Hap, Hap, Happy New Year!!!

I decided that the image with the preceding post was disgusting and maybe I'd better switch it up a bit. I am currently enjoying balmy, moist 60 degree weather with three of the cutest girls of all time. I would prove that with pictures, but that would require me entering the lair where Leyla Bear FINALLY succumbed to slumber after flinging herself about for almost an hour. She is incredible! I remember Kelsey being all over the bed when she was little but Leyla makes her look like a wimp. It's like she's being jolted with electricity every 10 seconds or so. I was exhausted and all I was doing was lying quietly trying to set a good example and help her calm down. Sheesh!!!
So, yes, rather than enjoying the 6 inches of fluffy stuff Chuck reported on our driveway , I'm spending some time with Kelsey and the girls thanks to my Christmas ticket to Texas from Santa Chuck.
We had a terrific Christmas. Drew, Alicia and Korven were there and Korven was more excited about tearing the wrapping paper off than anything that was inside boxes. He was quite proficient let me tell you. He is a charmer and such a good natured, pleasant little guy. He figured out early on that grandpa was a pushover and led him by the finger all over the place . Ok. He led me around a little bit too.

Drew and Alicia helped us to get more familiar with Settlers of Catan (ever SO much better than Monoply!) and Chuck even won at Canasta. I think Chuck played more games in the last month than he's played in the last 5 years. I really enjoyed having them all here for Christmas. And I even made turkey dinner for Christmas day. It was grand.


We went to see Avatar the day before and not having heard much about it I wasn't prepared for the three hours and 3D experience. I actually really loved it. The creativity of the world they created was right up my alley. For those of you that know me, you know I've done a drawing project with my students for the last gazillion (slight exaggeration) years called "Create a Creature" where they have to come up with a unique creature that has a combination of 5 or more different animal chracteristics and then put them in a habitat where they would fit. This was that project in fully animated, 3-d splendor. There were of course some of the predictable things that go in in adventure/scifi movies. But all in all I really enjoyed it. Plus the 3-d portion was actually quite good and not overdone.
So, I'm sure the bear in the lair will be waking momentarily. But, I would like to wish anyone brave enough to wade through my posts a fantastic new year. I have high hopes for the upcoming year - and decade too for that matter. I'm really grateful for the many blessings I have - not the least of which are family and friends, food, shelter and the redeeming love of the Savior. As I said before...Hap, Hap, Happy New Year!