A monkey. A squirrel. One happy family.

We're kind of over-scheduled right now. I'm learning a new job, and Ella has robotics club and school musical tryouts and her first final exams. Spencer is busy closing loans and checking Ella's Spanish homework, and sweet Annie has her music lessons but is otherwise kind of along for the ride. In the middle of all this stuff, I looked at the calendar and realized we had just a three-hour window on a Sunday morning to get a Christmas tree from Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Boonville (where we ALWAYS get our tree) if we wanted to get a tree before mid-December. I needed a tree. I was going to have a tree, by God. We need a little Christmas, right this very minute! During that three-hour window on a Sunday morning, it rained. And then the rain turned to slushy snow and back to rain. And dear Spencer gritted his teeth, grabbed our favorite Christmas music CD for the car, and drove us all to Boonville. The silver lining was that there were no crowds to deal with, no line...

In this anxiety-ridden time in our country, I am trying to feel gratitude for my family, our home and health. I also need to remember not to take these things for granted and remember that when my neighbor is threatened, so am I. Do no harm, but take no shit.

The Columbia Grand Teton/Yellowstone Adventure is a summer trip developed for students in Columbia Public Schools. Ella, with generous help from family and friends, raised half the cost of the trip. She spent a week learning about mountain and glacial geology, wildlife tracking, forest fires, Yellowstone ecosystems, and outdoor skills.

Hello. So many things have happened in the last several months, but sitting down at a home computer has not been one of them. We had a lovely Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, and both girls' birthdays. Ella's quiz bowl team and robotics club have performed really well. She just tried on every pair of shorts in her drawer, and out of 12, only two fit. (We went to the mall. And survived.) Annie is reading on a third-grade level and ready for swimming lessons. Both girls continue to be funny and exasperating and surprising and delightful. Some pictures to catch you up. January Taking a break from baking for a little jam session. Some Sparky's ice cream for Ella's 12th birthday! February Cake for breakfast on Valentine's Day. March A co-birthday celebration for Annie and cousin TJ. Easter egg hunting with Uncle Marty! April Reading an old favorite with the girls. Ella's quiz bowl team!

We were blessed with beautiful weather for this year's Christmas tree hunt at Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm. We found a little beauty, just right for our small living room. While helping to secure it in the tree stand, Ella discovered a small bird's nest, which we decided was good luck. In the words of 6-year-old Annie, "We picked the correct tree!" Nest! To the trees! That-a-way, dad! Ella Annie Our lovely little tree. Happy holidays!

The new fancy doughnut place in town is offering "memory maker" events from time to time, and last weekend we signed up to make a gingerbread house at their store. Someone else makes the gingerbread and buttercream, provides buckets of candies, serves up hot cider, feeds us cookies, and does all of the clean-up? Yes, please. Merry, merry!

I somehow never thought to take a traditional family-round-the-table photo this Thanksgiving, but there is still much to be grateful for. Cousins at Grandma Ann and Grandpa Butch's house. Grandma Ann's famous pies. Constructing marshmallow shooters at Thanksgiving round II. Spencer wins uncle of the year award. XO, dear ones!