Wintry Weekend

Growing up I thought you had to go to Utah to find snow. Years older and wiser, I've learned that my beloved Arizona holds, if only nominally, some wintry pleasures! We spent last weekend up at Pine Top with most of my family and had such a wonderful time. The kids could hardly contain their excitement at the prospect of snow, and when they woke up to it Friday morning, they were all smiles. Not to say we didn't have our fair share of tears...mostly Char's. She had kind of a love/hate relationship with the snow...

Half smile, half tears. That pretty much sums of the bulk of the trip for her. She did enjoy eating the snow, however.



Prepping for a huge snowball fight with cousins...




My beautiful nieces...

And another...

Building a snowman (...from three, already-formed snowballs. Yes, we stole some one's broken masterpiece. But if you knew how arduous a task it was just to plow our way through to its far off location in 3 ft. deep snow and me in nothing but jeans and some waders, you'd take pity on us!).


We felt instinctively that the snowman was a Bill and Mary fan.


Singing a little Thumpity, thump, thump as requested by Ellie.


The hill off which Jonah caught some "major air." Three feet off the ground is what he'd tell you.

So long fair hair...

Out with the old--or in this case the less than perfect haircut your brother decided to give you on a whim...


...and in with the new. I love it, Ellie! You are an angel.


On another note, I have a children's book recommendation to make. It's titled A Long Way from Home by Elizabeth Baguley. It's actually nothing too special except the bunnies' names are Noah and Ella and as if that weren't coincidence enough, the story might as well be the telling of our every day lives with Jonah and Ellie. It's about a bunny, Noah who gets sick and tired of his bunny burrow with his squishy siblings, in particular Ella and decides to try out life on his own. Of course he discovers that it's cold and lonely and longs for his snugly, warm sister. Sweet huh? I can almost believe that to be true of my own Jonah and Ellie.

More Family Pics by Jill

Unfortunately, blogging didn't make it to my very short list of New Year's resolutions this year (longer lists have not served me well in the past). So these are a little late in coming. Still, I wanted them to make the blog. Thanks again Jill (I'm seriously going to bug you to teach me how to use the new lens!).

Okay, so we've gotten some pretty good use out of that old bucket. And I'm pretty sure I have my Dad to thank for it.

Christmas 2008

The Fat Man was good to us this year...most of us that is. Despite Jonah's fervent prayers that "Daddy won't call Santa different words," Josh still didn't get the boat he's wanted for the past three years. That's what you get for calling Santa names at our house.

Jonah and his pirate ship

Ellie and Char got a dollhouse and Ellie has hardly stopped to play with anything else.

And a stroller for Charlotte. She loves it!

Christmas Eve with the Allreds/Porters. We decided to share the kids' pipe talents with the family.

Jonah was the Drummer Boy in the Nativity.

Ellie was an Angel, though as I recall, the angel bit was strictly an act. That's what you get when you drag your 3 yr. old to party after party with ne'er a nap.

The whole crew.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Char Pictures

Gotta love this girl!

Because I know you don't already have plans for this Saturday afternoon...

Bring the Family! Dec 20 @ 2:30pm Mesa Arts Center

An Afternoon of Christmas Delights

Featuring Handel's Messiah, Greensleeves with Youth Symphony of the Southwest & Interactive Christmas Sing-A-Long Adult Price: $27 & $17 Child Price: $10 Our Gift to You! Your Adult Price: $17 & $10 TO REDEEM USE PROMO CODE: PARENTS & FRIENDS To purchase, call 480.644.6500 or click here

Holy Jolly

We've been having fun with Christmas carols this year. I'm pretty sure Deck the Halls has most of our 5-and-under-year-olds slightly confused. I've heard several variations, all very amusing. Around our house it's "Deck the halls with holy jolly..." (not to be confused with holly jolly) And Ellie...well, she has the "fa la la la la" part down. Heck, what am I talking about? Five and under? I can never remember all the words to that song. But then I'm notorious for making up words. It's good to know I've passed something on to my kids.

Here's the kids' recent favorite. Jonah on lead pipe. Ellie on back-up pipe. Charlotte, prima ballerina extraordinaire and occasional jingle-beller. Mom, up and coming director, producer and photographer.

Note Jonah's concern for Ellie's "form".





Other fun/funnies...

Making forts

Sleeping in tents

Being prepared for "bad guys" at all times

And Santa's Little Helpers