Christmas

Traveling home to western Michigan is always an adventure. A great comic book idea would be that in their secret bunker beneath the Amway the city ghouls unleash pyramid schemes, Blackwater mercenaries, and general sorcery while plotting to keep West Michigan locked away like Skull Island. Flights are scarce, trains hardly run, and the roads are usually bad due to weather or neglect. This time home it was the weather that slowed us down. We spent twelve hours in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport with a very tired and sick infant. Luckily, a friend had taken the same flight as us and was able to help throughout the day. We spent much of our time there walking around the airport mall, listening to ipods, people watching, and sleeping.

Being home was incredible. We were snowed in for the first few days, but still managed to get around enough. Thank you to everyone that made it out to visit. We love you and miss you.

Most of the people that I've talked to since I have been home (NV) always ask with a look of concern, "you were in Michigan? How was it?" I then put on my blue Civil War Union hat, grab my UAW wrench and scream, "Michigan will rise again, by God! Michigan-will-rise-a-gain!"

Snow

This Christmas season has gone by fast. It's nice to stay away from the malls and Walmarts as the holiday fun ruiners and joy thieves shop, shop, shop, themselves into an unyielding and unforgiving wilderness of credit card debt. Gwen and I spent last weekend at some community Christmas event. There were "sleigh rides," train rides, carolers, and free hot chocolate with cookies. It was good to see students working face painting and other service booths.

Today it snowed relentlessly from 8am until about 3:30pm. It made me homesick watching the chunky snow fall past my window. It was surreal watching it all collect on the palm trees. I also felt bad for all the vacationing Midwesterners that had attempted to flee the cold.

After school, I headed home and grabbed my camera, heavy coat , and some boots, and headed to Red Rock Canyon. I hiked about two miles and took too many photos.

The day ended for me at a Lowes, where a mid-1970s Elvis impersonator helped me buy the proper equipment for my shower.

It was a good day today.

Lola's 9 month check up

No shots at this appointment! Lola is now 18 lbs, 10 ounces and 29 inches long. She is a tall, skinny girl. She has cut her first two bottom front teeth and is handling it like a champ. She has her occasionally fussiness, but still sleeps through the night. She is still sweet, clam and happy. She learned to sit up by herself at 8 months and continues to roll everywhere. She is not attempting to crawl or pull herself up yet or walk. She still naps 3 times per day and eats really well. She wears clothes in all different sizes which makes it to buy her clothes. Her personality really started to come out around 8 months. She often laughs for no reason, simply talks to hear herself talk, and squeals in delight. She is a lot of fun to be with. I had no idea that a baby could be so much fun. Either I need to get out more or this is one of the joys of being a parent (I hope its the latter). We look forward to our visit home in a few weeks when everyone gets to see her again and some for the first time. We feel so blessed to have this precious girl in our life and so thankful that we can share her with our friends and family this Christmas.