Halfway thru December...

Here we are already over halfway thru December and I have yet to post anything. What a slacker I've become! We've been very busy. Sydney has started basketball practices, I'm still working nights (yuk!) as is Scottie, and Reaghan and Noah are just trying to keep up. I am proud of myself, I did manage to get my Christmas cards all mailed by December 10th! I think that's a new record for me. Here's a peak at our Christmas card this year:

I ordered them from TinyPrints. They do the best cards, and have super fast, competent service :)

Last weekend we decided to take a trip to the Phoenix Zoo to see the zoo lights. I must say, I was pleasantly suprised by the display. Reaghan opted to be "too cool to go" and stay home, but we had a good time anyway with Dana & Wes.

I thought this peacock was the prettiest of the displays.

Syd & Noah posing by the giant spider web. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a giant spider looming in the top left corner.

Here's a picture of our tree this year. Big fiasco with the tree this year. I had a pre-lit tree that I loved, it had lots of lights, and rotated....so I plugged it up this year and guess what?? It decided to die. Only half of the top section would light up, none of the middle section, and only the front part of the bottom. Thank goodness for Wal-Mart and cheap trees, 'cause we now have this one:

The girls said, "it looks like it's throwing up..." Gotta love the honest, uncensored input from teenagers. This is why they said it looks that:

Noah picked out these cute sparkly things at Hobby Lobby and I couldn't come up with any other use for them. I did make a new bow for the tree top this year too. I guess those who don't help decorate the tree don't get to make too much of a fuss about it though... I am super excited about my new paper for this year's presents though. Here's a pic taken by Sydney that I really like. We may have a budding photographer on our hands. I like her perspective on it.

I guess I've babbled on enough for now. I'll update more after Christmas. I'm sure I'll have plenty of pics. Granny & Poppy are here, Noah had a school Christmas program, and Christmas is Friday. Take care all, and I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas!
K

The Polar Express

We had a great Thanksgiving with Dana & Wes. This was our first official holiday here in Arizona. Fortunately we have family here to share such events with. I'm a stickler for not celebrating or even decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving is over, but since it is officially the Christmas season now, we headed out yesterday to see the Man in Red himself. Off we went north to Williams, Arizona to ride the Polar Express to the 'North Pole.' Here's a few pics.....

"Look mom, we can sit together and not fight!!"

Did I mention that it had been snowing up in the mountains? Well it had been, and it was cold!!

Some of the lights at the 'North Pole'

Here's our funny little chef....they brought us hot chocolate (yum!) and chocolate chip cookies on the Polar Express!

Noah was all hopped up on chocolate (thanks to the chefs) and ready to sing some Christmas carols

A Christmas bell from the Man himself.....let me assure you, there was no shortage of bell ringing going on in the room last night. He had three bells between him and the girls. Anyone know how to take the 'ring' out of those bells?? I need sleep...zzzzzzz

Yummy cookies!!

waiting with Sydney to get on the train.

My beautiful babies actually posing for me by the Christmas tree at the lodge. Gotta love Noah's goofball expression. I'm sure there are many more years of those to come :)

By the way, for those of you who know Noah....guess what he told Santa he wanted for Christmas??? You guessed it, a COMBINE. I guess Santa's going to have to comply. He's been asking for one for about 6 months now.

Here's hoping you guys all have a safe, happy and healthy Christmas season. Remember germs are everywhere so wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! (and sneeze into your sleeve :)

Let's not forget the reason for the season.....

Love,
K

Kicking off the Christmas season.....by rail!

This year we're going to try something a little different. Instead of kicking off the Christmas season by torturing ourselves with the annual Black Friday shopping trip, we're going to try this the Sunday after Thanksgiving:

We're taking a train ride.....to the 'North Pole' (actually the Grand Canyon). Upon arrival to the 'North Pole' this guy will board the train....

Here's what the website says, "The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the "North Pole." Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children's faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift. "

Then we'll take the train back here to spend the night:

The kids all get to wear their Christmas pj's on the train, so now we're on a hunt for cute Christmas pj's for everyone. I'll be sure to take my camera so I can update everyone with pictures after the trip. Noah is so excited!! I guess I'd better hurry out and get the 'Polar Express' movie so Noah can watch it before the trip....time's running out :)

If any of you are interested, here's the website: www.thetrain.com/polar-express

Thanksgiving plans....

You may or may not know, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. No pressure, no gifts, just good ole' fashioned fellowship with the people we love. It is truly one of my biggest pet peeves that Christmas decorations are out in the store before Halloween even arrives....seriously, is that necessary?? Anyway, we are celebrating Thanksgiving this year at Dana & Wes' house with a few friends of theirs.

This is one of the many things we'll be giving thanks for this year.
We are so excited for Dana & Wes to be having their first baby!







Here's a little sneak peak......

The menu is planned, the shopping soon to be done, then to just wait on the good food!! Even though we'll be celebrating with a new group of people this year, the things we are thankful for haven't changed...happiness, health, and the love of family and friends. What more could we want?

K

Update.......

So, it's been FOREVER since I've updated....bear with me, this may ramble a bit :)

Let's see, since I last blogged in February we've had a lot going on. The girls both played softball this spring, so we averaged 4 games a week between the two of them. Poor Noah tagged along to every game and practice. Softball finished up in June.

The first week of July, I got a job offer I couldn't refuse at a hospital in Phoenix, AZ.......so here we are! The kids and I left July 13th and trekked across the country to Arizona. Thank heavens Dana & Wes were so hospitable (thanks a million guys) because I only had 2 weeks from job offer to start day. Obviously, the girls weren't thrilled with the idea of leaving their friends, etc. but they've transitioned wonderfully. I'm so proud of them. We've had a few rough patches along the way, but they've made new friends and are getting along better than they ever have.

Noah was sad to leave his Nana Susie and his little buddies at her house, but it was time to go to preschool. We found a Montessori school for him and he goes 3 days a week. He is doing great! He really likes school, and is so proud of his many art projects!

Scottie's transfer wasn't completed until 2 weeks ago, so he didn't get here permanently until Oct 4th. That was a tough 3 months living bi-coastally. We definitely don't want to ever have to do that again. Thank goodness mom was able to come out and stay a few weeks to help out with the kids. I don't think I could've done it alone.

I'M AN AUNT AGAIN!!!! Nick & Deborah had baby Autumn in August. I've only seen pictures so far, but she's beautiful and perfect in every way.

AND.....God continues to bless our ever expanding family. Dana & Wes are expecting their first baby in mid- March! I'm so excited to be here to experience my baby sister's first pregnancy/baby with her. Fortunately for my pocketbook, they aren't going to find out the gender...makes it alot easier not to shop!

NOAH IS IN HIS OWN BED!!!! Not super news worthy, but a point to make note of. We are all sleeping much better now :)

We're going to be busy over the next few months....our first Thanksgiving here in Arizona. The weekend after Thanksgiving we're taking Noah on a Polar Express train ride to the Grand Canyon to kick off the Christmas season. I'm hoping for snow early in the mountains so we can take the kids snowboarding for the first time! Scottie's parents are coming for Christmas and we are super excited to share our new city with them. Hopefully mom and dad will be able to come out soon (though I'm not holding my breath because it's now deer season!).

We still love and miss all of our old friends in Prairie Grove, but are enjoying Arizona. I promise to add pictures soon, but the laptop has died again and the old PC makes uploading painfully slow. I'll have to add that to my list of projects...

Happy Fall Ya'll,

K

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

I'm so excited! I am officially going to see my sister next month. Just me, all alone, no kids, no husband, for 4 days...ahhh. I can't wait. Now don't get me wrong, I love my family but sometimes a person (wife, mother, waitress, housekeeper, etc) just needs a break. A nice little time away to clear the mind and refresh the perspective is always in order.

Thanks to my sister booking appointments for us, this is what I'll be doing on one of those days:

Woohoo....Girls spa day!! It's definitely long over-due. And since the average monthly Phoenix temp in February is 70 degrees, it'll be a nice change from the cold weather we've been having here.

Only 24 days to go....

K

Great Expectations!!

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely love everything about newborn babies. The way they smell, the little noises they make, the sheer innocence.....all of it is nothing short of heavenly. With that said, I just do not want any more as permanent members of my household!! That is why I was ecstatic when my baby brother Nick called me Sunday afternoon to tell me that I'm going to be an aunt again! All of our babies have grown into toddlers and teenagers so it's time for a new baby to smooch on. Congratulations Nick & Deborah!

K