Friends with skis, will travel

   We just had a great weekend when our friends from Colorado and Idaho descended on the Big SLC for three days of skiing, drinking, and general shenanigans.  A rented 5-bedroom house at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon, an enormous amount of food, and contraband beer smuggled across state lines--some observations over the past few days...

#1-Luke is an excellent baby ambassador for the offspring-less folks among us (this does not include you, Jenny Southard, who needs no encouragement).

#2-Hot tubs provide for hours of socializing, politiking, and deep, thought-provoking conversation (are personal airplanes really an affordable or intelligent endeavor?).  Unfortunately, it also provided many with an uncomfortable skin rash--can anyone say refund?

#3-The boys did an exceptional job grilling fresh tortillas, the river-famous caprese salad made an unexpected winter appearance, and everyone stuck to their no dessert, low-fat New Year's resolutions (yes, Bryce, at LEAST a whole stick of butter please).

#4-When we say ski trip, that loosely translates to some skiing and a lot of APRES skiing.

#5-After relieving the Patagucci Outlet of all its cool, on-sale threads, we filled up at the Red Iguana on lard-laden, bean rich, mole-flavored mexican food before sending everyone on the road (rest assured there was absolutely no crop-dusting in this well-mannered, polite group during the 5+ hr car ride home).

The snow was good, the company was great, and we escaped mostly unscathed (we are all praying for your speedy knee recovery, Sara).  The plans are already brewing for next year...Telluride, here we come!  Now, if someone in this motley crew can just score a river permit...

Furbabies zero, Real Baby one

  People discuss that the natural progression of adult responsibility ascends from plants to fish to mammals to humans.  In other words, keep a basil plant alive before you try to have a kid.  I am not sure if this reasoning is logical for numerous reasons, but I will present a single argument against it below...
  Our dogs are fairly well-mannered beasts and have definitely graduated from their disastrous puppy phase (certain furbabies more than others--Bailes, you know who you are).  Although they are undoubtedly treat-motivated (ok, slobbering-beasts, voracious appetites), Rica and Bailey tend to be well-mannered around the kitchen.  We can trust them to leave food on counters and tables without constant monitoring, until...
Evidence #1--

Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

   Some of our friends joined us this weekend so I happily worked in the kitchen all day Thursday, making cookies, plastic cheese dip, and chicken chili, leaving the cookies to cool while I ran some errands.  Notice the rows upon rows of double stacked, perfectly cooked, lightly browned delectable delights.  Upon entering the house...

Evidence #2--

   No, Tim was not home with 10 of his closest ortho friends.  No, Luke did not suddenly sprout numerous sweet teeth and inhale 40 cookies.  No, we did not leave our doors unlocked for the cookie monster to come by...
   The dogs managed to gently pluck all of the cookies off in such an organized, calculated manner that they did not drag the whole thing onto the floor and there was not a crumb to be found anywhere.
   Switching gears from our ill-mannered beasts to our prince of a son, you will soon see the logic in my argument.  Kids are so cute, smart, fun, blah blah blah.  Lets be honest, we love them for their cool party tricks.  Repeating anything on command (Bowlins, you know who you are), acting out all the motions to Wheels on the Bus (so much cuter when an 18mo does it, Mark Parrett), and flapping wings (Gracie Lokey is a beautiful bird)--the examples of how we show off our kids as proud parents are endless .  Well, Luke is gathering his own circus side-show ideas and wanted to run this one by everyone.
Evidence #3--

  Look closely, the money is in the details.  Yes, he is gorgeous.  Yes, his clothes are immaculately tailored.  Yes, the monkey is well trained.  But what about the...

   Behold, SPOCK EAR!  It is not glued (although Tim really wanted to), we did not do it on purpose (although we have since tried to replicate it without success), and no animals were harmed in the creation of this amazing event.  Just one of the many spectacularly awesome things babies do all on their own.

  So there you have it, I rest my case.  Dogs are not necessarily a natural easy segue for offspring.  Luke is the perfect kid, where most days we consider pelting our furbabies.  Choose your own progression wisely.