Hello all!

Things are gearing up for Christmas -- and I hope all had a great Thanksgiving Holiday (those of us in the US, anyway!)

Dw had to work, so I took the boys to the other end of the state to see my folks (and a couple siblings). It is normally 800 miles south on Hwy 101 and/or Hwy 5 to San Clemente, CA -- I've been down those highways far too many times.

Taking advantage of $2 gasoline, we headed due east and hit Hwy 395 just north of Reno and headed down the east side of the Sierras. We camped in Lee Vining Canyon (the eastern access to Yosemite) and in the morning explored the Tufa formations on Mono Lake before getting on the road. We camped again at Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine -- masses of jumbled rocks that the boys love to climb all over. Chances are you have seen these rocks in old westerns, a Star Trek movie and countless 4WD commercials. The stars were wonderful! Two boys slept in the van (the night in Lee Vining was below freezing and they did not want to sleep out under the stars again), so Calder and I just laid there in our bags for an hour or so just marveling at the shooting stars and pointing out satilites -- the temp stayed above freezing.

We got to San Clemente (only 200 extra miles!) in time for a swim in the pool and then dinner. We spent most of the week at the beach. I got some great body surfing in and the boys lived in the water, playing in the waves.

Great turkey dinner, great time with my family. My brother took us to see Bolt (in 3D) in a theater with 21 screens -- really wowed my "country boys"...as did the huge outdoor mall.

Headed home on the Saturday up the coast. Made a few stops to show the boys the house I grew up in, the park I played in as a kid, and farther up the coast, the State Park my family always camped at with a few other families just north of Santa Barabra(and the boys took another swim in the ocean). Drove thru a university that has a great arcitecture program to show Alex who wants to be one. Drove thru SF at night, stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint to check out the City in lights. Arrived home the next day.

Christmas will be less adventurous -- just our family at home. My sister, BIL and one of their sons should arrive on the 27th -- and possible my folks and other sister driving up from the southland (with my aunt in tow) arriving at the same time...if the drive is not too much for the 86 year olds.

So...I hope everyone has a great holiday. Those expecting triplets might wish to visualize future Christmases with a household full of kiddos and love...and enjoy the relative quiet of this one. Exciting times ahead!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR TO ALL!


Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

Merry Christmas to you as well!

We had a great Thanksgiving with family, and it was just a week after that when we got our incredible shock news. My wife had her second ultrasound today (2 weeks later @ week 17) and we found out genders. We are very glad to know before Christmas... 3 boys! (2 identical, 1 fraternal)

Christmas will be a family affair as usual for us, and I think I will be taking your advice and enjoying the relatively quiet day with my wife. Exciting times ahead indeed!

Your poor wife -- she'll be out numbered by males! I only say that because my wife feels that way...LOL! Us guys can be so un-neat!

We did not want to know genders...just a different way of seeing things. Dw was sure there was a girl or two in the mix -- 3 boys was a grand surprise!

Congrats on the news!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/