A quick trip to Utah

Ken flew down to Utah on December 16 to be with his Dad during the final hours of his earthly life. Keith passed away only three hours after Ken got there, in the early morning of December 17.  The kids and I went down to Utah, along with my Dad, who we will call 'our professional driver' for the remainder of this post.  The drive was more eventful than one hopes. We had iffy weather and roads over the blues, a flat tire in Baker City, Oregon and snow floor between Mountain Home and Burley. Dad and I were thankful for every mile of good roads we had because we were expecting the roads to be nasty from Burley to Ogden, but there didn't get bad until Bountiful.

In case you have never made this drive, I have some pictures for you, so you'll be able to identify which state you are driving in.

Oregon: You have to drive slow or you'll get a ticket...again.

Utah: temples and tailgaters.

Tailgaters

Idaho: Two trucks going the same speed in both lanes for miles and miles and miles.

Now you'll be able to recognize your surroundings.

We got home from Utah on the 23rd, and we were all really glad to be home in our own surroundings. Be it ever humble, there is no place like home.

Obligatory Christmas Post.

I didn't take one picture of the Christmas festivities this year. On purpose.  Sometimes I am so busy documenting the fun that it's not fun for me at all. I didn't want it to be that way. The day was low key and super fun. Here is a list of some of the things we did and got.

*We watched Elf, The Polar Express, Swan Princess Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and (after Anna went to bed) White House Down.
* 4 pairs of boots, 2 puzzles, over a dozen Sharpees, Oster 76 classic clippers, and a couple lumps of coal were among the gifts received yesterday.
*We ate grazed all the day long. There were several boxes of cereal, a lot of soda, a giant Stouffer's Mac & Cheese (My girls' favorite), bagels, cheese and crackers, and more to eat. It was a sugary carb fest.
*Only one child told me what they wanted for Christmas next year.
*Three gifts were purchased in the wrong size. Two are already exchanged, the other is being returned. The label is printed and ready to be taken to UPS.
*In less than 24 hours, all signs of Christmas will be taken down, boxed up, and put back in the garage, but the spirit of the season will hopefully continue to stay with me through out the rest of the year and all of next, until it is time to decorate again.

I hope your day was great and as stress-free as ours was.