Christmas in Utah!

Believe it or not, We actually miss the snow! We don't miss driving in it or the bitter cold but do miss the beauty of it, walking through the woods and seeing it resting on the pines…… This is our first Christmas on the road, we were not sure what to expect, with the warmer weather and not snow it just does not feel like Christmas, but you go into the stores and you definitely see it!

Like many things this year, we have to get used to a “new normal” and set our expectations accordingly. Don’t get me wrong, we are not unhappy, just getting used to something new! Christmas in a trailer is a lot like Christmas in a home but to a smaller scale. For almost 30 years Barb and I (and sometimes the kids) would go out and cut down our own Christmas tree. We have had some as high as 15’ tall! This year, although we did not cut it down ourselves, we still have a live tree! This one however is our smallest one measuring in at a whopping 3’. Barb has the trailer decorated nicely with the few Christmas knickknacks that she saved.

 

Our first mobile Christmas tree!

 



The snow is creeping down the mountains!

This is also the first Christmas that I will not spend with my family (brothers and sisters) in……forever, I guess. Last year we had a big gathering at our “in-between” house in Wisconsin. My oldest sister spent Christmas Eve with us and when she woke up Santa somehow knew and brought her a stocking! I am going to miss seeing them, but on the lighter side this is the first Christmas we will spend with our own children/grandchildren in over 8 years and we are truly enjoying that!

One of my biggest worries was whether or not Santa would be able to find us now that we were traveling. How does he know where all the RV nomads are at a given time? Not to fear, he did find us and we had a great Christmas! Christmas Eve was spent at Forrest’s house where they prepared a delicious dinner of prime rib and crab legs! Christmas day was spent at Jessica’s house starting early with sticky buns and opening of presents. That evening we had another delicious meal including a bushel of blue crab ordered from the east coast and shrimp.

Dylan getting ready to open presents

Lily on her new bike!

Jessica and Kendall

Forrest and Shane digging into the crabs!

Barb and Kendall

Barb and Lily

We spent our final night in Salt Lake at Jessica’s having a sleep over with all the kids in our trailer parked out front of the house. Daisy and I elected to sleep in the recliner in the living room while Barb spent the night in the bedroom with kids. Now if  you have ever tried to spend the night with a 5 and 3 year old it sounds like you are missing a treat. Barb said she was sandwiched between the two for the entire night and you have heard of the game "Whack a Mole" right? Well evidently Barb was an unwilling participant of a new game called "Whack a Grammy" where small sleeping children randomly whack grandma throughout the night. Barb said she was awaken several times throughout the night with a whack to the head! Needless to say, the night and the following morning was filled with the joy of frolicking and screaming kids!

Daisy had a rough day!

Kendall showing off her teeth!

But alas, all good things must come to an end and after almost two months in Salt Lake it was time for Barb and I to move on. So with our belly’s full, our last load of free laundry for a while, one last long shower and enough grandchild time to hold us for a couple of months, we hit the road headed south. Our first stop Lake Havasue, Quartzsite and Yuma  where we will be staying for a few days as I have some dental work done in Mexico……More to come on that!