Decorating Gingerbread Men....and Women

Liv and I baked today. I made more kifli, apricot and walnut, and we decorated gingerbread cookies. We leave on Monday for Oregon, so we are going to be packing and delivering cookies tomorrow.

Gingerbread Houses

Shea, Elisabeth and Michaela came over the other night to decorate gingerbread houses. They brought one baked by Shea's sister, Carrie and we had one that we picked up at TJ's on our last Phoenix trip. Olivia and Michaela had a messy, fun time with the "kid" house. Daddy put together the other one which was really more of a Swiss chalet. It looked like all of the houses in Big Bear or Munds Park. They both came out beautiful! Olivia said something funny while she was decorating. She asked if she could eat a red hot candy. I said, "No baby, it's too hot for you." She touched it and looked at me and said, "But Mommy, it doesn't feel very hot!" I remember my mom giving me Big Red gum when I was little and I would always yell, "It's HOT!!"

New Background!

Ok, so I pimped my layout for Christmas!!! The good news is that if you hate it, don't worry, I'll change it after New Years! Merry Christmas to All!!!!

pOLaR ExPReSS

Inside the Grand Canyon Hotel

Liv and Lila

Santa gave Olivia a silver bell! She wanted to remind him that she still wants a potty doll but I suggested she just say "I love you Santa" He said "I love you too sweetheart"

Singing carols and being silly!

We got warm cocoa and chocolate chip cookies on the way to the North Pole.

watching out the window for the "magic tunnel" that takes us to the North Pole really fast!

Thanks to our good friends Brian and Julie, we were able to go to the Polar Express this week. We were in the middle of a snowstorm, so it was pretty snowy and icy getting to Williams, but we did it. We took the train to the North Pole and saw Santa! Everyone wore their jammies and sipped hot chocolate and ate cookies. It was so much fun!!! I think we'll have to make it a family tradition every year.

Snow!!!!!!

Snow Friends

Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura sent Olivia this sled last Christmas. It's so much fun. Daddy made a "sledding track" and all of the neighbors came to try it out.

We've been getting pounded with snow this week. By the end of the week there could be 3 feet!

The Ride Home

Liv and Micheala at home

Concrete mixer with a diet coke.....hmmm.

This is Elisabeth and Olivia sleeping in the van on the way up the hill. Notice Michaela is wide awake in the back. I couldn't resist taking this! We had 7people if you include Elisabeth's baby. 6 girls and Rob! We stopped at Culver's for lunch on the way home and introduced Elisabeth and her mom to Butter Burgers and Frozen Custard. The flavor of the day yesterday was Snicker Swirl.

Luse's Christmas Lighting

They had an airplane in the back yard!

We were invited by Ron and Libby to stay the weekend and enjoy some holiday events down in the valley. Friday night we went with the Shetter's to ZooLights and then Saturday night we got to be in the boat parade on the lake where Ron and Libby live. Rob put up their Christmas lights and we all had fun "fluffing" garland. Their house was decorated so beautifully with two trees and all of the trimmings. Libby fed us well and we had a wonderful visit as usual!

Zoo Lights

The talking giraffe (Olivia loved this!!)

The girls all rode the carousel. Liv was the cheetah.

Sting Ray Bay

Elisabeth bought the girls glow sticks to hold at ZooLights. Did I mention we went with Nathan, Jen, Madison and Morgan (and thier mom, Pauline)

Last Friday night we were invited to ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo. It was Elisabeth's dad's family night holiday party. He went hunting with Shea so we all got to go for free! It was our first trip to the Zoo and there weren't really any animals awake since it was at 6pm. We did get to see and pet the sting rays though. Very cool! Olivia and Rob touched them and said they were very friendly. I'll take their word for it.

Making Kifli

Olivia and I made a batch of kifli cookies last Thursday. We were going to Ron and Libby's house and Ron loves my apricot kifli. This year, Olivia actually rolled out her own kifli. A little thick but not too bad! We'll make some more in the next few weeks.

For Marianne and Jim

This picture is for you guys.....I took it along I-40 in Kingman on our way to CA a few weeks ago. Remember this???

Tree Lighting at Little America

Our Family

Liv giving Bella a kiss hello. (Sorry, I didn't take a picture of Mom and Dad)

Praying...or trying to keep her hands warm!

Liv and Mommy

Kaleb, Klara and Olivia had fun running around

Clif and Nekol

Ron and Libby

Mom and daughter :)

We continued with our family tradition of going to Little America to see all of the lights come on. We always go early and eat with friends in the cafe and then put our warm coats and hats on to go outside and enjoy the festivities. We ate dinner with the Luse and Backey family and then saw a bunch of other friends walking around.We had just said goodbye to Will so it was a tough day, but being with friends really helped. I really do love living in a town small enough where this is possible. We really have great friends here and are truly blessed.