I decided to do a 'blog post about some of our activities over the last couple of weeks, rather than focus on just one day. A couple of weeks ago (before the snow started to pile up) the boys went to G'ma & G'pa W's for their annual Christmas Sleepover.
They had fun with some craft projects,
eating,
hay-ride carolling,
and just spending time together!
The day before Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve-Eve) most of the extended family went to G'ma W's to get a head start on Christmas activities, starting with a snow-sculptur-ing activity contest. Landon's snow-turtle was the winner - since it was the only one completed :-)
The family "fun" also included a service project of home repairs and painting at a local Family Support Center shelter. During the painting of the "yellow room", the sisters composed a G'pa Dave version of the 12 Days of Christmas, which they serenaded him with at Christmas Eve Dinner! (I would share it with you in this 'blog, but I would have to censor too many words for this family-friendly 'blog!) We had a very nice, simple, easy and affordable take-out dinner,
after which the gift exchanges began with the cousins,
followed by the sisters',
G'ma and G'pa,
and, of course, the always exciting, eagerly anticipated,
white elephant gifts!
Clover was not very impressed.After the Christmas Eve activities, we carefully drove home in time for Santa to make his annual stop. The Christmas Day newspaper bundle arrived that night, so I walked the snowy neighborhoods at 10:30 PM with some noisy jingle bells attached to my delivery bag, wearing my red "Santa" hat delivering the papers. I did get a few strange looks, but I just waved and said "Ho, ho ho - Merry Christmas!!" Some houses were already dark, but most had lights on with people inside making last-hour preparations for the "big" day. After our last minute preparations, Keri & I finally got to bed some time after midnight. Although we have all teenagers now, there was still that "Christmas excitement" the next morning, as everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that Santa did not just leave them a lump of coal! We had our "monkey-bread" breakfast, and spent the day searching for batteries,
playing new games,
practicing new instruments, figuring out new gadgets, and troubleshooting gifts (instructions? - what instructions?!)That evening we had a nice Christmas family dinner, as we took time to reflect on how truly blessed we are - to have good jobs allowing us to make ends meet, to have a warm house, food & clothing, to live in a country where we are free to worship God and free to say "Merry Christmas", and mostly to have friends and family - both near and far! The forecast white-Christmas storm arrived that evening around 6 pm in the form of a blizzard which did not relent until early the next morning. We awoke to about a foot of new snow - which the wind had blown into some drifts nearly 2 feet high! I awoke early to deliver papers, but the bundle carriers could not get through due to some highways being closed down. So I just started shoveling, and shoveling, and by 8 am the whole neighborhood was out doing the same.
Everyone pitched in with snowblowers and shovels to help each other dig out, and to clear the walks and driveways of the older shut-ins who are not able to get out. After what seemed like hours of snow-pushing, lifting, and throwing, the sun came out. We took a break, delivered the late-arriving newspapers, and then spent the afternoon playing in the new snow!
We took advantage of the snow-packed streets for some motorcycle sled-rides. Clover joined in the fun, and later made her own fun by giving her deflated and mauled frozen soccer ball the "death shake" out in the snow *(see video). Keri made a trip to a store or two for "day after Christmas" stuff, and then spent some time starting to organize and put away decorations and Christmas-clutter.
Later some neighbors with snowmobiles did some tube-pullin' in the big field behind our backyard.
Landon returned with a big frozen-faced smile! We warmed up inside and had some tasty leftovers.
The day ended with a successful hot air balloon launch,*(see video) as the temperature dropped to near zero! Since the road to launch is snowed in, it's the only airtime I'll be getting for a month or two! 
The first major snowfall of the season blanketed the valleys today. I awoke to a minor blizzard as the storm front arrived just in time for newspaper delivery!
By noon we had received about 5 or 6 inches. By 1 pm the sun was peeking through the clouds as we shoveled and played out in the snow. A great time was had by all -
Keri helped me put the inserts into the Thanksgiving newspaper - the biggest of the whole year, each paper weighing about 3 pounds! Instead of doing the entire route in one load like last year, I swallowed my pride and split it into two more manageable trips, and was done by 6:30. After a post-paper route nap, I spent the day watching a little football, doing various honey-do's, helping some in the kitchen, and hanging out with the fam. Keri did a great job with a very moist turkey
and her soon to be famous challalalalah bread masterpiece. Grandma helped with the trimmings, including her traditional stuffing.
During the wonderful feast, we paused to share with each other some of the things for which we are so grateful. OooPah! After dinner many of us were in need of a nap -
including Clover!
I finished up the day hanging some colorful lights on the house. A fitting end to a Happy Thanksgiving!
and Clover came as official "launch monitor" and to keep everyone company!
At launch it was mostly sunny and about 45 degrees, with a due-West wind of 15 mph.
I set up and walked out to launch, where conditions remained the same. At Short Divide, when the wind direction comes from 270 degrees and beyond it is forced to "wrap around" the upper mountain, resulting in a much smaller lift band and reducing the chances of benching up over the higher peaks in the absence of Summer-sized thermals.
The wind angle still allowed for a safe, easy launch,
I buzzed Clover and Landon taking pictures from the launch slot,
and eventually got flushed out to the valley when the wind angle turned a few more degrees from the North. I set up a nice landing approach, and waited a half second too late for my flare, resulting in a less than perfect, but still respectable nose-up landing. As I was breaking down, some high clouds moved in from the NW in advance of the approaching minor front. I was grateful for the smooth, extended 36 minute sled ride. I think ANY safe late November airtime in Utah is very fortuitous! Early in my hang gliding experience, most of my flights were measured in minutes - not hours. Today, a shorter flight now and then helps me appreciate the long ones even more :-)
Airtime: 36 minutes
Upon arrival at the gate, FS rangers were standing guard at the gate, which had already been locked! We parked and walked up to talk with the "nice man", explaining that we had been told that the gate would be open until midnight. He told us that the gate was now officially closed for the year, and that we got some "bad information." We told him that we had 11 hungry boy scouts and if we had to carry all of our large camp stoves, cabin tents, firewood and other supplies it would probably take two or three uphill trips, ending with us setting up camp in the dark and not eating until midnight!
The ranger must have had a flashback to his scouting days, as his unmovable attitude gradually softened enough to allow us 30 minutes to drive past the gate to the campsite, unload our gear for the night, and then park the vehicles outside of the gate. (I suspect he just didn't want to come back later to investigate a report of 11 lost and hungry boy scouts!) Eitherwhichway, we quickly (and gladly) complied,
allowing us to have camp set up and our foil dinners simmering on the hot coals by 6 pm!
The dinners all turned out great - with not a single charred casualty! We even had plenty of ketchup for the savory meat & potato concoctions (a scout is prepared!)
After some scary stories around the warm fire,
Scoutmaster Scott's delicious dutch oven peach cobbler hit the spot and warmed our insides.
After every scout was accounted for and sent to bed, the adults had some time to talk around the fire, as Scott told us about his recent very close encounter with a cougar on his hunting trip to Idaho last month. We all finally turned in as a nearly full moon lit up the narrow canyon. I drifted off to sleep to the echo of boy scouts howling and laughing into the night. The clear, dry night allowed temperatures to dip into the 20's, evidenced by the slushy, icy water discovered in our big water container as we prepared breakfast the next morning.
The morning campfire kept the chill away as the boys worked on their cooking merit badge, preparing bacon, pancakes, eggs and hot cocoa.
"Breakfast of Champions?"
We all took our time cleaning up, climbing the canyon walls, and playing "Frisbee 500" in the meadow.
We finished packing up the tents, kitchen, and other gear, and began the short hike out to the waiting vehicles. Other than a few minor scrapes and bruises, everyone was returned safely home - where a hot shower was very welcomed!
