Karen, Chris, and Ally

Stuck Like Superglue for Eternity:
Eric and Courtney with Tyson, Ella, Cambrie, and Chase

Our Little Ally

Swimming and Spinning and Snowing

To explain this past week, let me borrow from a church Primary song that's been revised a bit:

Oh, what do you do in the wintertime, when all the world is white?
Do you watch weird parades, or stay in for days,
or point at the snow in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!

Oh what do you do in the wintertime, when all the world is white?
Do you swim in the pool, 'though the outside is cool,
or spin on the counter up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!




















Although it was 18 degrees out, Ally was invited to go swimming with her little friend Ashlyn on Friday. We are grateful for indoor pools and free passes to the local racquetball club. Ally was very excited to wear her swimsuit (she loves everything Mickey/Minnie/Donald/Pluto now) and to dress her babies for the outing, too. She jumped into the pool from the side, kicked her legs while "swimming", and didn't complain too much when she got splashed in the face. Ally loved being in the water with Ashlyn; we'll make a little mermaid out of my baby yet!


I finally gave in and bought my very first shovel on Saturday. On Sunday, I used it to clear 4 inches of snow off our driveway. The snows in Provo were always cleared by the apartment complex, so I don't think I'd used a shovel since high school! Although it looks like they only believe in plowing the very major roads around here --even the bypass was untouched-- we managed to slip and slide ourselves to church and back. Once we were home safe and sound again, we did some present wrapping, stocking stuffing, and basic Christmas re-decorating. Ally also helped keep things merry and bright by favoring us with some championship spinning and dancing. I've noticed that little girls can never keep still when wearing such frilly dresses.

Moving Christmas Lights, Part 2

Before I begin, I'd like to mention the current temperature: 7 degrees. That's in Fahrenheit, not Celsius. The high is supposed to be 16. At least we're warming up. Yesterday it was 5 degrees for most the day. Where did we move to, Alaska? I know living in North Carolina wussified us a little when it comes to the weather, but even the local people seem to think this cold is a bit extreme.

Saturday night we chose to brave the cold and lightly-falling snow to visit with Santa, watch some fireworks, and see another Christmas parade.

So, here are Ally and I visiting with Santa. He must have lost his contacts and had to revert to wearing his 1980's prescription-style glasses. Ally didn't care much for Santa, but she was excited about the candy cane. Like good parents, we're teaching her early on that it's okay to take candy from strange men even if they make you a bit uneasy.


Sorry, but no pictures of Richland's 50th-anniversary-of-being-reincorporated fireworks. Our camera does not do well at night, as you will see in the upcoming video. But, the colorful blasts into the winter sky were nice. As soon as they started, Ally whimpered and then cuddled up on my shoulder. She still doesn't like loud noises, which I find ironic since she's a world-champion screamer.

Although we were half frozen, we stuck around for the lighted boat parade that came up the Columbia River. After about 45 minutes of snuggling under the Flyers blanket, the lights finally arrived. I think our favorite was the car carrying a freshly-cut Christmas tree back home. It was so funny to see it "driving" on the river. This video does not do the parade justice, but use your imagination. You could always come visit us next year and see it in person.



Chris and I have never decorated the outside of our own house, but we like to drive around at Christmastime and admire what others have done. This is a small piece of our favorite so far: Mary and Joseph balancing little baby Jesus on an armchair pedestal. (The arrangement glows at night.) What you don't see are all the deflated snowmen, reindeer, and Santa lying dead on the lawn around them. I drove by this same trailer yesterday, and the makeshift nativity was gone. Maybe they were translated?

Moving Christmas Lights

When we flew out here for my job interview we went out to dinner with some of my future co-workers. They were telling us about things that were unique to the local area. One of them was the Lighted Farm Implement Parade around Christmas in the small town of Sunnyside. We knew as soon as we heard about it that if I got the job and we moved out here it would be on our must see list. So last Saturday we bundled up and headed out on a 45 minute car ride to see the parade. And it didn't disappoint. It was probably the best lighted farm implement parade I've ever seen.
But don't take my word for it......





An ice sculpture of a tractor greeted us as we got in to town.












Karen and Ally waiting for the parade, keeping warm with jackets, a blanket and hot chocolate.








Here's the official entry from the town of Sunnyside:


A tractor deer pulling Santa:


What Christmas parade is complete without some sort of front end loader?


And my personal favorite, the Coke truck:


Tonight is the lighted boat parade in Richland. They really like to put Christmas lights on means of transportation around here.

Making a Fashion Statement

My Mom had requested a picture of Ally in her "tutu", so here it is. It has already become one of my favorites, and I'm sitting here giggling to myself as I type. I know it's not the most flattering photo. I know it's not anything like what my mother had in mind. I know my child looks like a dirtball with her unwashed faced, her rat's nest hair, her shoes on the wrong feet, her baggy leotard-over-the-sweatpants fashion faux pas . . . But Ally chose the outfit, dressed herself, and was quite happy all day.

What would you do upon seeing a child like this in public? Smile? Question the mother's sanity and/or parenting skills and then quickly place an anonymous call to social services?

I had some errands to run today and Ally didn't want to change. Nor did she want her hair combed. Nor did she want to leave her new favorite buddy behind. So, we went "as is"-- plastic pet and all. Shopping at Walgreen's has never been more fun. I can still hear the noise from the 3 of us running up and down the aisles-- regular Mommy steps, tiny tapping Ally steps, and the loudly-echoing squeakiness of caterpillar wheels on linoleum.

In posting this picture, I realize I'm potentially embarrassing my future teenager-of-a-daughter, but we'll cross that bridge in therapy 15 years from now if we have to. As of yet, Ally still has no concept of embarrassment, and I'm loving every minute of her childhood innocence and the freedom it brings to the both of us. And, judging by the smiles and positive feedback we encountered on today's excursion, my little modeling girl really knows how to liven a crowd and work the runway.

Ally on the Lam

Ally was doing something cute, so I broke out the camera. She stopped doing the "something cute" as soon as she noticed the camera, but the tape kept rolling. So, here's a dizzying taste of what usually happens when I try to capture a post-able video. Have you ever seen the show COPS? Just listen to the suspect pant . . .


You can run, but you can't hide. Especially when your feet go pitter-patter on the floors-- not to mention the heavy breathing. Her future life of crime does not sound promising.