Only about once a year do we have the whole Wood family together for a photo op. Brandon, Gavin and I traveled to Chicago last week for my new niece Evelyn's baptism. Its always a treat to be able to see my two brothers and their families, but meeting Evelyn for the first time was the icing on the cake. While we were there we also got to see our friends the Hegdes who drove all the way from Grand Rapids to visit with us, as well as a couple of my cousins and their kids who we seldom see. I think we made the most of the 6 days we had. The top picture is missing my grandma Irene, who was also a major reason for our visit. Gram is 92 and is the strongest woman I've ever known. She doesn't get around so well these days, but she's still alive and kicking (some days harder than others) and is proud to have won the title of "Most Great-Grandchildren" at the Devonshire retirement community where she lives. The picture below was taken following Evelyn's baptism ceremony. 
Brandon's mom came up to Hyrum for a visit. She's a fantastic babysitter (Gavin loves his Grandma!) which means Brandon and I got to sneak out on a date this evening. We'd planned to go snowboarding at Beaver tomorrow, but it turns out we'll be heading down to Layton instead for Grandma Chard's Sunday evening viewing and Monday funeral. Luckily we made the most of our day today, highlighted by a trip to the Willow Park Zoo in Logan.
I took this picture yesterday evening. Brandon was due home from a work trip to Detroit in a few hours, but was going to be late because he needed to stop and see his Grandma one last time. The sun was setting not only on Cache Valley, but on the life of a Cache Valley original - Brandon's Grandma Chard. Georgia Griffin was born and raised in the small farming community of Clarkston, UT. She descended from the Maughans who were the original settlers of Cache Valley, the place Brandon and Gavin and I call home. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She will be missed and remembered fondly.
Too bad I can't say the same for a clean face and hands.
Colds, bad weather and general laziness have kept the Chards indoors for the past couple of weeks, but thanks to a little inspiration from our friends we finally ventured out into the snow yesterday. Todd & Leanna Hayes are visiting from Kansas, so we joined them along with Melanie & Ethan, Mae & Andrew, and Donna in a snowshoe excursion on the Bunchgrass trail in Logan Canyon. The weather and the snow were perfect and the company was congenial to say the least. Later in the day we gathered at the Chard Yard with Pete Smith, the Stulls (minus Hope & Maizy who are in Michigan), and the Robinsons for a mellow New Year's Eve. Watching Gavin, Laik and Ethan play together was priceless and more than enough to kick 2009 off to a great start.
