Christmas '09

Christmas Rewind...

swdlolrrllrrpopp! (rewind sound)

Lego Rock Band (Thanks a MILLION Uncle Colt and Aunt Lisa), jam with our buddy Zach on guitar. Notice the technique.

Chloe playing Lego Rock Band.

The song of choice is "We will, wE wiLl Rock YOu!"




The aftermath. Taken with my new Nikon 10-24mm wide angle lens from by sweetheart. He always knows. How does he always know?

Georgia could just not get enough. We had her unwrapping presents for everyone to try to satiate her.

This one, who looks like she should be on the short bus, perused the goods without a sound on her new pony, eating organic fruit twists, mittens still attached to her new snow hat.

What do you get the men who have everything? Coveralls and...

Hair clippers. I'm a lame present giver.

Santa's Thank-you note.

The calm before the storm. Taken by me, wishing I had a wide-angle lens.

This was he first year things really started to get tough for Santa and his helpers. It's rough trying to be that sneaky.

P.S. Grandma and Grandpa are spoilers!!!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:

My mom begged me to let her keep my kids last weekend as their Christmas present! Guess what I said?!

Went to beloved Seattle (or thereabouts this time)

As usual, the trip is all about the company and the food. Saw the twins (still baking), while Sarah and I made ourselves scarce from the ranch and the other chittlins and Angelo and got some OH SO GOOD...

for dinner Friday.

Sushi and terriyaki for lunch on Saturday with a little

sprinkled in.

Aztec chocolate was my favorite. It bites back with some pepper thrown in. They know the perfect ratio so as to make you feel the heat without tasting the pepper. AMAZING!

And for dinner we were serenaded by a mature Indian man's song 'Ode to Grandchildren' (which reminded me of my smitten parents), before he served us some Aloo Gobi and Goa Chicken for take out.

I slept in Emmeline's bed which she assured me did not smell.

The Carvajal's home is WONDERFUL! They'd love to see you in it. Especially if you like babies. Especially in March.

The Bad:
All good things must come to an end. The trip and the donuts.

Thought my camera was broken. Angelo assured me that Seattle weather does that to all electronics.

I bought Christmas clothes for Isaac and Mae for Sunday before I realized that Christmas comes before Sunday. LOL!

My poor big Indian volunteered to drive 4 hours round trip to drop me off at Sarah's for a visit while he did some business and attended a round dance in Yakima. (This may very well fit into The GOOD category).

The Ugly:
My kids' faces (except Mae) when I tell them that we're leaving Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Vacation Home

We make the 1 hr 45 min (3.5 hours if you drive like my parents), trek to Cache Valley often. From the moment I walk in the door I am completely incapacitated. In my subconscious I find nothing to cook or clean and two bend-over-backward glorious grandparents. That's all it takes to keep me nearly unconscious for 2 to 3 days. Sometimes it's embarrassing.

My children, on the other hand, find 4 acres of pure joy. In the Summer it's sliding down plastic coated grass with the irrigation water, in the Winter it's sledding. Even Chloe has decided to get in on the action. (Georgia arrived for 5 min. of the action before returning to her sanctuary: A room with a vhs player and evey disney movie known to man).

See Isaac's position? When we got on the real tobogans (which in NC is the hats they are wearinig???), we took off to the neighboring hay field for a longer run. I noticed toward the end of the ride Isaac would try to stand up, surfer style. So, Grandpa and I coached him on how to do it from the top of the hill (I'm sure his father wouldn't approve), and I'll be darned if that boy couldn't snowboard!!! He is absolutely incredibly talented - that kid! Guess what I hope he's getting for his birthday? If I can talk my darling into it we can get a customized one from Board of Provo and maybe a few lessons at Sundance.

I got my $$ on Isaac for the Heissman, the Master's trophy, the X Games Gold, the Olympic Gold, etc.