Well, we just got back from our epic trip to California and Utah to visit our families. It was a splendid trip; we began in California, where we threw a surprise birthday party for my mother, who was turning forty-six. After that, we flew to Utah, where we visited with Melanie's family; her parents are going to be in Israel during Christmas, so we were able to celebrate an early Nativity.
Here are some pictures. We visited the Redlands Temple while we were in California...
...and had the whole place to ourselves, since it was a Monday...
..then we flew to Utah. I convinced my mother-in-law to go to a shooting range with me and Melanie (and Melanie's brother, Ryan). 
My wife is lethal:
This shooting range was special, as they had fully-automatic firearms available for rent. I couldn't let the Tommy Gun collect dust...
...that's a zombie target I'm shooting at, in case you were wondering. We also got to play with our nieces and our nephew, Stockton, who is enjoying some binoculars here:
He's a happy kid, and a slobbery one...
...although he often gets a really serious look on his face when a camera is around...
...but we coaxed some smiles out of him.
We also went to our Libby's school program, where she sang...
...and it was really, really cold--they canceled recess because, with the wind chill, it was 3.6 degrees outside. Yikes.Here are Libby and Kally saluting our greatness (Melanie came up with that one):
Actually, I guess they were just playing around, as I am here: with Kally...
...and Libby...
...and Kally and Abby, who jumped me...
...and then there's Bella, who likes a mahogany cayman carving that MIL brought back from Peru...
Stockton liked the ball that we got him...
...and Kally liked her coloring book, featuring princesses and big crayons...
...she seemed grateful...
...while Lindsey and Joseph, up from California, watched...
...and Abby modeled her missing teeth...
...and the siblings all posed. They stayed up 'til all hours.
All in all, a very nice trip. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen (and special)!
