Chritmas Day 2011

Christmas Day was full of fun. We came downstairs to see that Santa had come! He brought lots of Barbie stuff and American Girl this year.

New Vera Bradley bags and Jewelry Boxes from Grandma Janis and Grandpa Doug

We had a wonderful afternoon and evening at Great Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Paul's house. Paul made ham, all the fixings, Kabosa (polish sausage- his family tradition) and a side of shrimp gumbo. It was a yummy feast and a day filled with happiness and joy. Thank you dear Lord for family and all of our many blessings.

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's this year. We enjoyed shrimp soup and oyster stew along with many munchie appetizers for lunch. Then, the girls and Nana preformed the nativity. After that, we opened gifts, enjoyed Grandma Velma's Christmas punch and cookies and went to Christmas Eve mass. It was a wonderful day.

The original "elf on the shelf". My aunt Marcince made an elf for my Grandma each year. My Mom has them now, it was so fun to see them all on display.

Little lamas made from real lama hair, with love from Laura from Peru.

Ma and Pa thought they were pretty funny with the "prank you" boxes they wrapped some of our gifts in. Nate got the coffee maker shower head and I got the Blankeez....very funny !!! It had me for a second. (They sell them at Bed Bath and Beyond).

Mom and Dad with their D.C. photo memory book-

New barbie Volkswagen bugs from the great Uncle Nate (who add a tiny little assistance with his shopping- he he)

Em and the tote bag she got for Nana and Papa with her art work on it

Work bench for the girls so they can "work" while Papa is in the garage doing wood work !!

December festivities

our mini tree-

since we are in the middle of packing our Christmas decorations are "simple" this year!! But watch out...next year we will have to double up our efforts

Admiring the Christmas lights with family and friends- always a favorite activity each year

C bear before her Christmas performance at Montessori

Snuggles as we wait for the show to start- it was chilly

C did a great job, we were so proud of her. They sang, Arizona snowman and Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Tree. I love that C is wearing the same dress E did when she was that age.

Nana, Papa and the girls had a little outing today. Emma and Nana making their cake for Jesus.

Davey's Days of Christmas

This is my week sung to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas- just the chorus-

17 billable hours (which is double a typical week for me)

8 boxes picked up for moving from Bashas

1 two-hour Functional Behavioral Assessment meeting

1 piano assessment for Emma

1 piano party for Emma

1 cottage fair for Emma (Mineral Market)

Haircuts for the whole familyyyyyy

Last religion class before break

A polar express party at Edu-Prize (volunteering)

Many gifts given out

Christmas caroling with the Daisy Scouts

AND boxes and stuff all over our houssssseeeee

oh and if we can muster up any more energy - a garage sale on Saturday

Merry Christmas and Merry Moving

On an exciting note- we got carpet today !!!!

If you find me asleep under the Christmas tree, just let me rest there for a little while.

Thanksgiving 2011

So much to be thankful for...

Our lovely friends (the Stenhoff's) invited us over for Thanksgiving brunch, complete with turkey sausage, cranberry muffins and crepes of course. It was wonderful. We have spent every Thanksgiving together since they moved here. It is a fun little tradition. After a yummy meal we went home to pack boxes. Later that day, we dined on a take out Turkey meal from Flancers that was just okay. It was a nice relaxing day and we did get a few things done for the big move.

Thank you dear Lord for life, love, friendships and laughter.

We rounded out the Thanksgiving weekend with a little reunion with some good friends that were in town for the holiday.

Northern Exposure

We spent a lovely two days with Nana, Papa, the Jarvise family and Lauren's Nana up North.

We began with dinner, crafts, visits with elves...

and of course Mrs. Clause...

before boarding the Polar Express bound for the North Pole

We read the Polar Express story, sang Christmas carols, drank hot cocoa and ate cookies, saw the North Pole and Santa's village... and the best part was meeting Santa on the train when he gave everyone aboard a bell. (more photos from Papa's camera to follow)

We ended the evening with a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown Williams, AZ. Our drivers name was Bubba and the Clydesdale's name was RAZ.

We woke up the next morning and enjoyed a yummy breakfast.

Emma, Caitlyn, and Lauren in front of the fireplace in the lobby of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.

After breakfast we jumped in with the Jarvise fam and went on an adventure through Bearizona !! We had to laugh when we told Papa what our plan was, he kindly said, "oh I think we will head back." I guess when you have grown up with Yellowstone, WY in your backyard (or state) you don't have the desire to drive through Bearizona and see animals in large fenced in areas. But, until we make it to Yellowstone, this is a good place to start.

After seeing bears, bison, wolves and big horn sheep; Caitlyn thought this gray squirrel was the best.

My little Caitlyn bear and my Hubby bear.