Dear family and friends,

We hope this Christmas season has been merry for everyone! A lot has happened to our family this year—including gaining some new members!

The year began with the entire family together for Christmas 2007. Travis, Jenny, Lexi, and Derek flew out to Utah to enjoy a chaotic and wonderful Christmas with the rest of the clan. We went and saw the lights at Temple Square, made gingerbread houses, decorated ornaments, and had an all around wonderful Christmas together.

Mike has enjoyed another year as Director of Field Operations and co-owner of Human Touch, a customer service consulting company. He has also been serving as Scout Committee Chairman for the local Boyscout Troop. In June, he spent a week doing a 50 mile hike with the scouts through beautiful Escalate, Utah. He also enjoys playing basketball with the church team.

Bonnie is working for American Preparatory Academy, a charter school in Draper. She is working as an instructor in the first grade for the second year. She tries to spend as much of her free time playing with/spoiling her grandkids and shopping with Jodi. Unfortunately, her mom passed away in January after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She also lost her wonderful dog, Tucker. Thankfully, she found a new friend, Dodger, who has been just what she needed!

Travis is living in Princeton, New Jersey with his family. He is still working for Caxton, a hedge fund company. Jenny is filling up all of her waking (and sleeping) hours caring for foster babies. They recently had a new born named Jay for a few months until he got adopted. Alexis (six) is halfway through her kindergarten year, winning over her teachers, making new friends, and learning all kinds of new things! Travis and Jenny also recently announced that in May, the Meyerson Mob will gain a brand new member! We can’t wait for another grandchild. You can read more about their lives at their blog.

Chad and his family live in North Salt Lake. He still works for Jet Blue, though he has to put up with many difficult trips to New York City, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Meagan’s time is spent taking care of their two little girls, Ashlin (three going on 16), and Tayley (6 months). Ashlin enjoys her free time dancing, performing at dance recitals, and talking like she’s a teenager. Tayley gets chunkier and cuter by the day. You can read more about their lives at their blog.

Derek lives in Erie, Pennsylvania, but spends most of his time traveling for Human Touch. He has become an all-star customer service evaluator. Any free time he has in Pennsylvania is spent snowboarding or with his girlfriend, Betsy. When he visits his family in Utah, his time is, likewise, spent snowboarding or relaxing for hours in the hot tub.

Jodi began her year student teaching for a ninth grade English class at Duke Ellington in Washington, DC.After returning, she got a job working for Merit Academy, a brand new charter school in Springville, Utah. She is teaching 10^th, 11^th, and 12th grade English, as well as running Yearbook. She stays extremely busy, but loves what she is doing. You can read more about it at her blog. It is private (so students can't try and find it!) If you'd like to see it, let us know in the comments on this blog, write your email address, and she'll give you access.

After spending most of the Christmas vacation in Utah with Chad and his family, looking at lights and opening presents this year, Mike, Bonnie, Derek, and Jodi are also lucky enough to fly back east to visit Travis, Jenny, and Lexi. We are so thankful to be able to spend so much time with family despite being so spread out.

Whether you are close or far, we are grateful to have you in our lives. We hope that this finds you happy, healthy, and enjoying a wonderful holiday season.
Please enjoy the pictures from the past year! Also, we hope that you leave a comment (by clicking to do so at the end of this post) and let us know you visited the blog. We look forward to hearing from you!

Last Christmas, the whole family (except Derek, he wasn't here yet) met in Utah. This is at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.


Ashlin and Lexi showing their Cougar spirit


Ashlin and Santa/Grandpa Mike


Sledding in Sandy last Christmas


Travis and Lexi


Derek and Lexi


Lexi and Jodi built this awesome fort on Christmas Eve last year


Lexi and Mike


Derek made it out to Utah!


Jenny, Travis, Jessica (Jodi's friend and roommate), Jodi, Mike playing Settlers of Catan


Travis and Lexi take Guitar Hero very seriously.


Lexi, Ashlin and Chad playing dress-up


Jenny, Ashlin, Jodi, and Lexi playing around


Ashlin, Jodi, and Lexi



Lexi and Ashlin


Lexi and Ashlin


Ashlin knows her way around the airport. :) This is on our way home from a trip to San Diego to visit Sea World.


This is a picture Mike took on one of his scout trips.


Jodi wakeboarding on Utah Lake


Mike trying to wakeboard


Chad showing everyone up


Derek wakeboarding (and yelling about something, as usual)


Our new dog, Dodger! He likes to dance and walk on two feet.


Dodger


This is Jodi with one of her classes in DC

This is Jodi with her roommates from DC in front of the Potomac River at Mount Vernon.


Jodi at graduation with Bonnie and Mike


David Archuletta who sang the National Anthem at the Lakers/Jazz playoff game...Jodi and Bonnie were big fans.


Bonnie, Jodi, Jessica, Noni (Jessica's mom) at the Lakers/Jazz game


Travis and Jenny's son, Jake, always in our hearts


Lexi at the Jersey Shore on our last visit to New Jersey



Bonnie, Donna, Jodi, and Jessica when we visited California this past summer



Bonnie with Ashlin and Tayley


Ashlin thinks Dodger is another doll to play with.


Bonnie, Ashlin, and Dodger at Gardner's Village during Halloween


Ashlin, Grandpa Stan, Tayley, and Lexi when we all got together for Tayley's blessing

Tayley on her baby blessing day



Most of the family together for Tayley's blessing


Lexi Lou and her family's Christmas card


Ashlin


Tayley


Chad, Meagan, Ashlin, and Tayley


Jodi got her first brand new car--a Toyota Corolla


This is the Meyerson house in Sandy, Utah