Christmas Presents and New Years Issues

Santa was good to us this year.  The truth is Stephen made out like a bandit.  It's tough being the only grandchild for my parents to shower with gifts.  But Christmas this year was so much more eventful than than just Christmas morning presents, so I need to digress.  I am going to re-cover some of what Jamie already posted, and include some pictures.  So, lets review...  No, there is too much, let me sum up.  Ahh forget it, this is my blog...  I'll take the space I want.

Greeting us on a fine Christmas Eve morning was a lack of water from any faucet in the house. I honestly figured it was a Midway City problem, so we left for the family ski day at Deer Valley.  My friend runs one of the ritzy ski lodges, and managed to borrow 5 Deer Valley Bolo Tie passes for the day.  If you have never seen one, they basically look like any other western style Bolo Tie, but with a Deer Valley logo as the "knot."  They grant free skiing to the wearer, no matter who has it on, or what day they are on the mountain.  They are buco-exclusive, and more expensive to purchase than you can imagine.  Wear one at DV and you are like a minor greek god on the mountain.  The ski patrol apologize for even bothering you when they see it, if they stopped you to chastise you for some violation.  So it was kind of fun to cruise around with people looking at us wondering "who" we were.

By lunch time, Dad had had it with skiing and we packed it in.  Dad's idea of a full day is, ski until lunch time, eat a really good burger on the mountain, and go have a hot shower.  Also, the Midway City Water Department had called to kindly inform me that the water issue was on my side of the meter, and thusly my problem.  

So Dad and Jamie and I came back to our house to try to figure out where and how the pipes had frozen.  After some help from our contractor friend, we discovered a place where cold air was getting in past the foundation, into a space between the main floor and insulation I had put in the basement ceiling.  The trapped cold air had frozen the main water line into the house.  thankfully it was not a hard freeze and there was no damage.  A little heater tape and some time and the ice jam came free and we were back in business.  We'll add "fill in foundation gaps" to the list of projects I have.

With potential christmas tragedy averted, we returned to Park City to gather up the rest of the family and head to our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner.  Fa rah rah rah rah, rah rah rah rahhh.  Actually the Asian Star is a nice place and it wasn't exactly like the Christmas Story, but we always get a good laugh out of it.

Our bellies filled with General Tso's christmas cheer, we all went back to my folks house for a family home evening.  Our Christmas tradition usually consists of Dad giving a thought to the family, and then every body sharing something.  Then Mom gets out a box that has note cards where each one of has in years past written down "Gifts to Jesus."  They are kind of like new years resolutions, but without the cliche.  Anyway, we all review in private, and then put down new ones for next year.  

In years past, we would then give our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve, but that plan had to change a bit this year with Stephen needing to get home and sleep and wit a blizzard beginning. Driving home was a little hairy, but we made it.

Christmas morning dawned bright and with 12 inches of fresh powder on the ground.  We were hoping to get to my parents house by 8, but a sleeping Stephen, the dig out, and even hairier roads delayed us by about an hour.  There was a full size tour bus off the road in the median of the highway as we were going up.  I felt kind of bad for the driver.  He was just sitting in the bus looking down at how deep he was in the snow.  Bummer of a way to start you Christmas.  The important thing was, we made it back to my parents house without incident.  That was nice. And thus commenced the present opening.

We started with the traditional giving of gifts to each other.  It is always really fun to proudly give what we purchased to the receiving party.  It is more personal that way, at least now that we "kids" are older.  This is the part where Stephen makes out like a bandit.  All my siblings, parents, and grandma bestowing gifts on Stephen, not to mention what Santa brought him.

The funny part is he had more fun playing in the paper than anything else.

But soon he found some of the fun things Santa brought.

His new red wagon

His BigWheel/tricycle thing.  Man does he have fun on that.  His feet barely touch the floor, but he was off and running around my parents house.  And Grandma made him a hat.  That is my older sister behind Stephen, not Grandma.  Just thought I'd clarify.  By the way, she's single guys, but dating someone.  So if you are interested, you'd better act fast.

Anyway, Christmas was lots of fun, and Stephen is getting used to his new toys.  What better way to get acquainted with them, but to climb right in and get up close and personal with them.

We came around the corner one morning and found him in there.  Not sure how he got in, but he looked comfortable.  That is until he wanted to get out, and then even he couldn't quite figure out how he got in.  I had to save him.

The Christmas snows finally ceased and all told I think my back shoveled around 4 feet of snow.  I love when it snows like that, but when I have to shovel, it gets old quick.  I'll have to ask Santa for a snow blower next year.

New Years was not nearly as fun.  Stephen came down with a stomach bug the 30th.  He has been mostly out of commission ever since.  We got to have a good time with friends, only because Stephen went out cold early on new Years Eve, and the baby monitor allowed us to go across the street to the neighbors house and play Rock Band and Wii Bowling. (we aren't bad parents for doing that are we?)  

Stephen has become very familiar with Pedialyte these last few days.  But the bonus was that on New Years Day, my mom and dad, brother, 2 sisters and I, all caught the bug too.  Jamie has somehow remained immune, in spite of all the diapers she has changed, and being thrown up on 3 times (by Stephen, not me).

So I include this last picture so you can see the sad state that the men of this house hold are in.

Hope you all had a more pleasant New Year.