Pics from Christmas

GarretT slept in on Christmas, which didn't do me any good since I was up at 6am anyway. Despite the late start (9am) we were done opening Santa's gifts by 20 after, with our boys doing their best to break the world record for opening the most gifts in the shortest amount of time.

We had our neighbors over for dinner and enjoyed a fine meal of prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, asparagus, and fine wine from our neighbors liquor cabinet. The kids got along great (apparently not realizing how long a year is before they have to be good for Santa again) which allowed the adults some much needed socializing.

The boys with Santa

The most wonderful time of the year

I can't think of a better time of the year to be a father than Christmas time. The entire Christmas spirit, from the boys counting the days down until Christmas, talking about Jesus' birthday, to how God is watching us (even through the roof of our house), to them following Santa across the globe on Christmas eve via Norad Santa (who apparently is in Boise, ID, as I type), to getting to play Santa in real life and wonder when the hell they are going to figure this gig out, and finally their faces and joy opening presents Christmas morning, truly makes a year full of hell raising two boys worth it. Everything seems to come together, from the boys' values to my values.

It truly is a time of hope, being grateful, and being generous all rolled into one. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

BOHICA

When he was the coach of the Chicago Bulls, Phil Jackson used to tell Dennis Rodman (after Rodman got hit with a technical foul during a game) "BOHICA." Finally, the press asked Phil what "BOHICA" meant...

Bend over, here it comes again.

You know, that same feeling with today's auto bailout. Bend over responsible taxpayers, you now have to bail out another group of people that made poor (and by poor, I mean "friggin' idiots that have had 30 years to fix their crappy cars and still can't figure it out") decisions. That's right, take money from people who know what they are doing and give it to those that don't. That's a surefire way to fix the economy, don't ya think?

Proud to have two foreign cars in my driveway right now. Unless my friends in Germany email me and tell me that workers from those companies are asking for handouts too...

A day in the snow

We got our yearly day of snow early this year, I worked from home in the morning, and the kids dragged me outside for the afternoon to enjoy the white fluffy stuff. Sledding in the backyard, shoveling snow, a little hockey in the street, and sledding across the street.


Garret preferred to roll down the hill rather than taking the sled.

Latest family picture

Not calling this a Christmas picture although its that time of year. Last time we had our picture taken as a family was last Christmas, so we are due for a new one. It didn't scan too well, I'll have to play with the settings to try and improve it.

The Christmas Tree from the Shire

Stop by your local ranger station, fork over $10, and the US Forest Service will let you cut down the tree of your choice almost anywhere in a National Forest. Such was the way we went about getting our Christmas Tree this year. Funny, at almost every trailhead, there are warning signs that if you so much as kill a blade of grass, you will destroy entire ecosystems and cause the immediate destruction of mankind. Fork over $10, and you can trample all the vegetation you like and cut down any tree you want. Go figure.

Our quest started on Saturday, and we spent an entire afternoon in several places in the Snoqualmie-Mt Baker National Forest looking for a tree worthy of our abode. And beating up my Audi too boot. We soon learned why there are Christmas Tree farms and why they charge a boatload for a tree - natural selection just doesn't create perfect, symmetrical, full Christmas trees very often. I'm sure they're out there, we just didn't see them.

We ended up going out Sunday morning and grabbing one 10 feet off the paved road that runs between the two exit 38s on I-90. Doesn't seem to sporting, but far as we can tell it was legit. It was actually a heavy rain, but don't worry, the family found shelter in our SUV while I destroyed nature.

I'm uploading pics now, will add them to this post later.

Spencer's first Seahawks game

Today was my fourth game, my third this year. A couple weeks ago Amy and I enjoyed our neighbors tickets while the Seahawks got beat by Washington. When we told Spencer what we were doing he showed a real interest in going. I was lucky to find decent tickets on eBay for less than face value.

Spencer had a good time taking everything in and seeing a side of a game he hasn't seen before, we had a good view of the Seagals, er, field, and we took in our share of junk food. The weather was decent until halftime, and we had to leave early to get Spence to a birthday party. Spencer's one disappointment was that Matt Hasselbeck (his favorite player) didn't get to play, but that was tempered since the Seahawks outscored the Pats while we were there.