Winter in Arizona

(View from grandparents' patio)

The kids and I headed south at the beginning of Christmas break to spend time with my mom's parents. The kids made a list of the things they wanted to do while there and they accomplished everything on their list:

They especially enjoyed being able to go Christmas shopping with their great grandparents. My grandma had a Pinkalicious birthday party for Maren with some of their friends and neighbors. I enjoyed the opportunity to play a round of golf with each of my grandparents. Still can't beat my grandpa yet but it was sure great to be out in short sleeves and shorts playing golf in December! Jonas broke my main camera lens just before we left so our pictures are sparse of our vacation.

Happy Birthday Maren!

Maren chose to celebrate her birthday by going to ChicFil-A with some friends for lunch. We had cupcakes and play time when we got home and more cupcakes and presents that night. Happy 4th Birthday sweet girl!

Brookwood Elementary

Whitney attended Brookwood for the first half of the school year. She waited until Christmas break to make the switch to our school near our new home. It was a tearful goodbye for her friends and teacher Mrs. King whom she dearly loved. She adjusting well to her new school and teachers but still misses her old class.

Festival of Trees

We attended the Festival of Trees as a family this year. It is a fundraiser for the Primary Childrens Medical Center where groups donate decorated trees, gingerbread houses, wreaths, quilts, and other items to be auctioned off. Many of the items are donated in honor of someone so there are many touching stories that go with each display. Here are a few of our favorites this year:


The girls were also excited to see the gingerbread house that was donated by our neighbor.



This one was a candy amusement park.

Thanksgiving in Oregon outnumbered by kids

Now that we are in driving distance of family and Whitney had the entire week of Thanksgiving off of school, the kids and I decided to head to my parents house in Oregon for 10 days. Jim had to work since he had asked to have a week at Christmas off. We headed north with a stop in Idaho to see my dad's parents, pick my mom up in Boise, and then onto our stop for the night in Oregon. The next morning we made a detour up into WA to pick up my brothers 3 kids. His family was planning on coming down for the holiday but my sister in law ended up having a c-section the next morning so it was good we had picked up the older kids. We stopped in Portland to pick up my mom's van and two more cousins. The cousins had a blast playing together the entire week. My brother Kyle, his wife Diane, and their twin boys joined us a few days later. We had a fun Thanksgiving together but missed the others that couldn't make it. The kids enjoyed a trip to Chuck E. Cheese, two trips to the indoor water park, making gingerbread houses, nightly swims in the hot tub, and playing with their cousins all day long. We got delayed a day returning home due to a snowstorm but otherwise had a wonderful trip.

When we left there was no snow on the ground and we come home to this huge pile in our yard from all the snow Jim had to shovel while we were out of town.

Children's museum

We got a deal on a six month pass to the children's museum which is perfect as it gives us something to do when it is cold out. Jonas loves to play at the water station and in the tree house. Maren of course loved getting on the horse and loves the little town with the grocery store, house, farm, and construction zone. We went one day for a special program with the Radio City Rockettes. The girls got to learn how to do the kick line and make their own dancing doll.

Home Sweet Home

We moved into our new home on Halloween day. The house is three floors with a walkout basement. We can truly say there is space for everything even guests so come and stay! Here's few shots sans furniture of the house:


Getting the keys -- Backyard



Kitchen and view from kitchen/family room


View from family room and dining room


Entryway/Living & Dining rooms/Office -- Maren dancing in the basement


View from the back deck, the street lives up to it's name Sunset Ridge

As you may be able to tell one of the things that really drew us to this place was the incredible amount of natural light in the house and the great view that goes with it. It's a great house in a great location (only 8 miles to the nearest ski resort!) with awesome neighbors.