An Idaho Christmas

We've been in Idaho for the past week, enjoying the snow and celebrating Christmas with family. Lewiston had its first white Christmas since 1996! Of course, we had to take a trip to the "Train Park." In warm weather, Jack climbs on the locomotive that is eternally stationed here. But every Christmastime, the Winter Spirit committee strings the trees with thousands of glittering lights. Yes, it was COO-OOLD. But we kept warm by stomping on the pad that is connected to the lights on one of the trees. My sister Val flew in from Texas late Tuesday night, and my brother Ryan, sister-in-law Marisa, and nephew Avi joined us on Christmas afternoon. Look how cooperative the boys (and Casey) were for a family photo:

Snow tracks

It's been fun these past few mornings while I'm out walking Casey to see all the animal tracks in the snow. I can't believe all these different kinds of animals are roaming our neighborhood while we slumber. Identifying them all is not in my bag of tricks--and, believe me, there were many different kinds of tracks, more than are pictured here. These are just the most interesting pictures.This one's easy: birds. I'm assuming quail.

Slippery slide-y... some kind of big cat?
These are some gargantuan hooves...

Something with four feet. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

Guess who...

... we saw last night? And guess which crabby toddler wanted NOTHING to do with him?

Coach hubby

Not only does Brian serve as the assistant principal here... he's also the 5th-8th grade girls' basketball coach! Unfortunately, a lack of junior high girls turning out for the team makes for a miserable showing come game time. Last night, they played Bishop, a bigger team both physically and numbers-wise. When Jack and I arrived at halftime, the poor girls were down 28-2. The second half was better, but these 5th graders still have a lot of learnin' to do. Final score? 36-6. Jack is always happy with a bag of popcorn. Basketball, schmasketball!

We're pregnant!

Our traumatic two-year checkup

Poor Jack had to visit the doctor today. (Poor Jack? What about Poor Mama?!?!) He was a cranky-crankster from the moment his feet hit that waiting room floor, as if he were aware of some impending doom. And when the strange instruments and needles made their appearances, arms flailed, the head threw itself back, the torso stiffened, and oh man, those tears flowed. (Is "flowed" even a word?)

Anyway, here are the stats:

Weight: 24 pounds, 4 ounces (8th percentile)

Height: 33 1/2 inches (25th percentile)
Head: 19 3/4 inches (70th percentile)

This photo is of him at a happier time:

My kind of town

This is the kind of town we're living in:

1. I've only been to the post office a couple times, but Brian works across the street from there and has gone in several times. So Margie, the postmaster, knows our names. She calls Jack by name and knows he just turned two. Today, when she saw me come in, she rushed into the back, saying, "I was right the other day; you did get another package!"

2. After the P.O., I stopped by the Shell station to ask them to fix a leak in our tire. The owner came outside to meet me, and before I even had Jack out of his carseat, he was giving me price quotes on the snow tires I'd asked about two days ago. He included a "local discount" in the quote. After he'd fixed the leak, he charged me ten dollars... or "whatever you've got in there," he said, as I dug in my wallet.

3. Brian's school? No fences, or gates... anyone is free to walk on campus, anytime. (Although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.)

4. Tomorrow night, the whole community is invited to a tree lighting at the giant sequoia in the back parking lot of Nicely's Restaurant. It's not a big parking lot... yet I'm sure the whole community could fit in it.

5. Oh yeah, and Nicely's? It's the only local restaurant open year-round. And during the winter, locals eat for half-price on Monday nights.

Hello, truck!

Well, we did it! This past weekend, we drove back to our ol' stomping grounds--the Central Valley--to purchase a truck. We ended up finding a beautiful 2007 Ford F150 XLT in Bakersfield. We stayed with my Aunt Stefani and saw my cousins, the Swanlunds, while we were there. Believe me, it was soooo nice for all of us on the five-hour trip back, riding in a crew-cab pickup, rather than our cramped little Volkswagen. And Brian no longer feels he's compromising his manhood by jetting around in a Beetle.