For the time being...

I've been having trouble getting some pictures off our camera, so until I can get more stuff uploaded to post about, these cuties will have to do. You might recognize one I made into the big picture I hung in our room.

My new favorite decoration for our new home

This picture took me five minutes to make and cost me $17...that includes the $6 can of spray glue I had to buy for this project but has enough in it for a thousand more uses. I got the idea from Pinterest, of course. You take a picture, put it on a flash drive, take it to Staples, have them print a 2x3 ft. picture--or bigger if you want--in black and white ($2, color is like $88...dead serious). While you're waiting for it to print, pick up a large piece of either black or white foam core board ($9), stop by a craft store (unless your Staples has small cans of spray glue for about $6, but mine didn't), pick up a can of spray glue if you don't have some already, go home, spray the back of your picture with glue, center it and glue it to the board. To hang it, get some wire, yarn, twine, whatever and duct tape it to the back in two places. Done!

P.S. Yeah, I painted that wall. Okay, so Robert did the two coats of primer, but I taped it, did the edging, and did the three coats of red. My first time, too! I've done white on old white before, but this was new for me. I love it.

Snow, school, and stuff

A lot has been going on here lately. I haven't been very good about taking pictures--partly because the batteries in the camera were dead (which isn't much of an excuse because we still have the Xoom tablet that takes better pictures than the camera) and partly because moving is so overwhelming. I got really behind in my school work since it took a while to get our internet hooked up. I am getting back on track, but the poor boys have been really feeling neglected among all of these goings on. I am really looking forward to when I'm done with my classes (these are my last courses for my teacher certification program!) because I plan on spending a lot of time doing the things I love to do: playing with Craig and Ethan, reading to them, reading for myself, baking, going on long walks to discover our new little town, and just being Mom for a while. There are also a few things I really need (and want) to do like potty train Ethan and make a rag rug for our entryway out of the scrap fabric I packed all the way to Idaho and of which Robert said, "Why do you keep this stuff? You never use it!" I really do need a rug, but I think making it will be as much of a "see, I told you so" as it will be useful. I won't have to do anything else until October when I have my nine week student teaching--which I'm looking forward to, but I'm glad it's six months away.

It snowed here off and on during our first week. This has been a very mild winter, they say, for this area. The temperature hasn't gotten much above 60 and is usually more in the 40s and 50s, but I have been very grateful for the weather. One day, earlier this week, it started snowing big, fat flakes and it was coming down pretty hard. Craig and Ethan were eager to get out in it. They've seen snow before (Craig was born in Montana, but he doesn't remember that first winter of his life) when we've visited Robert's mom in Show Low, AZ but they've never really watched it snow before. Craig suited up and was off. He loved it!

Ethan was a little less enthusiastic at first. I don't think he liked the feeling of the snow flakes on his head. It took me a little while to find his jacket, hat, and gloves so his first time venturing out into the snowfall was a little chilly for the poor kid.

A couple of hours later we had a good inch or so on the ground and they wanted to go back out and play. This time we got them both ready for the snow and they had fun playing in it for a little while. A very little while, but I think they did great for a couple of Arizona kids.

And then yesterday, Ethan decided he wanted to go out in the backyard and we didn't know it. It's been relatively warm the last couple of days so he felt pretty good about dressing himself and going out.

They say you lose the most warmth through your head and feet, so at least he's has those covered.

The big move

We have moved and are still settling in here in Rigby, ID. A lot if going on still. This has been a crazy, drug out kind of move and I will be SO glad when everything is in its place and life is bumping along again. It's time like these that make grateful for ruts. Luckily, my mom has been here and was a great help with us on the drive up here and painting/unpacking the last couple of days. We are sad to see her go tomorrow and still with so much left to do, but I guess every little birdy must leave the nest (us, not her. :)). I will be back, hopefully with pictures, as soon as I can.

Enchanted Island

We've been here for almost three years and have never been to this place called Enchanted Isaland. It was awesome! It's a huge, beautiful park in Phoenix that has all kinds of rides made for kids who are under 56 inches. Ethan barely made the minimum height requirement, but he made it and had SO much fun. We even got a coupon so it was only about $10 per kid for an all day pass. We didn't need to ride with them, so we only got enough tickets for us to ride the train (which I didn't get any pictures of). It's too bad it took us so long to find this place and get there because now we're leaving. Craig's been begging to go back ever since so we might have to squeeze in one more trip in the next week and a half.


The boys LOVE helicopters and planes so they were all over these rides. Craig actually rode the airplane ride twice. Can you see them in the red plane? It was hard to get a picture of them together since the planes flew up higher than us.

I think the bumper boats were their favorite. There was a kid standing in the pool (which was only about a foot and a half deep) pushing all the boats around. There was nothing electric or paddle-like about them. Even though they moved the steering wheel like it actually worked.
I think this was a big favorite.

Craig was the most excited about the Dragon Wagon. He's seen roller coasters on TV shows and always said he wanted to ride one. I wish I could have gotten a good picture of them during the ride (this was at the beginning). Ethan had his little hands clenching the sides with all his strength but was laughing and happily screeching and smiling the whole time. Craig just look worried. Once in a while he would smile, but with a furrowed brow. It was pretty funny. When they got off Craig said, "I didn't like that one!" No kidding.

And here's Mister Smiley Face Baby. He just likes to sit in the stroller and charm everyone standing around him. He'll fix his gaze on someone who's not looking at him and just stare, with his little cute smile, until they feel his eyes upon them and look to see who's staring them down. But then they can't resist smiling and talking to him. He's such a great little baby.

A crazy Valentine's Day

We had a bit of a scare earlier this week. Robert had some very minor chest pains on Monday morning. He actually didn't want to call it "pain" it was so mild, but then they came back a little stronger on Tuesday morning so he went into NextCare. They did an EKG and said there was an abnormality and that he should go to the ER. At the ER they ran some blood tests and said that there was a protein in his blood that appears when there is damage done to the heart. The ER nurse told us that he would be admitted to the heart hospital for 2-3 days, he would see a cardiologist, and he would be on medication for probably the rest of his life. Basically, what she was saying in "code" was he had some sort of cardiac episode or heart attack. Right after they moved him out of the ER to the new area, two guys from the ward came and gave him a blessing. In this 24 hour observation area, they did more tests and two different CAT scans. Anyway, after the blessing and for the rest of that day and into Wednesday morning, he got back a bunch of more test results with everything coming out perfectly fine and clear. His arteries were clean, the irregularity in his heart was gone, the protein levels were diminishing, and they had no concerns. So, he was sent home yesterday afternoon. It was a crazy and hectic way to start the week and we missed Valentine's Day, but at least everything turned out okay in the end.

Family Home Evening topic book

Boy, I'm on a posting spree! I don't think I've posted this much in a long time...over a year? Anyway, I got an idea from Pinterest. I saw this (follow the link) for a quiet book. My kids are far too young and far too destructive for something like that, but it gave me an idea. I struggle having Family Home Evening with a three- and a two-year-old. I've been needing something quick to pull out, interesting to them, and on their level. I've tried printing off lessons from the nursery manual, but those take too much effort to remember to do, find the pictures that go along with it, and keep them interested. I've done a story out of the children's Book of Mormon, but Ethan just wants to commandeer the book to "read" it and Craig isn't interested by those pictures. When I saw this quiet book, it all came together. I would put them on card stock, laminate them, and bind them with a book ring! Then, on Monday, when I've prepared nothing and at 7:05pm I remember we need to do Family Home Evening, I can pull these puppies out, flip it open, and voila! Something to read on their level, a picture to go with it, and pretty darn kid-proof, too. Here's the final result:


I'm really happy with how they turned out. For being someone who likes to craft and create things, but has a hard time thinking of things like this on my own, I'm pretty impressed with myself for being able to adapt this to something I can not only use but something I've really been needing. Anyway, there you go! Feel free to copy the idea, if you like. :)

6 months already!

Today Grant is 6 MONTHS OLD! I love this stage of baby-hood, but I hate how fast it goes. I ask him everyday to stay just as he is and never grow up, but he is already disobeying me. Here are some things I love about him:

-He's taken to sucking is thumb the minute I turn off his bedroom light, sit in the rocker, and he plucks his little head on my shoulder at nap or bed time.
-He's a snuggler when he's tired, and only with me. :)
-He looks so much like Craig to me, but I see Ethan in him, too.
-He's so sweet and easy and has been sleeping AWESOME lately.
-He's a momma's boy.

Of course, there's more, but I'll wrap this up with an impromptu picture of brotherly love.

"Mom, the shopping cart beat me up."

Can you see his eye? I told Robert that Craig was acting up at the store and wouldn't listen, so I socked him. Robert had a look of not really believing me but wondering if it might be a possibility, and if so, what would he do? But then I told the truth: Craig was bouncing, skipping, running, and looking at where he had gone and not where he was going (in typical Craig fashion) when he ran into me (not realizing I had stopped and was starting to turn down an aisle), tripped over the back of my foot, and fell head first toward the cart. His eye hit the metal part above the wheel as hard as a 45 pound three year old can hit with that kind of momentum. Poor guy. I was sure that when he pulled his head away from my shoulder, there was going to be blood. But, nope. We were lucky.

Our cat, the dragon

We have a cat, remember? I realized how much I don't say about her compared to when we first got her. I think the last time I posted anything about her was about three years ago. Maybe it was sooner, but she deserves a little face time. Here she is:

Just kidding. But someone told me once how she reminded them of Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon and I haven't gotten over it. Maybe it's her green eyes, sleek black fur, and her mystique that she likes to think she has. Or it could be how she points her ears back and looks at you from the sides of her eyeballs, all the time facing straight ahead, in a look I've always (even before the movie came out) referred to as her "dragon ears" look. You just don't know if she's going to playfully run away or rip you to shreds. No, really, she's great. She lets Craig hold her and Ethan gives her kisses and she's very tolerant. But there is an uncanny resemblance:

Is it me? I don't think so. I've thought about changing her unofficial name (Lucy), to stop calling her Kitty, and to go with Toothless.

We love our Toothless!

The Exhibitionist and the Streaker

Ethan's not a fan of clothing. He tolerates it when we're out (thank goodness) but once we walk in the door, or as soon as he wakes up in the morning, he strips down to his diaper. We've only been able to get him to keep his diaper on due to a period of using duct-taping. Sometimes, however, he just can't resist the temptation to go "all naturale." We were watching a movie the other day when Ethan literally jumped into the living (he's really into jumping, too, or "flying" as he calls it), wearing nothing but this rockin' red guitar around his neck, shredding away. I busted up laughing, and then he jumped onto the ottoman and continued his performance, totally into playing his guitar, so I had to take a picture.


Craig isn't brave enough to stand there and "exhibit"...he prefers to streak. Life with boys...I never thought it would be so....naked.

My "Mother' arms

I remember watching my mom knead bread when I was a kid. I remember when I finally got tall enough to stand at the counter and try it myself and realizing how hard it was. I would watch her knead that dough over and over again, for a good ten minutes and didn't know how she could do it. I figured she was just older and when I got older I would be able to. But then I got older. I was in college and tried my hand at making bread all by myself. After about three turns, I was wiped out. Yesterday, I was making bread again, which I only do every so often these days. I was kneading, listening to my Jim Brickman CD, and thinking about stuff. Then it dawned on me...I'd been kneading for over five minutes and wasn't the least bit tired. Then I started wondering why that way. I realized that I had been making bread every so often for several years and could knead just like my mom did. What had changed in the last ten years since my weak-armed college days? The answer is Motherhood. I think we get so preoccupied with life with kids, all the chaos going on every day, and we don't realize how our bodies are getting stronger with every overstuffed laundry basket, every car seat carrier containing a 20 lb. baby, every 45 lb. three year old (in my case) that needs help seeing over the window sill. The kind of strength that motherhood brings isn't visible (I certainly can't SEE any biceps and the baby weight does a good job camouflaging anything else). The evidence is in the day to day work. After all this time, I have "Mother" arms!

Roasted Garlic and Tomato Soup

I made this soup last night for dinner and we LOVED it. Robert said it was better than any soup they've made at any restaurant he's worked at. The recipe calls for a lot of red pepper flakes but I only added about half of what it calls for. It was still pretty spicy and I think next time I might just eliminate them altogether. But do whatever floats your boat. I got it from Tasty Kitchen, so here's the link: Fiery Roasted Garlic and Tomato Soup. I also might reduce the number of croutons used to make the soup more soupy. It's pretty thick and hearty as the recipe has it written, but if that's what you want, go for it.

My first time

We got new couches this week. In typical I Love Lucy fashion, when we walked into our living room after picking out the couches, we were disgusted. The end tables I once lovingly picked out on Craigslist, the mixed and matched "entertainment center" that we previously has taken pride in, were now eye sores. One day they were beloved, the next they were scorned. Like Lucy, I could not possibly be able to purchase all new furniture. So, instead we bought some stain, I broke out the sander, I rolled up my sleeves, and went to work. In less than 24 hours (and in between meal times, nursings, during nap times, and after the park), I turned this:

into this:

Only one end table, two bookshelves, and a TV stand to go! (Okay, maybe one end table and then we'll see.) I think it turned out pretty well for my first time ever tackling a project like this myself.

Next, I'll showcase our new couches! They're wonderful. :)

Guess who's almost six months old?! In a couple of weeks, a half year will have passed since my little baby came into the world. I am truly amazed. But I always say that. I usually wait until after the six month mark before starting a baby on solids, but this little guy has been different. For a couple of weeks now he has been so interested when we are eating. If he's sitting on my lap and I put something in my mouth, he practically breaks his neck as he flings himself backward and twists his head around to watch me do it. On top of that, other things have been changing with him. He used to sleep between 5-8 hours a night without waking up for a feeding. Lately, I can barely get him to go four hours. Also, he used to never blow out diapers. They were just more...solid. Now, though, they are getting more icky and he's been blowing out several times a week. It's almost as if his body is using up anything "solid". Anyway, long story short, (actually, I gave you the long story and now I will repeat it in a shorter version, making it longer altogether :)) I think he's ready for solids.

Last night I started with the basic: rice cereal mixed with water. Grant thought it was great. He loved mushing it around in his mouth. He didn't eat much, but it was a start. :)

Craig wanted to take some pictures but all the ones he got of Grant eating were blurring since Grant moves so much. Then he took this one of Ethan and me. I've had my hair cut and this is little preview of my bangs. Stay tuned for more on another day.

He's so happy...I guess he liked it.

Fun at the bowling alley with kids

So, we took the boys bowling. Of all the things I imagined could happen (rather, of all the things that could go wrong), I never could have guessed what transpired that night. In the end, it really was fun and worth doing again, the bowling part I mean. Just another night in our lives with children. They make life an adventure, that's for sure. Here's the low down:

We were on our way to the bowling alley at about 5:30 and as a last minute thought, Robert called our home teacher/friend to see if he wanted to meet us there with his two girls. They said they would be there. Right about then, Craig said his stomach was hurting, but nothing came of it. When we got to the bowling alley, I took him to the bathroom with me. After saying his stomach was hurting again but insisting he didn't have to poop, he pooped. In his pants. Just a little, but it still meant he needed clean underwear and pants, of which I had neither. Of all the three boys that I should have been prepared with extra clothes and diapers for, Craig was the least of my concerns. I pulled the only diaper I had out of the diaper bag (one of Grant's, a #3, of course) and stretched it around Craig. He laughed and said it was really small.

Our friends had just come and Craig was insisting he felt better now (he had gone more on the potty) and cried when I said we had to go home to get him some clean clothes. We were about 15 to 20 minutes from home. By now, Grant was getting hungry but I had to rush out and find the nearest Walmart or Target to buy some diapers and pants. We had no idea where either was in the neighborhood. I have never encountered a location in the entire Greater Phoenix area that was more than a mile from either a Walmart or Target, until last night.

I went to leave when Ethan began to cry, so I took him with me. I got to the door, but realized Robert had the keys. Ethan started crying and saying he wanted to go bowling with Daddy. Sigh. After getting the keys and driving within one block of Walmart, I realized that Robert had the debit card. I turned around and went back. I got the debit card, got to Target (after realizing that there was a Target closer than the Walmart I was originally going to go to), got the stuff, and went back. By the time I got back to the bowling alley, Grant was screaming (no one could hear him among all the bowling noise, but it was still sad), but the kids were having a great time. Craig LOVES bowling, even when wearing his baby brother's diaper with no pants and bowling shoes. Robert got Craig changed and dressed, I fed Grant, we bowled a game, ate popcorn, and the one I was most worried about being hard to handle (Ethan) occupied himself by playing with the arcade games by our seats and cheering for everyone. A night that started off badly and, if it weren't for our friends showing up, would not have happened at all, turned out well.

I still don't know what the problem was with Craig. The only thing I can think is that he had had several cups of juice that day and one the day before. Before he was potty trained, I used to have to limit and water down his juice intake because it would make him have really nasty diapers. While he was potty training, giving him a cup of juice helped him go. I think this time he had just had too much.

Anyway, I'm sure you don't want to know anymore about that. But, like I said, life with kids is an adventure and this one turned out alright in the end. No pun intended.

Happenings

I haven't been great about taking pictures lately and documenting life. I am sitting here, watching Fraiser on Netflix, and taking this opportunity to update my online "journal" (and you, my friends and family) on what we're doing over here in the Leal household.

About a week and a half ago, Robert started his classes online with BYU-Idaho. He's taking a few generals, but most importantly he's taking the first part of Human Anatomy and Physiology. It's a really challenging class and he's really dedicated to pulling an A out of it. We're really excited about this new chapter in our lives. We've found a great little house in Rigby and plan on moving sometime around the 29th of Feb. or the 1st of March (right after we see Wicked on the 28th--there's so much to look forward to in life!). It's right next door to some people we knew in Montana, too! I dread the moving process, but I am excited for being reunited with some old friends up there. I really loved Rexburg and the years I spent there.

My classes started last Monday. I am taking all the rest of my EDU courses so I can do my student teaching this next fall. It's only 13 credits, but for someone who's been taking 6-7 credits every semester for the last three years, it seems a bit daunting. I can do it, though, since much of the time commitment for this semester is in practicum hours that I plan to have done before we leave. Robert and I have been trying harder, though, to spend some quality time together. We went bowling a couple of nights ago for the first time in a VERY long time and it was really a lot of fun. I think it just might become our standard date night activity. Especially since now we're moving near Rexburg and cheap bowling at the school. :) What's this world coming to, anyway, when you have to pay $4 per person per game, plus the cost of shoes? We also spent $.75 on a game of pool which I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Craig is growing up, thank goodness. He's becoming more cooperative every day. He has his bad days and moments, of course, but I have a feeling that we've come out of the woods from the terrible twos and threes. He'll be four in a few months and I think this might be our best year together, yet. I love that he can take direction and can understand why things have to be certain ways. He asks a thousand questions per second and one of his favorite things to do is torment Ethan and making him scream. But that's what brothers are for.

Ethan is certainly embracing his two-ness. He is still a sweet, cuddly little boy, though. Craig was all physicality at that age and Ethan thinks everything is a game---usually "Chase." Every nap time, bed time, lunch time, grocery trip, and Sacrament meeting turns into "You Can't Get Me." The worst part is his little laugh is so infectious, it's hard not to smile back and inadvertently encourage him. And it's the saddest thing in the world to have to put him in time out when he actually does something wrong...like the time he whacked Craig so hard on the head with a Wonder Pets Fly Boat that it actually bled (Craig was antagonizing him, but still). Ethan is so wounded when he's in trouble. It is a little refreshing though. When Craig got into trouble at that age, he would just think our stern voices and frowning at him was funny and laugh at us. I don't know where he got that from. :)

Grant, of course, is adorable. Plain and simple. He's getting really interactive now. He turned five months old this last week. He's really gotten into toys and noticing things going on around him. He's a pro at sitting in his exersaucer thing and pushing the buttons and turning the little disco ball. He gets excited and very vocal when he sees me and is a sweet, hug-able, loving, perfect little baby. His sleeping habits have changed, though. From day one, most nights of the week he'd go to sleep at about eight and I wouldn't hear from him until almost three or four in the morning. Now, though, about four nights a week he'll wake up to eat at 11 and then again at four. Then he'll stir at about 6am, but I can bring into bed with me and get him to sleep until about 7:30, if Craig and Ethan let us go that long.

All in all, things are moving along in life. I guess you can see why I haven't been posting much lately. There's not much to report. I find myself taking each day one at a time, moment by moment. I've discovered that's the only way I can remain sane and maintain a shred of patience with three little kids and full time school. I know plenty of people out there who are dealing with a lot more in life than me, and I guess it's that thought that keeps me going and it keeps me from too much self-pity. In fact, it's that thought that makes me look beyond the moments and at the big picture of things to see all my blessings and all the good moments of every day and overlook the trials. Like today, for example. Robert had to spend the day at the hospital with his mom and some serious medical problems of hers (another factor of life we've been dealing with lately) so I had to go at it alone at church. Moments were tough (like dragging Craig literally kicking and screaming down the hall to primary), but the overall experience turned out better than one would expect. The best part was when I was visiting with another mom in the mother's lounge. She and her husband recently adopted a baby with Downs Syndrome back in August after nine years of trying to have their own children. She has been really struggling with adapting to life as a new mom (after only about a week ofg preparation when most of us have nine months to prepare) and the health troubles and scares that come with this particular little boy. On top of that, she miraculously became pregnant so she has been dealing with all of these things among all the hormones and sickness that comes with it. Of course they're extremely happy, but it's a trying time in life nonetheless. She then says to me how impressed she is with how well I handled the boys by myself today and she enjoys watching me during church because I have such patience with them. I have to be honest and tell her that what she sees at church is BY FAR my best behavior and don't be deceived by my composure. But I must admit, hearing her tell me that watching me gives her confidence--that if I can handle three boys under the age of four in Sacrament meeting then she feels like she can do what this next year has in store for her, too. What is life about, if not that? Gaining confidence and learning from others around us, living each moment the best we can (which is sometimes not good at all), only to find that we in turn help lift and inspire others just by doing the best we can each moment.

Well, I think I have waxed philosophical long enough. Kudos to those of you who have made it all the way through this post. I think this one is definitely more for posterity than anything else, but here it is anyway. Thanks for listening. (Gosh, I've been watching too much Frasier.)

The first week of 2012

It has been quite a week over here at our house. The above picture was the last carefree picture taken before The Onset. We hadn't braved a real restaurant with the kids in a very long so we decided to go out to Joe's Crab Shack one night early this week. We'd never been there and the kids like shrimp and such, so we thought it would be a good choice. Robert got a crab pot of crustaceans and here he is with one of his victims. Craig thought it was great. He loves visiting the live lobsters at the grocery store so I wasn't sure how he was going to take it. Surprisingly (or not), he had no problem watching Robert dismember and consume one of Craig's little water-buddies. The night went well, for the most part. As well as can be expected. It was a picnic compared to what came next.

That night, and for the next week, someone was throwing up. It started with Craig, then me, then Ethan, and finally Robert, who actually got by with only a touch of the virus. Grant had an extra icky spit up yesterday and he was kind of fussy, but I think that's the extent of it for him. The day I was sick I was totally out of commission. The kids seemed to deal with playing and throwing up between games like it was nothing. I, however, was laid out on the couch or in bed the entire day, barely able to move. Where does all the energy go when you grow up? I have never felt this bad with the stomach flu before and I am certain it's because it's the first time I've had since hitting 30. They say that physically, it all goes down hill from here. Great.

I was lucky that Robert didn't get hit as hard as the rest of us (he's only 29) so he was able to step in and be "mom". He really helped out a lot and I was able to get the rest I needed. I still feel a little queasy and I'm on day three, I think. That's the worst part of it, for me. The queasiness is lingering. On the up side, I've lost five pounds!

Well, that's the report from me and the boys for now. Today is Craig's first primary party! I can't believe he's in primary already. Before I know it, I'll be posting about his first day at school. But enough of that. On to the primary party!

Christmas Train

We went back to our favorite train park this year for a Christmas train ride. The boys loved it so much last year and it really got us into the holiday spirit. We thought the line was long last year, but this year was MUCH more difficult. We got through it, though, and had fun. It was chilly out that night, but we were bundled up and ready for the worst winter weather we've experienced in Arizona so far: temperatures in the 40s!


While waiting in line, they have some little distractions for the kids.


Our turn, finally! I don't know how many times I said to Craig that night, "We have to stay here and wait our turn." But when our turn came, boy, was he excited!

I really hope there are some miniature trains somewhere nearby where we'll be living in Idaho. These kids just love 'em and they're all over down here.

December 23--Mesa Temple

I wanted to do something on the 23rd this year to commemorate Joseph Smith's birthday, so we decided to make that the night we went to see the temple lights. I love having a temple close by so we can do this every year and am looking forward to moving to Rigby so can go to TWO temples next year. Who knows...maybe we'll even make the trek to Salt Lake (pun intended) to see those lights. I've never been there at Christmas. It really helped me get into the spirit of Christmas. It's always so beautiful. It was actually a little chilly, too, that night and almost the whole week before Christmas.

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I think it's funny what the flash does to Grant's eyes--it makes him look like a deer in the headlights.