Christmas in Texas

Seventy degrees for Christmas--I wasn't complaining! I was NOT dreaming of a white Christmas! We felt so blessed to make it to TX. On Friday morning, the day we were supposed to leave, the entire state of Iowa was "travel not advised." By 2 pm, when we left, it was clear, although we did run into icy conditions south of Des Moines and could only really use the right lane. We made it to Bethany, MO, where they had had a half inch of ice (the motel parking lot was a skating rink). The next day, as we headed south to warmer climes, Iowa was socked again by snow. We really had just a little window to get out! Texas was very relaxing, and our long drive was non-eventful. It was nice to see my parents before our lives are changed in February with a new little infant!


Here are the boys with the fort they had built behind my parents' house in November 2007--it had mostly survived the year, including Hurricane Ike! I vote at least one of them goes into architecture!


Here we are outside the Houston Temple, enjoying the sunshine and flowers!



We also celebrated the twins' sixth birthday in TX. How did they get so big?






Of course, it was soon back to reality and Minnesota. But the boys love the snow and sledding. When we drove through Dallas, I happened to see some kids going outside to play, all bundled up in big, puffy coats. I didn't think anything of it for a second, and then I looked at our car thermometer--50 degrees--a real cold spell for Texans! I had to laugh, and when I told the boys, they were amazed--"We'd be wearing shorts at home if it was 50 degrees!" My little Minnesotans.