WY Christmas 2018

We were able to go out to Wyoming for Christmas for a wonderful visit.  Owen is at the perfect age for Christmas in that he knows what is going on and to be super excited about anything Christmas.  For the month leading up we had been watching the Christmas classics including Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman.  Owen was concerned that we don't have a chimney here but he was comforted that there is one out at Rod and Ileene's house; aka the "Red House". Our townhouse here is the "white house" and then our house in Afton is the "green house". Owen's favorite Christmas movie is The Grinch and especially loves to watch it with Rod. Milton was rather grumpy with everybody and wouldn't let me out of his sight pretty much.  He would wake up at night and I was the only person who he would settle down for.  After a few days we decided to have him stay at the green house with Damon and I where he did end up sleeping pretty well.  Damon and I were able to spend our 8th anniversary in Jackson on our own.  We went skiing where I did pretty good and feel more comfortable with skiing.  Then we got some Thai food at a hole in the wall place just off the main square.  Then we went to see Aquaman at the movie theater in Afton.  It was a fun day and the kids did well with "Grama Grama".  Owen is slowly picking up the "gramPA" word, but I think it is pretty dang cute that he refers to my mom as Granma and then Rod and Ileene as a set - "Grama Grama". Demetria is still Pink with Trent having the honor of being actually called by his name.  Milton will do a happy jig whenever he sees people he likes and would give Trent and Demetria very good happy dance whenever they came over. We have discovered that Milton loves wearing his snow boots.  He likes to get them on himself and then will go around the house wearing just the one boot. Owen's favorite thing was Rod putting chains on his tractor so he could go better in the snow.  The kids had so much fun.  Damon entertained himself by cutting down trees on the commercial lot and stacking the shack on the lot full of the lumber.  We have asked the Fire Department to burn it down whenever they would like.  I am sure it will put up quite the blaze.

Crystal Grottoes Caverns, Maryland

The Crystal Grottoes Caverns are the only publicly accessible caves in Maryland.  The most notable caves from DC is Luray Caverns in Virginia.  These caverns are right next to the Antietam Battlefield so we have driven by many times but never stopped.  Damon's favorite part of this site was that the tickets are cash only so we are pretty sure this guy is turning a pretty good profit.  It is smaller than Luray for sure, but we liked that it was smaller for taking the kids.  We went to lunch at a cheap diner/store that was also cash only and pretty cheap. It was a fun day. Here is the website:
www.crystalgrottoescaverns.com