We wish you a Merry Christmas...

...and a happy new day.

A few shots from Christmas morning:

A message to Gavin from Santa!

CLICK HERE to see it :)

To have Santa send a personalized message to your own loved one (for FREE!), go to this site: http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

Frosty

Gavin received this animated Frosty (along with a sing-a-long story book) today from my cousin Patty's family. Super timely as he just watched the cartoon on TV last night! He's smitten.

Cookie cook

Gavin and I baked molasses sugar cookies today. Gavin was in charge of sprinkles.  He did so well that many of them even ended up on the cookies!

Hyrum's Holiday at Hardware

There are quite a few things we like about living in Hyrum, and the City's annual event at Hardware Ranch is one of them. Free sleigh rides among the elk, free cookies and hot cocoa, and free photos with the big man in red. This was Gavin's second time seeing Santa this week. We waited in a long line to see him in at the Festival of Lights in Ogden on Thursday evening, only to watch Gavin writhe out of his dad's arms like a crazed weasel and run screaming from Santa's general vicinity. Today we prepared him well in advance. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to Santa, he watched as numerous other children came and went from Santa's lap, and when his turn came along he turned back into a crazed weasel. Santa's helpers were prepared for such a response and suggested that we just stand behind the Clauses for our photo-op.

Homecoming

Vivian and I returned on Friday evening from a week-long trip to Chicago. While the occasion was solemn, we had a really enjoyable visit with my folks, my brothers, and my cousins and their families. Gram's wake and funeral were beautiful and well-attended. I didn't bring a camera, but hopefully some of my extended family will share their photos with me. When we returned we were greeted at the airport by an excited Gavin and a grateful Brandon, whose tearful eyes brought tears to my own. As we walked through the door to our Hyrum home, the sign in the picture made us feel even more special. It was surrounded by balloons and a very clean house. I missed my guys and it's wonderful to be back together as a family.

Backpedaling to November

Gavin and Brandon built our first snowman of the season on 11/23. Later that evening, the so-called "Great Blizzard of 2010" came through and dumped 6 or 8 inches of snow on and around "Mr. Smiley." While I was away in Chicago Mr. Smiley got buried in another foot or so of white stuff.



Temperatures have risen in the last couple of days, and this morning when I looked out the window Mr. Smiley was hunched over, slumped forward like he maybe fell asleep out of boredom or perhaps ate a little too much turkey. Then again, by the looks of it he probably died from being impaled in the chest & stomach by tree branches. I think I know who the 3-year-old prime suspect is for that one.