Merry Christmas

Canyon came over to me yesterday all cryptic-like and said:

C: I know what to get papa for Christmas.

me: Oh? What should we get him.

C: Some knew running shoes. (Apparently Canyon doesn't know about Papa's closet)

me: That's a good idea.

C: mom, I know what to get nana, too.

me: What should we get her.

C: A book.

I think he pegged it.  So if any of you aren't sure what to get them, now you know.

Happy Birthday Kate and Christian!

Christian,
Here are a few video clips of the girls. I'm sure you are missing them a lot! Happy Birthday!

December 11, 1978

December 11, 1978; a day that will live in Marty's infancy. I'd like to tell this story from my point of view (which was admittedly fairly painless). It was on a day just like this...Dona drove me to school on that day (remember we lived in Hyrum) because she had a appointment with the doctor. At that time, I taught two periods of English at the beginning of the day. I was finished with my English classes and was headed to the PE office. When I got there, the phone in the office was ringing but someone had jammed a pencil where the key goes. I couldn't get in. Just then, the school secretary ripped open the boys locker door and frantically told me that Dona was having a baby...right now! I dropped everything and ran to the front of the school (by the main office) right past Dona and to the car which was parked out front. I got to the car and paused and thought, who was that pregnant lady I just passed in the hall? Eventually I got everything straightened out. We drove to the hospital which at the time was kitty corner from the Logan Temple. While we waited for Marty to be delivered, we watched David Letterman (who at that time had a day time talk show). He was funny and I remember that Marty was delivered without too much trouble (Dona may have a better point of view on that). That afternoon, I went back to school to coach the wrestling team. When I walked in the wrestling room, everyone stopped and looked at me. I said, "It's a boy!" and they all cheered. We had been saving the name, Joseph Martin Reeder (my Grandfather's name), for our first born son. Emily and Daisy were just not right for the name so we just kept waiting. As you know, I never knew my grandfather because he died from a typhus epidemic in 1923 just weeks before my father was born. From what I do know, he was a good man. I'd say that so far, Marty has done right with his name. Happy Birthday Marty!