We drove to Utah for the holidays. It was a great trip. So without further ado, here is the first installment of my Top 10 Holiday Lists. Don't fret; there are just 2 of them.

Top 10 Things That Made 50 Hours of Driving Not Just Bearable, But Enjoyable
1. The most freakishly well-behaved girls in the backseat. For example, our first day consisted of 14 hours on the road, with just two 10-minute stops to get gas and use restrooms. And they were angelic and pleasant all the day long. Seriously, the next time I'm having a rough day with those kids, I'm going to throw them in the car and drive to Canada. Weird, huh?

2. The Donut Stop in Amarillo. Mmm..donuts.

3. A fabulous driver who never complained about anything. And he's fun to talk to, and he's cute.

4. A fearless navigator

5. Beautiful, beautiful southern Utah to enjoy on the way. It is a place of many happy memories for me and Derek, including the spot of his proposal (in Canyonlands). So what if Moab was 15 (!) degrees. At least that kept us from spending too long there (thus lengthening our trip time).


6. Early mornings hitting the road with at least 1/2 the family out of their jammies, and at least 3/4 of the family feeling cheery.

7. Snow on the grass, arches, and cows, but no snow on the road (phew!)

8. The portable DVD player that has been adored by parent and child alike on every long road trip since our move to TX

9. Silly escapades from the back seat to keep us entertained

10. Hotels that were Disneyland-level fun after being strapped in a car all day.

Top 10 of Being in Utah

1. Time with Family. The grandparents..who were wonderful enough to feed us, shelter us, and watch our kiddos so that we could go to the movies. Twice!

2. The aunts/uncles and cousins..I especially loved the ladies' day of lunching and shopping. And the game night. And just hanging out. We miss all of you.


3. Time with friends--old college friends and old Boston-moved-to-Utah friends (Sorry, Bess and Micah, but somehow we managed to not take any pics again. I guess we were too busy stuffing our faces with Bombay House. That should have made the top 10 list, but I didn't take a photo.)

4. Partaking of a beautiful Christmas tradition: Seeing the lights at Temple Square, riding the light rail, followed by #5 on the Top Ten list...


5. Crown Burger for dinner. Mmmmmm.. FRY SAUCE. All you can eat fry sauce.

6. Christmas, of course! The spiritual (Nativity reenactment, featuring a bespectacled donkey and Mary with pacifier; a striped-blanketed Joseph; a real live baby for Jesus; and Ava as sheep/ram/cat)...

7. And the secular (presents!)

8. SNOW SNOW SNOW! Eating snow, running in snow, futilely attempting to make men out of snow, snow-angeling, eating more snow, drawing in snow, stomping on snow. It was all new and wonderful to our girls.


9. Refreshing our cold climate skills (look at that handy ice scraper from a dollar store in New Brunswick!)

10. Gratitude for all the family and friends we were able to spend time with, and the thoughtfulness and love of those who were far from us. No picture of that, just a happy thought.

It has been one year to the day since Ava embarked on her career as a hairstylist. It was a shortlived career, as her preferred styling instrument (scissors) became contraband in our home.

To commemorate the growth of PJ's hair into something resembling a Dickensian street urchin, we took her for her first professional haircut while we were in Utah for the holidays.

She got to choose her own fancy vehicle to sit in while being trimmed up (the pink classic Chevy convertible). She also got to pick a movie (Barbie Princess Fairy Mermaid Ballerina. As classic as a '55 Bel Air, right?). She was a champ for the whole thing, but then why wouldn't she be, at that point?

Before:

During:


After:


For some reason I haven't gotten around to blowdrying and styling her hair myself. I'm just not that kind of mom.

It's cliche to say so, but Christmas is probably my favorite time of the year. It is the celebration of something so beautiful, and it so full of traditions and happy memories and family and lovely music, that I can't help but love every moment of it (barring trips to the post office).

Here are some of our favorite Christmasy things...

• Picking out a tree that somehow I never took a photo of after it was decorated. HOW? I don't know.

• Setting up nativities

• Making gifts (my goal for this Christmas was to do almost all homemade gifts, and it was really fun, and I'm not being sarcastic.). These clothes for Ava's precious Spotty McSpot-Spot were the least effort and the most adored gift I created, by far.

• Reading fine Christmas literature (Favorites include Sandra Boynton's BOB; Anne Mueke's Dinosaurs Night Before Christmas with accompanying dinosaur carols; and B is For Bethlehem with Elisa Kleven's gorgeous illustrations).

• Taking a little girl to the Nutcracker (and trying to squelch the loud, 4-year old groans during the last act when every little sugary creature came out to dance 12 different times: "AUUUUGGHH!! But they already danced, Mom!" Fortunately, the first act was beloved from start to finish. We probably should've called it a show and left during intermission.).

• Finally breaking out the full winter gear (Remember, this is Texas, so tights count as winter gear; and yes, my girls like to dress themselves.).

• Immediately testing out the new Christmas toys (thanks for the t-ball set, Grandma and Granddad!)

Oh, and then there's the 3,200 mile road trip, but I'll save that for another post.

This gorgeous specimen of a Japanese Red Maple has graced the entryway of my parents' house since I was a very small child. When I was school aged, the tree always reminded me of a textbook illustration in a science book depicting phototropism, the growth of a plant towards sunlight. I have watched it grow for my entire life, and it just becomes more stunning and remarkable every year. This fall we were in Arkansas shortly after the maple's foliage was at its peak. I snapped some pictures, and must get better ones once we get around to buying a nicer camera.

Doesn't the house look as if it has sprouted fantastic plumage to attract a mate; or else it is shooting vibrant, unruly flames from deep in its bowels? I love how it fills up the whole dining room window from the inside.

If you asked me if I had a favorite tree in the whole world, I guess this would be it-- for its beauty and its place in my home, a house that will always be my home. The tree reminds me of what that home has meant to me throughout my life-- something that is bursting with life, color, energy, warmth, and beauty.