Jud and I, Colter and Anni REALLY REALLY REALLY want to thank everyone for all the gifts, the conversations and the get-togethers this Christmas. You were all very generous in filling our wishlist for the season (and then some) and we hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas. We are very thankful for our families and friends. We forget sometimes that these are more important as we go through the grind of the day to day.

Love,
Jud, Pen, Colter, Anni

We didn't get a chance to go far for the Christmas week but it feels pretty good to just have a nice and relaxing Christmas Day and wanted to share the highlights of our day to everyone...

Well, we all managed to be together and saw Anni's Christmas program. It was awesome. Colter even liked it and kept wanting to call out to Anni. He doesn't want to admit it but he's a good brother and an all-around good kid! Anni helped me put together this movie and the video below seems to view best on You Tube's site so you might want to watch it from there. Let us know if you run into any issues doing it that way and I'll have my IT department work on it (aka Colter & Anni).

We had a late start but we made it to Logan for a Christmas Party at Jud's Grampa Jenkins house and a little get together at my parents for the weekend. Okay, next year, we need everyone together! Still, we had a nice weekend...

We went for a nice drive to Grand Teton National Park. We stopped at Sargent's Bay where Jud figured the ice would have set already (the majority of the lake is still not frozen). It's been some years since I've ventured on ice and it was an interesting experience. the sound of the ice forming (or cracking?) sounds like a whale underwater according to Anni. The ice was a mere two inches in some areas and about a foot in others. I wasn't too comfortable on the thinner layer so we moved. The kids and Sadie were not too bothered but then again, they think they're bulletproof. The clouds were overcast with snow flurries but it was COLD! We ended the day with a quick stop at Wendy's. It was a nice enjoyable day.

The holidays have officially started in the Valley with a day full of events, a Christmas parade and fireworks. Pretty cool. Jud smoked and cooked baby back ribs tonight, baked chocolate chip cookies, and now Anni is making her own version of the cookies in her Easy Bake Oven. The Christmas tree looks great. The star is a little crooked at the top but it's a GREAT tree!

We figured it was about time we had this done. Enjoy!

We skipped the live tree hunt last year but we decided to revive the tradition. Nothing smells quite as good as the real thing.

Just thought I'd share this really great picture with you. I love to drive along the lake. Every day is a little different and the passing of the seasons have been a real treat to see. I took this in the morning a few days ago. I couldn't resist. There's something ethereal about those low clouds and the fog that forms like little wisps of cotton hanging so close above the water.

Jud and Colter joined up with Grandpa Ron to for their first ice fishing day of the season at Henry's Lake in Island Park. There was a about 4-6" of ice and they took advantage of the last bit fishing open to them until the lake closes at the end of the month. Here are some great pics taken that morning by Bryan's wife, Crista.

So Colter and Anni took off into the night on their bikes–one dressed as a dice and the other, a wee pretty little witch. It's their first halloween without their parents in tow so I fretted the whole time they were gone. They came back safe though and we had a great Halloween meal with their favorite finger foods: pigs in a blanket, hot wings, cheezy nachos and potato skins. All in all, we had a good, safe, evening. Life is good.

I was in Afton today and kept thinking about the "old" places. We don't go there often anymore and it took a design project to bring me back. I decided to pull out my camera and started taking pictures. Anyone remember this?

You know, we really don't have anything that we need that badly. There are a lot of things we want, to be sure, but – hey, we all want a lot more than we really need or should have. But the Holidays are coming up and I suppose that part of all the cheer and good tidings involve gift-giving. So, in the spirit of the Season, here is a list of what we would like for Christmas: a whole lotta money. That, of course, is not realistic so here is our other list ...

Jud & Pen -
 *** 10-cup Zojirushi rice cooker (MODEL NS-PC18)
 *** Lacross Digital Atomic Alarm Clock/Temp/Forecast (MODEL WS-8157U-IT-CH)
 *** Buttery theater popcorn (as in a lot!)
 *** Nice standard pillows and white pillowcases (no down)
 *** Anchor Hocking 4pc 2 &3 qt Baking Dish Set with Lids

Colter -
 *** a kick in the pants (just kidding!)
 *** Lego Lots (check out eBay.com) - not the larger Duplo's or MegaBloks
 *** New Ray Toys 1:60 UH-60 Black Hawk Mede-Vac (Amazon.com)
 *** New Ray Toys 1:60 D/C UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter (Amazon.com)
 *** New Ray Toys 1:55 D/C AH-64 Apache Helicopter (Amazon.com)
 *** New Ray Toys 1:32 M1 Abrams Tank (check out Amazon.com)

Annika -
 *** any 1 or 2 Littlest Pet Shop LPSO Virtual Pets
 *** Annual Gold Explorer subscription to www.dizzywood.com (online kids game)
 *** iTunes Gift Card
 *** WalMart Gift Card
 *** WebKinz Dog

We do our best to recycle and conserve. Well...okay...mom does her best to recycle and conserve. The kids, not so much. But we don't need to be hard-core about it. Just conscious. I may die tomorrow, but I'd like to know I did my little bit part to leave something behind that's good for the benefit of my kids. So here's the poop. You know all those fashion magazines you have lying around in the house? Take them to your neighbor, the dentist's office, your clotheshorse friends.

We are finally joining the video communication age! This is a really great site and we hope to hear and see you all on it. The best part is that Skype to Skype calls are FREE. That really beats sucking up your cell minutes or running up the long distance bill. And then of course, we get to see each other.

http://www.skype.com/

Our Skype name is "jptolman" so add us to your address book.

Most computers and laptops nowadays have built-in webcams. Though it isn't required to chat (you still get to see us but we just can't see you). Here's probably the best YouTube video we found on Skype. It really emphasizes the fact that kids are so much more savvy than the adults.

Cool Kid Teaching Us Old People How To Use Skype

See you soon!

Jud, Pen, Colter and Anni

At least once during the summers, we make a pilgrimage to the Parks. Yes, we drive around and join the tourists to enjoy one of the best national parks in the country (thank you Teddy!) It is never boring and there's always something new that we didn't notice before. We hope to instill this same fascinated appreciation we have to our children.

Jud took us for a lovely drive recently. As usual, he finds the nicest spots. This is the family (I'm taking the picture) on one of the high peaks atop Relay Ridge. You can look east towards home in Driggs or west to Rexburg. I keep forgetting that we live in beautiful country.

There's a dead tree on the way to the top. It's really interesting and if you look around back, you'll notice that the tree must have been struck by lightning. It's completely scorched on the other side.

Jud found his way back to his primo firewood spot and the secret patch of gold (we'd tell you where it is but then we'd have to kill you). Here's Colter sitting, picking, eating and checking out our bucket.

Anni was equally into the huckleberry picking. We all did. You really didn't have to go too far to get what you wanted. Just sit on a nice open spot in between the bushes and just go around in a circle. The bushes were heavy with fruit.

It was messy business. You'd think we were finger painting. Anni washed her hands but it still looked pink from the berry stains. We picked for several hours. Jud got tired and took a nap in the Rover while we kept going. It was definitely a back-breaker. Next time, we're bringing some chairs.

Not bad for our first harvest. We filled almost 3/4 of a gallon ice cream bucket. The kids also had smaller stashes--food for the road, as Anni called it. We want to go back. We left a lot behind. Jud has been making huckleberry shakes most nights since that day--oh yeah, and they are YUMMMY!!!!

We don't get to make trips to Logan too frequently but it was great to have the kids together to play with each other. We realized how equally infrequent that we take pictures of our kids so we're trying to be better. So here are the cousins (less Denise's Beau and and Chris's Atalie) with Grandma and Lolo. Colter's the handsome but annoying fella. Anni is a cutie as always and there's Chris' and Sarah's kids, Chloe and Nathan.


So they played and played. They hung out in the backyard, the sideyard, the frontyard, and yes – even the tree.


Here's the little Anni girl. Not too happy with mom for taking a picture of her when she's all teary-eyed. She's still a cutie though.


And here they are again. So sometimes, they kind of like each other...most times, not.