Stegosaurus left the State of California on December 18th; he apologized to Congresssaurus Triceratops for not having the time to help him and Steve Beaver gather the trees that they wanted to take back to Wyoming with them. Triceratops told him "It is okay, my friend. Thank you for coming, but please stomp forthrightly before you are late getting to West Virginia."

Stegosaurus observed, "I took my friend's advice, and arrived in the State of West Virginia on December 23rd, inst;. I knew that the family reunion of the Ground Sloths, including my friends Widow Ground Sloth and Junior, would be in Greenbrier County, West Virginia where the mammal Colonel John Stewart discovered the Ground Sloth fossil there in the year 1797. He immediately informed then Vice President Thomas Jefferson, which is why it is sometimes called Megalonyx Jeffersonii. The Megatherium was discovered in Argentina in 1788, and classified by Georges Cuvier the following year. The mammals of West Virginia declared The Giant Ground Sloth to be their State Fossil in the year 2008.

As I stomped forthrightly into Greenbrier County, a jubilant Junior Ground Sloth ran up to me, a 20 foot child weighing in excess of 8 thousand pounds. "They grow up so fast ........." I thought.

"Stegosaurus !! I am so glad you are here to celebrate Christmas with us! Mama, mama, Stegosaurus is here !!"

Then Widow Ground Sloth approached me, a full grown Megatherium a little more subdued, but very cheerful.

"Delighted to see you, Stegosaurus !! Thank you for coming !! Welcome for Christmas. You know Junior, let me introduce you to our other family members. We have enjoyed living in our South African Avocado grove; but it is nice to be home again and visiting with our extended family."

"I am pleased to be here and to spend the Holiday with you and yours. Thank you for inviting me," replied Stegosaurus.

"Widow Ground Sloth led me into a wooded grove, where there were many Giant Ground Sloths; Junior followed close behind me," said Stegosaurus.

"Well, I see the party has truly begun !!" Declared a large Ground Sloth drinking from a prepared bowl of Hot Negus. "I invite you to drink with me here, Stegosaurus from this bowl of Negus, and we shall embrace the joy of the Season and welcome the birth of the Lord and Savior !!"

"Stegosaurus, I welcome you to meet my Father in Law," said Widow Ground Sloth.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance," said Stegosaurus, trying to determine how much of the Negus the Giant Ground Sloth had consumed; he certainly was enjoying himself.

"Nice to meet you", said Father In Law. "The real Stegosaurus. Or, are you Stegosaurus Claus?"

"No, my friend, I am not Stegosaurus Claus; Stegosaurus Claus lives in Brazil; I live in Bolder, Colorado, having moved from where I was discovered in Morrison."

"Ah well, nice to meet you just the same. Come, join me in a drink of Negus. I am not as inebriated as I appear. I am approaching 11 thousand pounds; it takes a lot to put me in my cups."

"Very well," agreed Stegosaurus, and he took a drink from the bowl of Negus.

"I assume that Stegosaurus Claus will be here by Christmas," said Father In Law.

"He usually is; and I am sure Junior has been good this year," said Stegosaurus.

"Certainly," said Father In Law. "Come, Stegosaurus, have another drink with me, and then I shall introduce you to my lovely wife, Widow Ground Sloth's Mother In Law."

Stegosaurus took another drink, and Father In Law continued; "It was such a pity when Widow Ground Sloth's husband, my son, became extinct in the California tar pits a few years ago, but your cousin, Kentrosaurus, and later mammal friend Steve Beaver, I hear has taken good care of them and they enjoy their Avocado grove."

"They do," said Stegosaurus. "You have heard correctly."

Then a female Ground Sloth approached Father In Law Ground Sloth and spoke to him.

"Honey, I heard you speak of Avocados and wanted you to know the Avocados imported to West Virginia have arrived for the party, and we can now eat dinner."

"Ah, Stegosaurus! Here she is, my lovely wife, Widow Ground Sloth's Mother In Law. Dearest..." he then said, addressing his wife: "Let us invite our guest Stegosaurus to the Avocado Grove, and we can introduce him to the other Ground Sloths here at our reunion."

"Delightful!" said Mother In Law Ground Sloth. "Welcome, Stegosaurus, and Merry Christmas to you!"

"Nice to meet you, and to you the same," said Stegosaurus. Widow Ground Sloth and Junior Ground Sloth followed close behind, ready to dine on the Avocados that they themselves had brought for the party from South Africa.

"Stegosaurus, let me introduce you to more of our family members," said Widow Ground Sloth. "But first, tell me, would you enjoy an Avocado that Junior and I brought from South Africa ? It was only a few thousand years ago that such delicacies would grow here in the mountains of West Virginia."

"If you have any to spare I would be delighted," said Stegosaurus. "Thank you. I really appreciate your invitation to your family Christmas celebration. I am honored to be here with you."

"We are pleased to have you Stegosaurus," said Widow Ground Sloth. She then proceeded to say Grace before dinner, and thanked all her family and guests as well for coming to spend Christmas with her.

"We are thankful for this dinner, the time we spend together today to observe the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love and friendship of our beloved family and friends near and far across millions of miles and millions of years. Amen."

Stegosaurus and the Ground Sloths ate copious amounts of Avocados right away, and then when they had their fill, Widow Ground Sloth and Junior Ground Sloth both approached Stegosaurus.

"Remember, Stegosaurus, My in laws would like to introduce you to more of my extended family. Will you come with Junior and me?" asked Widow Ground Sloth.

"Yes, of course, " rejoined Stegosaurus.

"Now Stegosaurus, here are two of Widow Ground Sloth's cousins, Cousin the Younger, and Cousin the Older," said Mother In Laws Ground Sloth.

Then, she exclaimed loudly, to get the attention of two Sloths at the far end of the yard: "Cousins, here is the dinosaur you've heard so much about !! Stegosaurus !!"

Stegosaurus was a little embarrassed to have attention drawn to him in such a manner, for the Sloths rushed as fast as they could ( which was still pretty slow, but ) and they seemed delighted to meet Stegosaurus.

"We are so happy to finally make your acquaintance !!" exclaimed Cousin The Older Ground Sloth.

"Well, we are a few million years apart, or so the mammals say," joked Stegosaurus. "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. It has been such a delightful Christmas, the Avocados were delightful. Thank you so much for inviting me to spend time with your family."

"You're welcome," said Cousin the Younger Sloth. "We have heard so much about you; you're an icon of the ages please tell us stories of your adventures. Have you ever met Stegosaurus Claus?"

"I have been asked this many times, but yes I have," said Stegosaurus.

Although embarrassed and shy, Stegosaurus attempted to tell the eager Sloths some of his most exciting adventures, but in humility he spent more time talking about the friends he had made and their contributions to his success.

Like Junior Ground Sloth, the Sloth Cousins were still young enough to attend the arrival of Stegosaurus Claus with much excitement and when Junior heard the mention of Stegosaurus Claus he jumped up and down with his Cousins and danced in circles with each other as they celebrated, a rare moment of excitement for a Sloth.

"Now calm down, children," said Widow Ground Sloth. "Calm down and take a moment to reflect upon the true Reason for the Season and be thankful for all that you have. Being still and reflecting upon the beauty of the world and the blessings we are given by almighty God is proper."

"You are so right, Mama," said Junior Ground Sloth. "It is unfortunate that Woolly Mammoth could not be here."

"Yes, he was invited, but Stegosaurus' cousin Kentrosaurus told me that Woolly Mammoth was meditating at the ruins of Tanis, the Biblical city of Zion. He felt this was appropriate given the significance of the Day to be there and is not aware of our invitation. Kentrosaurus advised us to ask again when Woolly Mammoth returns." explained Widow Ground Sloth. "I am sure he will come to us, or we to him, and be enlightened by his Sermon."

After spending the evening visiting with friends new and old, and overstuffed on Avocados, Stegosaurus took his leave of the party, wishing all a Merry Christmas.

"Will you not stay with us through Christmas?" asked Cousin Ground Sloth the Older. Junior and Cousin Ground Sloth the Younger also asked him to stay but he politely declined.

He was exhausted from the day's activities as well as his earlier visit with Dimetrodon and the other synapsids who live in California. He began to long for his cave in Colorado and the peace and quiet that Woolly Mammoth must now be experiencing.

However the Sloths were very persuasive, and finally Stegosaurus agreed to remain in West Virginia with his Sloth friends for the rest of the night and up until Epiphany.

He was sleeping when Stegosaurus Claus arrived, and therefore did not see his Brazilian friend OR Spinosaurus. He knew Stegosaurus Claus had been because the entire party of Sloths had been given presents of Avocado seeds, Groves of Avocado Trees, or even bushels of Avocados, for those who do not live where the trees may grow and thrive.

Stegosaurus expressed to his friends as he departed that he had never experienced a slower, or merrier Christmas in all his millions of years.