December 21, 2008 we got our first real heavy snow storm, about 5 inches with plenty of wind to go along with it. We were able to spend most of the day in Idaho Falls doing some of the shopping we wanted to get done before Christmas. It is really beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We went to the church Christmas party last night and they had a really good rendition of the real Christmas story. Nothing like the local players to get you in the Christmas spirit. It was good. We have a lot to be thankful for and this time of year it reminds us of just how much there is!

What a difference a day makes! December8, 2008 and the first snow that looks like it will stay. First snow blowing of the driveway too.

This will not be in chronological order but it needs to be preserved for posterity. This was on the trail from Monticello to the cemetery and back to the gardens. The whole party, Todd, Aimee, Tanner, Ashlee, Grandma Sue, Grandma Laura, and Grandpa Ron were walking along when we came to this tree. Without missing a beat Ashlee exclaimed, "Now that is what I call a tree hugger!" Needless to say we had a very good laugh and marveled at that quick wit! One of the rangers explained that the hugger was actually a parasitical growth that was not part of the original tree. Monticello really was a beautiful retreat at the top of the mountains and we did enjoy many beautiful sights at the sites.

We just had to celebrate what a nice Fall this has been. This picture was taken on December 7, 2008 looking out over our back deck. The sun is beautiful and no snow although the forecast for this week says that will come to an end. This made it nice to go to Logan yesterday to celebrate with a Jenkins Christmas holiday. We have had whitetail deer and wild turkeys in the back yard and that is always fun.

While we were on the East coast we took one day and spent most of the day walking old town Alexandria, VA with our local guides. That was one of our favorite days as we could do it in a leisurely fashion and really see the old town. While there one of the highlights was sitting in the actual pew that George Washington and family sat in when they attended church. We also sat where Winston Churchill and Elenoaor Roosevelt sat. It makes history come more alive to see the actual places and reflect on what might have been going on in the lives of those who had gone before. As you can see Grandma kept up with our pace and was right in the middle of all of the activities. We were amazed and her stamina and resilience! It was a fun time!

Fun in the kitchen of the beach house

While we were at the beach Chef Ashlee improvised and found a way to make s'mores using a fork and the kitchen stove. She made everyone s'mores and they were so well done people began tipping her for the excellent service. We think she came back from Oregon with more spending money than she came with. We had hoped to do the s'more happening on the beach but decided later that this was the best way. Sitting in the recliner, having s'mores brought to you when you needed them while watching the waves roll up on the shimmering shore beats sitting in sand and fighting firesmoke any time..

Pirates on the Oregon Coast

While we were at the coast it was a cold, misty, grey, foggy evening and Kyler was impressed with the atmosphere as we sat on the deck of the beach house ovelooking the darkening seascape. He informed us that there was a pirate ship out there and from his demeanor it must have been true. Later on, he had to have a pirate hat to be in character for where he was.

Reunion 2008

This year for the annual reunion we went to the

coast near Lincoln City, OR. It was July but the water was still pretty cool! It didn't stop this crew of valiant water explorers from getting in and experiencing the ocean. We stayed in a beach house that a Holly arranged through a friend. When we got there we had to spend a few hours all pitching in and cleaning as it definitely needed some work. That became part of the adventure so it will remain a good memory. We were missing Todd and Aimee and Jud's family. If they had been there it would have been perfect.

The Trip To Virginia 2008

This Fall we did something we have always wanted to do - see parts of the east coast during the Fall. We were just a little early for the greatest colors of the Fall but it was beautiful nonetheless. Mom (Laura) went with us and it was a great trip. We flew first to Virginia where we were picked up by the intrepid chauffeur Aimee. She showed us how to get lost in Washington D.C. in the dark on the way to their home in Leesburg, VA. Actually she chauffered us all around the whole area and did really well the whole trip. We just had to get in and enjoy. While there we got to see one of Ashlee's soccer games - (what a tornado she is!) and one of tanner's cross country meets ( he is really getting good at running and even more strange is that he likes it! We were able to see the relatives in North Carolina and that was a highlight of the trip. We stayed in Greg and Wendy's guest mansion and experienced southern hospitality at it's best. It was really good to see them again.

We were able to get to the coast at Myrtle Beach and Mom got to dip her toes in the Atlantic. We went to Gatlinburg and the Smoky mountains on our way back to Leesburg. We saw some beautiful sights and enjoyed being with Aimee as she drove the three of us around. On other days we saw the Biltmore mansion, Gettysburg, Mount Vernon, Alexandria, the sights of downtown D.C and the Mall. We enjoyed having Todd, Aimee, Tanner, and Ashlee with us as we went to Monticello.

It's a first for us!

This is the inaugural posting of the Ron and Sue Tolman blog. You can teach old dogs new tricks if you are patient with them! We are getting help from Holly and Kevin as we are staying at their house welcoming the newest addition to our family. They have a beautiful new baby girl named Nora who arrived on November 20, 2008 weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces. We are having fun with Zane and Nora while visiting with Kevin and Holly.