CANYONRATS THREE: January 2009

Maryn's first Christmas. What delight to have a new family member to share this holiday with. Dean and I have always said that when we have a child, we wanted to make sure that Christmas isn't an escapade of tearing through presents which ultimately become meaningless because they drown within the pile of "stuff" under the tree. So, we opted to just get her a few books (ok, and I snuck in some cute new jammies). I'd have to say the family did a pretty good job not going too crazy with her, either, which is shocking because she's the first baby on my side of the family in 20 years, and she's the first granddaughter to both of our parental folks. The best gift she received was all the love given to her by her whole family. And a few shared naps with me!

Maryn rockin' around the Christmas tree at the Penguin Party House.

We had an early Christmas with my dad and Penny, and then over at Nicky and Matt's.

A Gloworm! Yes, folks, they are back and even better!

Um, did you really just put bows on my head mom?

Well, I might as well chirp if I'm going to have bows on my head!

Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Penny gave Maryn some really fun toys!

Papa, Pookers and Poo.

Ruby slippers from Aunt Laurie and Uncle Kelly. Better in the mouth than on the feet is the philosophy.

Tad, the singing frog! This toy from Maddie saved us in the back seat of the truck on the way up to Montana, but we did not play with while in Montana because we needed a bit of withdrawal (Tom is still having nightmares of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star..."!).

Maryn's first doll from Aunt Nicky and Uncle Matt. Julie is an America Doll. She's a hippy from the 70's, so we've ok'ed her presence in the house.

Off to Montana. Mom and Tom drove up with us in Tom's Tundra. Of course they weren't going to miss Maryn's first Christmas. Maryn did amazingly well on both rides, and she got to break in her big girl car seat. Still, 13 hours in the carseat must have given Maryn bleacher butt.

Lots of unique activities to keep Maryn happy on the drive.

Maryn LOVED hanging out with her cousins, 3 1/2-year-old twins Kaden and Kollen. They corrupted her; she now is a Monster Truck addict.

Found a photo of Maryn dressed up as a little boy circa 1974. Oh wait, it's Dean!

Time to go sledding!

Mary has a perfect hill outside her place for baby sledding. We just had to be careful not to end up in the Clark Fork River! Maryn seemed ambivolent to sledding. No smiling. No crying. It just was.

Dean, Ken and I took in a day of boarding/skiing at Snowbowl, just outside Missoula. Conditions were not bad! And for $38/ticket, it was well worth it (for comparison, Vail is now $97/day!).

Christmas Eve at the Paulsons.

Maryn got to meet Santa for the first time on Christmas Eve. As you can see on her face, once again, a sense of ambivolence. She did decide after 1 minute that crying was the appropriate behavior for one's first encounter with Santa.

Christmas morning....Maryn must have known about this Santa thing and him bringing presents because she slept poorly that night and got up way too early. She was kind of a crust bucket while unwrapping presents, but still found eating tissue paper to be a joyous experience!