Las Vegas...Snow Day?

The week before Christmas (we've been awfully busy, so we're a little slow on the postings) Las Vegas got snow -- twice.


On Monday (after a cool weekend in which Jason's team played in a local softball tournament), it snowed all day.

And it was real snow, not the typical tiny specks of ice crystals the locals call "snow flurries" in an effort to convince themselves it's really a snowstorm. By Tuesday it was still cold, but a light rain wiped out the snow.


Then on Wednesday it snowed again. And it snowed real snow, again, for all day and all of the night (to paraphrase the Kinks). Around 8:30 p.m., school closures for Thursday were broadcast over television. The cheer from Colin, Carson, and Dylan when they heard news of their first ever snow day was, in a word, loud.

So Thursday they played in the snow on an honest to goodness Las Vegas snow day -- the first for the school district since 1979, which Jason remembers clearly (he was in sixth grade and missed three days of school thanks to a few inches of snow). This time we got around 3 inches at our house, and 6 inches on the western edge of the valley (where Jason works). Being Las Vegas, though, the roads were clear, and the snow was pretty much gone by 9 a.m., but the kids were free all day to play.


School resumed on Friday -- and then the kids left for two week holiday break. One day of school in two and a half weeks is the kind of schedule they can live with.


(That's Carson, Dylan, and Levi in the top photo in front of our house. In the photos below, it's Carson, Dylan, and their good friend Alex in the park behind our house, then Alex and Carson in what's left of their snow fort.)

Levi calls it like he sees it

We've been talking about some of our favorite memories from 2008. One that Jason, Melissa, and Colin continue to laugh about features Levi during a trip the four of them took to Phoenix for one of Melissa's softball tournaments.

It was a big deal that Levi went without Yvonne -- even he says he's a momma's boy -- and he was a little homesick the first day. But he got over it and had a good time with Jason, Mel, and Colin over the course of the weekend (a highlight was Levi's drum solo at the Phoenix Guitar Center -- another story altogether).

As they were coming home they crossed over Hoover Dam just after nightfall. Colin couldn't resist an easy pun: "Hey, look at the dam lights!" Jason followed with: "Yeah, I'm getting tired of driving on this dam road."

Then Levi, from the darkness of the back seat, revealed his true feelings without missing a beat: "I just want to see my dam mom."

Our family Christmas letter

As the year comes to a close, we’re once again thankful for family and friends, good health, the daily challenges that bring rewards and growing experiences, the opportunities to try new things and go to new places, and plenty of fun times and memorable experiences. 2008 also marked our family’s first leap year without a newborn since 1988 – before Jason and Yvonne had even dated. It was a year of milestones and new experiences for all of us – all in all, a rewarding and unforgettable year.

Levi (4) has really grown up in the last year. He has a great sense of humor and a ready smile, and some hilarious expressions, including “what the heck in the world” and “my bad.” He loves being with his friends and playing ball, PlayStation, computer games, and Nerf wars.

Dylan (8) turned eight in November and will be baptized on Jan. 3rd. He played a lot of baseball this year, and was happy he was finally old enough to pitch. He loves good food – he’s a steak and shrimp guy, but will eat anything good – and playing any kind of games.

Carson (11) rules his school as a fifth grader. He plays in the school’s percussion group (they just completed their first concert) and is the safety on the school’s flag football team. He played baseball, where he played every position and really found a home (no pun intended) as a catcher. At home, it’s all about building new things with Legos – which Dylan and Levi then get to play with.

Colin (12) became a deacon this year – and started middle school. He’s enjoying the variety of teachers and courses, especially his media class. He had a good year on the baseball diamond, particularly on the pitchers mound, his favorite spot. A big fan of music (like the rest of us), Colin is learning to play guitar and can play many of his (and our) favorites.

Melissa (16) became old enough to drive and date – we’re not sure which one terrifies us more. Actually, she is a very good driver and has made our life easier by driving her brothers around. On the diamond, she excelled at second base and continues to improve her skills. She also helped Jason coach baseball, and is doing well in her high school classes.

Yvonne continues to keep busy with the everyday demands of being a mom to five active kids (and she racks up the miles on our Suburban). She also continues to work part time and teach a primary class. When she finds some quiet time she reads. She’s a regular at the local libraries, and loves to connect with friends past and present online through their blogs and Facebook pages.

Jason coached the boys in little league and is now coaching fastpitch with Melissa’s former team – the first team he’s coached in a long time that doesn’t include any of our kids. He enjoys being on the field with our kids and their friends (and getting to teach the game he loves), and when he can find the time he takes photos, reads, and figures out songs on the guitar with Colin.

We look forward to 2009 knowing that we will most likely be moving with Jason’s job sometime during the year. We don’t know when or where yet, so we’re approaching it as an adventure that has yet to play out. For whatever happens in the next year (and a lot of what happened last year), you are welcome to read about it on our blog.

We offer you our thanks for being part of our lives, and our best wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a great 2009.

Colin...speechless?

Jason writes:

Colin and I were in Lake Havasu, Ariz., for a baseball tournament this weekend with Colin's teams, the Las Vegas Hawks.

During their first game Colin pitched two innings, giving up just two earned runs against a very good Las Vegas Baseball Academy team.

While taking photos, I noticed that Greg Maddux, the future Hall of Fame pitcher from Las Vegas who just wrapped up a brilliant career that included 355 major league wins with the Cubs, Braves, Padres, and Dodgers, was watching the game along with our opponents' parents. I couldn't wait to tell Colin that Greg Maddux watched him pitch, because Maddux is one of his role models. Colin has read the book "Pitch Like A Pro" by Maddux's long-time pitching coach, and he strives to be Maddux-like -- hit your spots, change speeds, and trust your defense. Needless to say, Colin was thrilled to hear Maddux had been there, and a touch disappointed that he didn't get to meet him.



That night, we went to Mudshark Pizza, a local Havasu pizza joint, for dinner. As we left, I grabbed one of their promotional magnets as a souvenir, which Colin carried along with a pizza box of leftover pizza. As we entered our hotel lobby, a man stopped Colin and asked if he had a number for the pizza place -- it was Greg Maddux! Maddux asked him if the pizza was any good, and Colin was really cool, telling him the pizza was good and giving him the magnet so Maddux could enter it into his cell phone. I was impressed that Colin was so composed -- and then I realized that Colin didn't realize who it was. So I told him.

Colin's jaw dropped, and he was truly speechless -- a situation none of us can recall seeing since he's learned how to talk. Maddux was very cool, smiling at Colin's awe, thanking him for the number, and telling Colin he was glad to meet him.

The chance encounter was the highlight of the weekend (even above playing very well), and the Mudshark magnet is now one of Colin's prized possessions.

A day at the beach

One of the benefits of going to southern California for Melissa's softball tournaments is...visiting southern California. Jason and Yvonne farmed out the boys a couple weekends ago and took Melissa to San Diego for five games over two days at a college showcase tournament.

Games were done early the first day, so we went to Torrey Pines State Beach and enjoyed great weather, a quiet beach, and some hiking trails through the Torrey Pines Preserve. On the way home, we stopped at Mad Madeline's restaurant to sample the cheeseburgers that were voted "California's best." There was no argument from us.

A day at Springs Preserve

Jason's company held its annual picnic this year at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, a relatively new complex of museums and outdoor exhibits at the natural springs where Las Vegas (Spanish for "the meadows") got its name.

We all had a great time. It's a fantastic place to visit, and we all found something we enjoyed -- a movie on Hoover Dam, an indoor flood, games, hands-on exhibits, playgrounds, lunch in the Wolfgang Puck restaurant -- and even after several hours we hadn't done everything we could have.

Happy Halloween/Nevada Day

Halloween is also Nevada Day (insert your own joke here), so the kids get to celebrate Halloween at school the day before, then take the 31st off as a state holiday.

Carson and Dylan dressed as cowboys on the 30th as their school celebrated Nevada Day.

Then, on the 31st, Carson went as a Lego (his favorite toy), Dylan as a ninja (or, as Levi calls him, a non-ja), and Levi as Dash (his favorite Incredible).
Colin, with the all the numbers on his shirt, went as...wait for it...someone you can count on (ba-bump-ding).