Christmas in Utah 2010

Our Christmas trip has been quite an adventure for the few days we've been here. It started with a 15 hour white-knuckle drive through a snow storm up I-15 that didn't even get us all the way to our destination. Then we've had an action packed time ice skating, snow shoeing (how do you spell that?) and cross country skiing with cousins. (We love cousins!)

We had Christmas Eve dinner with the Garner/Iversons. We loved meeting babies and dogs that have joined the family since our last reunion. And no gathering is complete without some of the cousins being schooled in wrestling by cousin Graham.

Christmas Day was spent with the Johansens. It was exciting with our boys and a cousin all testing out their new fire-arms (who know nerf guns and rubber band shooters could be semi-automatic?). Games were played - digitally and physically. I wish I had taken a picture of the desserts, but they were awesome (and chocolate!)

Merry Christmas!

Stained Glass Cookie Ornaments

At Nathaniel's request, this year we made Stained-Glass Cookie Ornaments for the tree. You know - sugar cookies with a hole cut in the middle that you fill with crushed hard candies that then melt in the oven... Nathaniel was a great help in making them. He did all the sticky crushed candy work.

And then he helped me put the tree up, string the lights and hang the ornaments. I don't think I've ever had this much help decorating the tree.

I think it turned out pretty. I'm just worried that the ants will find the tree. I don't think my mom ever had to worry about ants in December in Utah.

Maybe I won't have to worry about ants though. The cookies are already being eaten. I tried to get a picture of the culprit, but he was so fast I couldn't even capture him on film.

Thanksgiving 2010

Where were you on black Friday? Up at 4am? In line with a bunch of other early shoppers suffering from over-indulgence from the previous day's feast? I was here.
So, I didn't save 40% off linens, or toys, or electronics. I think most everyone else did because it was quiet, peaceful, and oh yeah, SUNNY! I love Santa Barbara in the winter, and did I tell you it's less than an hour from my house now? (Santa Barbara hasn't moved. We did.)

Nathaniel loves it too. We were overdressed for the weather, but he loves his snow-hat, even at the beach.

He did manage to hit himself in the eye with the rapier-like stick he is swinging. But, no one else was hurt.

After proving that he could jump over a water inlet on the beach, Davis set about building a bridge with driftwood found nearby.

It was a pretty good bridge. It was even used by other beach goers who found themselves trapped by the inlet as they walked from the parking lot to the ocean. I think they said 12 adults crossed (and one selkie - a girl just transformed from a seal and came out of the ocean, or maybe she was wearing a wetsuit and just got out of a sea kayak) before it broke when a man in cowboy boots crossed while carrying his daughter on his shoulders. Oh well. Just the boots got wet.

Afterwards we had lunch at Stearns' Wharf.

We were very pleased to have visitors for Thanksgiving. Chris' folks came down for the whole weekend and feasted, hiked, and beached with us. My brother Mark and his family came over Friday to see our new place. The kids had a great time in the spa and then playing horsey in the loft. I'm surprised no one was trampled by the big teenage boy horsies. The horsies were very good sports.

Hmmm. In this picture it looks like one of the big horsies is getting a ride from his little sister. She was a really good sport.

We discovered a lovely arboretum about a mile from our place. We went there to get ideas of plants we want to put in our own yard.

It was a pretty, sunny day; just a little on the cool side (60's... Brrrrrrr). Yeah, I've lived in S. Cal. too long.

Nathaniel is 11!