO, that's cold."


Then Chaz goes and I start to feel my excitement building...



Then I hear myself blurt out, "I gotta jump this year!" To which Jared responds, "If you do I will!" Well that just confirmed it in my mind even more, I was jumping. So I run inside grab an extra suit of Steve's and throw it to Jared and quickly change myself. I run outside to hear Steve saying to Jared, "Now just wait, she probably won't do it, so don't jump until she does." I couldn't believe it, my OWN HUSBAND!!

So I handed the camera off to Jenny and went for it! Too quick for anyone to even catch a pic of me in the pool! And WOW was it shocking!!! But surprisingly not as bad as I thought, it actually felt good!


However, Jared was not too happy. But there was no way I was letting him out of our deal. After a long deliberation, he finally went for it!


Jared is never too cold to pause for a pic of him smiling in the pool, every year!


So we got it, two Duttons in the pool. Next year Elizabeth says she is jumping. Since I was the first girl, she wants to be the youngest, she'll be 10! I can hardly wait! :)

Our Christmas

We finally had a white Christmas in Flagstaff and it was wonderful. We drove up after I got off work on Christmas Eve and the roads were so nice. It started snowing just we came into Flag and didn't stop for about 3 days! This is what we woke up to Christmas morning at my grandparents house, we loved it.




This, apparently, is the face of Christmas, we were all so happy! You can even see a bit of Tommy's version in the corner.

Jenny said I looked like a cancer patient with this hat on, I was so cold...but I have to agree. I could fit in with my patients, at least I'm in good company!






My four cute, happy, funny nieces. Kayla, Ella, Galey, and Elizabeth. My three favorite memories of Christmas:
#1-See the doll Ella is holding? When she started to open her first gift, my dad yanked the doll out from her arm by the head and chucked it across the room. She didn't really notice, but I laughed so hard. I guess old toys are not allowed on Christmas.


#2-Ella walked around yelling, "Jaaared, Jaaaared, Jaaaared, Jaaaared, Jaaaared." Not for any particular reason, just cause. Even when he asked her what she wanted she would just start up again, Jaaaared.


#3-Kayla with this dog, Honey. She is my Grandma and Grandpa Frost's new puppy. She has tremendous energy, then Kayla found her. She learned lots of new tricks, how to walk on her front feet, wheelbarrow style. Then how to walk on her back feet and she even became Honey Bunny the amazing flying dog. They were never parted. Honey tried to make her escape but didn't ever get very far.


Tommy and Casey


Joey


My parents


Blake, my nephew didn't quite make it to sledding and feel asleep on the way.


Can you tell we don't live in a cold place anymore?


Couldn't resist adding another one of Kayla, she is so cute right now and loves to pose for pics. Where were you J&J? I didn't get any of you!

Happy New Year

Ok, so we were really lame with our Christmas cards this year. We actually didn't even get pictures taken until 4 days before Christmas. So here they are. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas.