Another Christmas come and gone. Of course there were the usual goodies and decorations. We had lots of presents and the like. But this Christmas was different too. It was special. First of all, it was on Sunday. I think that really helped us remember what Christmas is all about. It is ok to say words like God, and Savior. Heaven forbid we might offend someone. The other reason this was special for us is that Bob and Nancy, Heather's parents flew in from Idaho to visit. I always like to remind them how cold it is there and how nice it is here. Well, they decided to find out for themselves. They got here on the 23d and will stay for a week. It has been a lot of fun. They got to meet the people we have come to love here in our branch. Sacrament meeting was wonderful. And no Bob, lightning didn't strike! Thanks for coming to church with us. We love you.


This week we will see some sights. We went to the Winchester Mansion yesterday. What a weird place. They built it for a 4'10" widow. I could barely get my shoulders through the first stairway. It was creepy and interesting. We saw doors that open to a 4 story drop. Others that opened on a brick wall. There were something like 160 rooms that she had built 7 days a week for 38 years until she died. I guess she did it to appease the spirits of people who had been killed by the Winchester rifles. Today we will make a treck to San Francisco and eat some clam chowder. We will also stop in Oakland and look at the temple while the lights are on. I will post a picture later. We might also drive around Samuel Merritt College, one of the anesthesia schools I am looking at. Well, take care and Merry Christmas. See you next Year!

This morning we had breakfast with Santa at the church in St. Helena. The kids loved it. Miyah was flirting with Santa. Shane was shy and didn't want to talk to the fat man. He's more of a letter writer. I thought he would love a chance to give his rapid fire speech about how he wants a "Fantastic Four mask and gloves with missile launch and a belt". This part of the holidays I love. I do not, however, like the last minute holiday shopping. Every year we say we are going to get it done early and skip the crowds and the traffic. Every year we miscalculated or procrastinate. Oh well. Yesterday we went to several stores in Santa Rosa. It was a mad house. I was threatened by some big heffers at walmart and continue my streak of choosing the longest line and the slowest checkers. Traffic in Northern California is usually not too bad. This week it was horrible. We drove to Oakland a few days ago, and I swear it gave me an ulcer. While I am griping, I just want to touch on my newest pet peeve. That is the quaint cultural trait of the Mexican population regarding shopping carts. Mexico must be littered with shopping carts. Here, they go to the market, load up a cart with groceries, walk home and leave the cart in their front yard. Every yard has 2 or 3. No kidding. Yesterday I watched a lady come out of Sunshine Foods, load the groceries in her car, and instead of taking the cart 100 feet to the cart coral, she walks 2 cars over and wedges her cart between a couple of suv's. Give me a break. Anyway, let us love one another and be tolerant during this holiday season. God bless you all.

Wednesday Dec. 7th was a day to remember Pearl Harbor. It was also a day to wear a silly had and open lots of presents. Especially if you name happens to be Shane Thompson. Shane turned 5 this week. He had what he describes as the "best day I ever had". He got a cool new bike. We went to his favorite restaurant, The Red Hen. He got to eat his favorites, chips and salsa and a cheese enchillada. They gave him a free desert, put the big sombrero on his head, and sang to him. He loved it. Afterwards we had a little party with a few friends and had cake and icecream. He had a madagascar cake.

I cant resist posting a picture of the salmon I caught today. I fought it for 20 minutes or so. When I finally got it in, I was disapointed to see that It was a bit worse for wear. It looked a bit mangy. I would have released it, but it was trying to do the back stroke. I was counciled not to eat it. Apparently a lot of the fish that get this far up the Napa river are pretty burned out and not too tasty. Bummer. Oh well. Besides, how many times in my life am I going to get the chance to land a 16lb fish?

Well, I turned 30 this last Sunday. We had just returned from vacation and we decided to veg out. Everyone keeps telling me how old I am. I don't feel old. No viagra for this stallion. This week the salmon are running up the Napa River. Due to the heavy rains, they made it all the way up to St. Helena. I am going to try and catch one this week. Bought me a big walmart rod and reel and some big ugly lures. Hopefully the 12lb test line I have on holds. Shane and I did some recon today and saw some huge Kings jumping out of the water below the zinfandel Bridge. Oh, it finally got cold around here. It got down to 36 last night and the highs are in the upper 50's. Beats the cold in Idaho and Utah right now. I got pounded in fantasy football this week. Thanks Eli Manning. I just hope I make the playoffs. I have a phone interview with the director of the anesthesia program in Akron Ohio this week. Hope that goes well. We are seriously looking at going back to school. We could move as soon as this summer. We'll see.

This Thaksgiving we decided to do something different. Like the Kranks, we decided to skip a holiday and use the money for a little vaccation. We decided to go down to Disneyland with the Dribnaks (our friends here in the St. Helena Branch). We first stopped in Monterey, Ca. and went to the big aquarium there. We saw giant tuna, sharks, penguins, and even an octopus. On Thursday, we spent Thanksgiving in the park. No turkey or stuffing. Just overpriced sandwiches and $3.00 cokes. We discovered that Shane had grown about 6 inches in the last 6 months and could now ride almost every ride. We watched the fantasmic water show and the fireworks that night. Friday and Saturday were fun too, but the park was extremely crowded. After the parade, you couldn't even walk down mainstreet. I don't know if I would go to Disneyland over this particular weekend again, but we had a good time. Happy Thanksgiving!