Christmas Weekend Adventure

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas can be summed up in one word, Adventure.

That's right this Christmas is an Adventure just trying to get where we needed to go. About the Saturday before Christmas it started to snow in Idaho Falls and didn't stop until after Christmas. We had family coming from Utah, on both sides, who weren't sure if they were going to make it. Gratefully they all made it here and home back safely.

On Christmas Eve we spent the evening at Mike's moms house with Gary, Krystal, Auntie Marsha, and Grandma Pack. We ate a nice ham dinner, played games, opened presents and watched a movie Krystal had made until it was time for church. For the last few years Mom, Mike, me, and whoever else happens to come have been going to the midnight Christmas service at the Presbyterian church. This year Grandma went with us. We were giving her a hard time because this year she decided not to change into something nicer and just wore her jeans. She commented that it was probably the first time she had ever wore her jeans to a church service. The service was very nice and we commented that it helped with the Christmas spirit feeling. All the other worries seem to slip away when you sing Silent Night and the candles are lit and then the bells ring in Christmas.

This is where the Adventure comes in. On Christmas day we woke up exchanged gifts, got ready, and headed out for breakfast at Tallene's house. As we rounded the first S curve we noticed that there was a guy in a small pickup stuck near the second S curve and another guy trying to push him out. Mike stopped and went to help, they were able to push him out. Then the other guy got into his larger truck and tried to go. He was stuck as well. We backed up and tried to pull him out, but my Durango was just not heavy enough to pull him out. Mike decided that we would go back to the house and exchange vehicles to his dads truck that has the plow on it.

On our way back home another truck was coming and we stopped him and let him know that there was some stuck up ahead. By the time we switched vehicles, put on our snow gear, and headed back the other truck had helped the guy that was stuck. Mike decided to go ahead and try to clear a path so no other vehicles got stuck. As we started to plow the snow sucked the plow in, the truck went sideways and we were stuck too. Mike was able to rock us out and get unstuck. We then decided that the snow was too heavy here to plow and that we would try the other way out.

There were a couple of vehicles that pulled up behind us just as we were getting out that turned around as well. One truck was ahead of us and as we watched her try to go the other way, she got stuck as well. Now the guy that lives at the house on the straight next to the first curve, had been riding his snowmobile around and warning people that they might get stuck. He got in his truck with a plow, and backed up to try and pull the lady in the truck out. Mike went and helped and him and another guy were able to get her unstuck. The guy in the plow tuck decided he would try and clear a path. Just as he was getting to the end a teenager decided to go around all four vehicles, mostly large trucks, and try and get through in his little SUV. He got stuck as well. By this time I had called Tallene and let her know that were not going to make it and we decided to just go home and wait to get out later.

At around 1:30 we decided to try again to get out. We loaded up the truck with presents and food and set off again. We had watched a number of vehicles go by and not come back so, we decided to go back the same way again. As we rounded the S curve the guy with the truck and plow was pulling another SUV out. Mike helped him again and he told us that just as fast as he plowed it the snow would blow back in. We decided to try another road past our house that has more houses and fences. It worked! This road was drifted in, but not as bad and Mike was able to bust through the drifts with the plow. It is nice to know now how to get out when this happens in the future.

We arrived at my mom's house and ate dinner (ham again), opened gifts, visited and made gingerbread houses. Tallene, Mac, Mike and I decided it was going to be too cold to go out and play in the snow. So to keep everyone entertained we decided to make gingerbread houses. Everyone seemed to enjoy decorating their house and it kept the kids entertained.

We headed home, now knowing the best way to go, with no problems. It may have been an adventure getting to see everyone and to enjoy the day, but it will not be soon forgotten. It was nice being with all of the family. This year we had all six kids, their families and both sets of grandparents there.

The next day the roads were cleared by the county. Yea! Mike and I met Mac and Bobby for lunch. While Tallene took Taylor and Eliza to the movies. I then watched Bobby while Mike and Mac cleared out families drive-ways. Then everyone met at our house and we played on the snowmobile. Later that evening Auntie Marsha and Grandma came over and we watched the Jazz Game, they won Yeah!

On Saturday we went to my Grandma Turnbows house for the Turnbow family Christmas party. We ate and visited with Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins that we have not seen for awhile. It was nice to see everyone and catch up.

A new year is right around the corner. Have fun with your Adventures, you never know what is going to happen.