We left for Idaho on Sunday before Christmas because we had an Eagle Court of Honor that Derek was emceing for on Saturday night.( He even presented the Eagles ) We just lounged around that day then that night it started to snow... and snow...and snow.
We did some last minute running on Christmas Eve and were it not for the skilled driving of my retired policeman father in law we would have had an unhappy Christmas. I also learned something interesting about Idaho Falls. They don't plow the roads until the snow stops falling and since it really didn't stop falling they really didn't start plowing. Christmas day it didn't snow and the sun actually came out but apparently they didn't want to ruin anyone's Christmas because no body plowed. The day after Christmas we went out to lunch and I said "Man they STILL haven't plowed?" to which Derek replied "They did plow" and I said "No, there's a big barricade of snow in the middle of the road" Apparently that's how they plow. It wasn't until we got further along and noticed farm equipment on the side of the road that I started to understand. The machines they use to plow the road look like the machines they use to make the mounds that they plant the potatoes in. I found out later that after they make the piles in the middle of the roads they come along with a baling type machine that picks up ( and bales?) the snow. It's easy to forget in the relatively large city of Idaho Falls that you really are in the heart of potato farm country. Interesting.
Anyway, it is one of Derek's family's few longtime Christmas traditions to go to The Sizzler on Christmas Eve for dinner. I was really excited for the festivities to begin because it's been really hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year for me. I've been preparing for Christmas largely by myself this year and it has seemed more a chore than a cheer. So we bundled up and headed out into the snow.
We got into the parking lot around 6:10 and walked up to the door where a sign was posted that said something to the affect of "We are closing at 6:00pm for Christmas Eve...Sorry for the inconvenience." We were SOO bummed. We franticly tried to think of somewhere ( anywhere!) that would be open on Christmas eve night. We drove around to a few places with no luck. On the way home we saw a Chinese restaurant that was open, which I thought would be funny ( Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra) but Derek's brother isn't a Chinese food fan, so that was out. We ended up eating Jack in the Box burgers. It was no juicy steaks or tantalizing salad bar but it was good. And after eating we felt much better. Hyrum and his Grandpa enjoyed a quiet sit by the fire. Hyrum loves to watch the fire in Derek's family's pellet stove. Even when it wasn't going he'd look at it ever so often to make sure he wasn't missing it and when it was on he'd strain to see it. and then sit there transfixed. :)
Alls well that ends well but I'm sure this will be remembered as the year Sizzler was closed and we will always call before 6 to make sure they will be open.
We did some last minute running on Christmas Eve and were it not for the skilled driving of my retired policeman father in law we would have had an unhappy Christmas. I also learned something interesting about Idaho Falls. They don't plow the roads until the snow stops falling and since it really didn't stop falling they really didn't start plowing. Christmas day it didn't snow and the sun actually came out but apparently they didn't want to ruin anyone's Christmas because no body plowed. The day after Christmas we went out to lunch and I said "Man they STILL haven't plowed?" to which Derek replied "They did plow" and I said "No, there's a big barricade of snow in the middle of the road" Apparently that's how they plow. It wasn't until we got further along and noticed farm equipment on the side of the road that I started to understand. The machines they use to plow the road look like the machines they use to make the mounds that they plant the potatoes in. I found out later that after they make the piles in the middle of the roads they come along with a baling type machine that picks up ( and bales?) the snow. It's easy to forget in the relatively large city of Idaho Falls that you really are in the heart of potato farm country. Interesting.
Anyway, it is one of Derek's family's few longtime Christmas traditions to go to The Sizzler on Christmas Eve for dinner. I was really excited for the festivities to begin because it's been really hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year for me. I've been preparing for Christmas largely by myself this year and it has seemed more a chore than a cheer. So we bundled up and headed out into the snow.
We got into the parking lot around 6:10 and walked up to the door where a sign was posted that said something to the affect of "We are closing at 6:00pm for Christmas Eve...Sorry for the inconvenience." We were SOO bummed. We franticly tried to think of somewhere ( anywhere!) that would be open on Christmas eve night. We drove around to a few places with no luck. On the way home we saw a Chinese restaurant that was open, which I thought would be funny ( Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra) but Derek's brother isn't a Chinese food fan, so that was out. We ended up eating Jack in the Box burgers. It was no juicy steaks or tantalizing salad bar but it was good. And after eating we felt much better. Hyrum and his Grandpa enjoyed a quiet sit by the fire. Hyrum loves to watch the fire in Derek's family's pellet stove. Even when it wasn't going he'd look at it ever so often to make sure he wasn't missing it and when it was on he'd strain to see it. and then sit there transfixed. :)
Alls well that ends well but I'm sure this will be remembered as the year Sizzler was closed and we will always call before 6 to make sure they will be open.
2 comments:
Nikki said...
Idaho Falls- interesting thought processes up there. Not very safe though I think. Kind of wish we had more snow out here- not really enough to play in lately.
Maybe Jack in the Box can be the new Christmas Eve dinner tradition. :)
Maybe Hyrum thought the stove was a TV and he was waiting for a show to come on :D
Holly said...
I remember one year that we were in Utah for christmas and had the same experience driving around on christmas eve. Nothing was opened. Not even gas stations! Then on christmas morning, we drove around to see what was opened and what people that don't have families do on christmas. It was really boring. I think that was the year we got up took down the tree and had everthing put away before breakfast... Oh well. It is a memory! :)