Baby in a Box

Orange Season

It's that time again!

Cruisin

Went for a drive the other day in our neighbor's convertible. Did a little shopping, lunch outside and cruised around in the warm sunshine.

Christmas Money

The kids got a little spending money for Christmas and while at the mall last Friday they found a couple things they would like. So we went home, counted our savings and went back Friday night with daddy to make their purchases. Pete could hardly take a nap he was so excited to go back and get his Buzz. How fun it is to watch your children help with chores, save their gift and allowance money, and buy their first toy.

Here is a pic of Pete getting his money out of his backpack at the Disney Store register. And the Buzz he came home with.

Jamie originally wanted a Minnie phone but after finding this Tangled Rapunzel music jewelry box she was smitten. Jamie loves this box and I love watching her open it and watch Rapunzel spin around so beautifully. Not only is Tangled one of our favorite movies but Rapunzel is a fun princess to love.

She did buy this Pooh Bear cup also but after using it at dinner in the mall we took it back before we even left. It leaked like crazy out the top air hole and that just wasn't going to work for Jamie.
Playing with is new Buzz at dinner at Johnny Rockets after the big purchase. He was so excited. Doesn't get any better than this.

Christmas Dinner

Spent Christmas evening with Uncle Bob, Aunt Edna, Dan and Joyce. It was nice to be around family on this special day. Dinner was awesome and we all ate way too much. I served a yummy ham, cheesy potatoes, fresh green beans, rolls, cornbread, strawberry jello salad, and fruit. The kids enjoyed the company and it was the perfect end to a wonderful first Christmas in AZ.

And my silly girl who would wait for the train to get under her and sit on it! :)

Favorites

Jamie's favorite gift, a new baby from Santa. It doesn't matter how many she has, she loves them all.

Pete's favorite gift was a Cars fishing pole from Santa. He has been fishing in the pool all day, and all evening. And in his sleep probably.....

Daddy got a new fishing pole too.

Christmas Fun

My best friend Kristyn sent us a wonderful package of Christmas gifts this week. It came on a day when Jamie was still really sick and we needed a pick me up. The kids got ornaments, an owl for Jamie and a moose for Pete. They also got Tic Tacs, which they loved, and sugar cookies hand made by Kris' 5 kids! I got a cute shirt and socks. We were very excited about our fun gifts and especially loved the picture she sent of us the whole family.

Tic Tacs!!!!!!!

My friend Erin stopped by on her way up to Flagstaff. She is spending the holiday up there with her family then spending the night back here on her way back to CO. So fun to get to see her before, and after, Christmas! We are so blessed to still be so close after so many years apart. And she is pregnant with her first baby due in July!!!!! Can't wait.

This snowman wreath came from our neighbors Mike and Lisa. Lisa brought over a bag of goodies for us yesterday and helped me wrap some large items for the kids from Santa. Jamie thought this wreath was a necklace and laughed while walking around with it around her neck. They also got a game and a light up snowman. I got a beautiful candle that smells sooo yummy.

Our other neighbors Roger and Eve brought over a basket full of gifts for the us. Our amazing neighbors have totally spoiled us this year! The kids had so much fun opening it and loved all the fun things they got. I even got some new Christmas hand towels and Starbucks coffee. I was happy!

P. has joined a bible study called Desert Christian Archers which is a bunch of bow hunters who get together once a month and do a study and fellowship. DCA had a Christmas party on Tuesday night and we all went. It was a lot of fun. There was TONS of food and we sat by some of our neighbors that we didn't know attended the group. They had presents for the kids and we brought white elephant gifts and had an exchange with the adults. Pete got a bow and he was so excited about it!

This morning, on Christmas Eve day, we went to the park and fed the ducks then played at the playground for a while. It was a beautiful day, 65 or so and sunny. Jamie has no fear of all the ducks that completely attack her for her crackers. Afterwards we went to Pei Wei for some yummy Chinese food. Could be a new Christmas Eve tradition. We are trying to fit in hiking at the preserve into our new Christmas traditions too. Next year hiking will either be on Christmas Eve day or Christmas day after opening presents and having breakfast.

Merry Christmas to all our loved ones. We are very excited about our first Christmas in our new home in AZ.

Angel

Our little angel from heaven decorating the tree.

Happenings

Jamie shopping at Walmart.

Poor sweetie at the doctors for an ear infection. She doesn't look too sick, that was before it got worse.

Kids opening an early Christmas present from some wonderful friends in MI.

Thumbs up watching Frosty the Snowman on TV with dad.
These boys are the best of friends.
My goofball sweetie pie.

Christmas Photo Shoot

These are some other favorites that didn't make it to our Christmas card.

Our Drive to the Polar Express

Let's just say we do not miss driving in snow. Our drive up to the Polar Express was a stressful, white knuckled, scary, frustrating, and long 4 + hours for everyone. Thank you God for getting us there safe and on-time.

Thankful for our DVD player also! The kids didn't even know what was going on. Pete did ask a couple of times why we were stopped on the freeway and once why it was such a long drive.

At points during our drive we heard the 17 was closed. That's the road we were on. The 40 was closed, that was the road we were going to take next. We heard there were 20 car pile ups on both roads. The 17 was down to one lane and not moving. The on ramp to the 40 didn't move for 15 minutes so we called a friend and she told us how to take a side road for a few miles to get farther up the 40. It worked wonderfully but was a little scary because it wasn't quite as plowed. Pete peed in a bottle twice and pooped in a diaper that I was holding once. We were stuck on the highway without a bathroom. Jamie peed at a McDonalds then peed and pooped her pants in her car seat while on the 40. We changed Jamie, naked, in the snow, threw her clothes away and went through a whole package of wipes trying to get her clean again. The car still smells. Both kids didn't nap so by the time we made it to the train both kids were done. Stick a fork in them, done. Oh, and I was trying really hard to fight off a cold but was losing.....

The trip can only get better from here right.....well, it did! Stay tuned.

Babies

Jamie loves to shop.....for babies. When we go to Target, or Walmart or anywhere, she will spend at least a half hour in the baby aisle looking at each one. Then look at me and say, I want all of them. I hope Santa finds her a good one.....

It's Been Awhile!

Busy. We have been busy. Then I caught a cold somewhere, somehow, and any free time I have these days I try to rest or nap. Boy do I hate colds. They make everything feel almost impossible. Anyway, we have been sick and we have been busy but it's all fun stuff. Stuff we choose to do and stuff we love. Oh boy, how do I catch up. Since I need to do a few things during this "nap free time" I will just post a few cute shots of the kiddos from before we even went to the Polar Express, before the Christmas party with our friends, before Dec even. Yikes!

Here are some of our kids' best buds. We love every second we spend with this amazing family.

Watching the movie Despicable Me while eating raisin toast. Have I mentioned Jamie loves babies? It doesn't matter that she has 10 of them, she loves them all the same.

A tiny handprint on our barstool saved in our memories by a picture. Oh I will miss the days when I don't find these everywhere anymore.
Jamie double hammering. Real nails, real wood and some real Jamie hammering!
Afternoon with Play-Doh. I bought the kids a huge set of 36 cans of Play-Doh for Christmas. They will be thrilled. And I will find dried pieces of Play-Doh in my house for the rest of my life!

Christmas in AZ

Joy is putting up Christmas lights in a t-shirt and not having to worry about snow, ice, or bitter cold temps.

Or not even having to wear a shirt.....
Or when your neighbor moves and asks you if you want some furniture for free......