To start the first blog of the new year, I thought that I should put this terrific sign that I saw while driving through the central valley.

This Christmas we had a great time visiting family up in the great state of Washington. we left home on the 24th and went to Mt. Vernon to visit my parents for a few days. It is always a good time visiting the parents and we got to see a bunch of snow which is uncommon for that area. The heat went out on our second day there so it is a very good thing that my parents have a wood stove. It is unfortunate that the wood stove is on one end of the house and not in the middle so the heat did not travel out into the rest of the house very well.

Can you believe that my parents still have a rotary phone? I thought these things went out with black and white TV. It still works so I guess it is as good as any other, but you cannot dial out on it because the phone service cannot deal with this archaic technology.

Here is the gift that I lovingly handcrafted for my parents. The windmill is a pattern I made from a picture I took while in Holland. I burned the windmills and the great De Jong name into the wood to make a pretty cool looking sign.

I also made one for my in-laws and put a couple of Model T's on it for my father in-law, who is currently restoring his 3rd one.

Here is the cool new gym and school that my dad helped build/fund/design. It is very big and it is one place where I wish I went to school.

Making dinner in the nice kitchen. Isn't my old man cool.

After my parents house we took their truck and drove to Brenda's parents to visit with their family. Paula and Kevin (along with the associated rugrats) flew in the day before and we got a chance to hang out with them.

Rugrat number one is pictured here...no not the one on the right, that is Brenda...it is Landon on the left.

My in-law's might get the award for the best Christmas present ever. Next time you call here I will be talking on this wonderful piece of "functional art".

There was a Christmas cookie decorating contest when the men were watching Bourne Ultimatum. The winner is on the right. Paula had a great design, but Brenda's snowman with buckteeth and pocket protector was pretty cool.

Speaking of buckteeth... I wish Brenda would brush her teeth more often. She loves to make these fake teeth out of walnuts.

A blistering game of settlers always keeps the blood pumping and is about the only exercise I got all week.

I think Landon loves having his shirt off...a real mans man.

We went out to the Elk feeding grounds before we went sledding. There are so many elk that, to keep them away from the farmers field and away from traffic, they feed them at higher elevations. There were some great bulls that dwarf the bull I got this year.

Look at that guy in the middle and tell me you don't want to have that on your wall and in your freezer.

Brenda's grandfather carved this totem pole and it was given to a family friend after her grandmother moved out of her house. He repainted it and it looks great.

Brenda's sister and brother-in-law...with the rugrats.

Kids being kids.

Brenda and I having a happy new year.