Home for the Holidays

This Christmas season has been one for the record books. Sarah flew to Sacramento with Scout to visit Grandma and Grandpa Durand then met me in Reno for festivities with the Anderson family. Nevada is a wondrous land full of magical things. Don't believe me? Then come along, I'll take you on an old fashioned Christmas in Reno, Nevada.



First off is the trip from Utah to Reno. In a truck stop bathroom, a guy can get pretty much anything he needs, including a fresh squirt of his choice of cologne for only 25 cents! Feel fantastic! Refresh Yourself!



Our next stop is Great Grandma Dahl's ranch house, snuggled tight against the Ruby mountains in beautiful Northern Nevada. Here's me saying "what's up" to Randolph, the door man.



Besides close friends and family, the next best reason to come to Nevada is that unlike their unlucky neighbor, Utah, they have a delicious place to eat called Jack in the Box. Get on board, Utah!



On Christmas Eve morning, Jordan and Ruth had everyone over for a delicious breakfast. Here's Jordan giving the camera a "thumbs up". What a guy.



Uncle Bill and Aunt Debbie dropped by the Anderson Compound to say hello while we were there. Two of the most lovable people in the region of Northern Nevada.



Scoping out the new house mom and dad are building (or should I say paying lots of money to have professionals build...).



Mom and Dad looking cool in their new "scripture blankets."













Random Cute Pictures Of Scout.

The Many Faces of Scout

Here she is when she's confused.



Here she is when she's happy.


Here she is when she's contemplative.



Here she is yelling at a professional football game on T.V.



Here she is sadistically smiling over the knowledge that her mom and dad change her diaper about eighty times a day. Little does she know that soon we're going to hook her bottom up to a constantly running vacuum to keep things clean.



Here she is wearing the skull shoes that mommy made for her. I'm still waiting for my pair...

A Nice Visit

This last weekend, we had a visit from one of the missionaries who taught Sarah the discussions when she was investigating the church. He is stoked to know that we have gotten sealed in the temple and had a baby and that Sarah is the spiritual strength of the household. On Monday, he took me snowboarding at The Canyons in Park City. What a guy. Also, Andy Szafran has officially moved to Provo, which is awesome! Scout loves having Unkie Andy around and I have a feeling he's going to like it here in Provo. So far, after one day of work, he's already gotten a raise and, in the fear of possibly being gossipy, a nice young lady asked him out the other night and they've hung out a couple times since. Good Work Andy!



Cedric, Sarah, Scout and the former Elder Pennepacker (penny packer).



Cedric and Zac Pennepacker at the slopes.



A Video of Cedric unabashedly sucking at snowboarding.

Lazy Sunday

Today was a nice Sunday. We have had a lot of visitors since Scout was born, but today was a lot more mellow than it has been. Our neighbors/good friends, Shane and Maria Oka, brought us a delicious lunch on their way to church, so that took care of our cooking needs. The rest of the day was mainly taken up with entertaining Scout's every whim. She eats a lot and poops a lot. Somehow, I still think she's cute. I'm not asking other people to think that she's cute, just offering my own humble opinion (if I hear about anyone who doesn't think she's cute, I'll gut them and throw them into a pit full of starving llamas). Anyway, I love spending time with the ladies (Sarah and Scout). Here are some pictures-



Sarah started using the baby back-pack today.



Sarah and Scout baking some cookies even after a long sleepless night. What a couple of Cool Ladies!



I submit that the Enchanted Forest looks even more enchanted when covered in snow.

Not Really News...

I need to at least write this, although many already know- We Are Staying In Utah. We had solid plans to move back to Reno to finish school there and reunite ourselves with our friends and family. My former boss-ladies at Renown Hospital were just waiting to give me my old job back and Sarah was looking forward to living a mere two hours away from her parents. But fate steered us gently back to BYU to the tune of a substantial government grant given to us through the university. Anyway, we're really glad to stay here among so many nice folks and such beautiful scenery.

Dad Thoughts

Being a dad is very cool. I feel a little inadequate at times, but mostly I feel lucky. I can't think of a better mom than Sarah. She's doing a bang up job of it. I sometimes feel like it's a crazy commitment to be a parent. I'm going to have to be the one to reassure Scout that there's no such thing as closet monsters or the boogie man or Rosie O'Donnell, when I'm still not convinced that they don't exist myself. I'm going to have to lie and say that Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy exist (and probably dress up as each... not for my own pleasure, I promise). I'm going to have to watch as she goes on her first date with some guy I already don't approve of, even though he's probably pooping his diaper right now.I'm going to have to veto outfits, turn off the television, stay up late waiting for her to come home safely and even ward off a gang of dangerous gypsies who may try to steal her away to a nomadic lifestyle someday. I'm perfectly happy doing all of this, so long as she doesn't become a hippy. Seriously though, I want her to know foremost of my testimony of Christ and the importance of obedience to his commandments. If she never doubts my and Sarah's testimonies (as I never doubted those of my parents) I feel like we will have done our job right.