Playing at the Park

It was so nice while we were in Arizona to get outside and play! Our weather has been fairly mild so far this winter, but it didn't compare to 70's and Arizona sunshine! We made the most of it with walks every day and playground time. Having the cousins there to play helped a lot too. It made things more fun!



See, they ran around and played tag and I just got to take pictures!

I took some pictures of Tina and her family, and well, this one is classic...


It may not make their wall, but it can go on my blog!










We did some upside down hanging...






some cousin shots...




And some acting...



And when these two did this:



My two had to do their own rendition:







One of the great things about my neice and nephew... they totally don't mind getting their picture taken! And they are willing to do lots of things... They remembered me wanting to practice jumping shots from last year, and wanted to try again!

Zoey joined in, and Tina too!





They jumped from the tree for a bigger effect!




Bringing back the old cheerleader skillz...Word







And back home... both boys on different computers...


It was a nice week in the sunshine, with family, eating good food. Circumstances considering, we were thankful, for sure.

Good Eats

My parents have lots of little gems in terms of restaurants around them. And, well, most of us, love the Asian food. All kinds. Sushi, Thai, Korean for sure, well, you get the drift. We could just go from one place to the next in terms of dining out.

Except, for this one:



He's pouting here, saying, "Ugh, NO MORE ASIAN!" We actually ate at this restaurant before my sister and kids came to town, and then had to take them there as well! So this was Max's second time in a week.



Zoey loves it on the other hand, and eats her full adult portion with enjoyment. She even mentioned to me today that when we go back, she is getting her own carmelized salmon!



I don't think Josh was super excited either, but he didn't complain...

December- Ten on the Tenth

The idea is to take ten photos on the tenth of the month and share it, documenting a day of your life and the ordinary moments. There is beauty in the ordinary.


When I looked on the calendar to see what day the 10th fell on this month, I was excited that it was a Saturday and that maybe I could capture something a little fun and different. BUT, we woke up to 17 degrees outside and the kids feeling a little run down and under the weather, so we had a change of plans...

I started the day thinking this may be the most boring post in the world, and then remembered reading this somewhere...

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

- Robert Brault

So here it is... our day of little big things...

I brought my camera up to my bedside table last night, hoping I would wake up to this...

Max and his crazy hair, coming in to snuggle! He is a warm bodied snuggle bug, and I love it. His hair actually wasn't that bad this morning, sometimes it is crazy!!



The kids needed a dose of goodness, so I made some juice- mmmmm...lots of spinach and carrots mixed with some oranges!



We got some Christmas packages wrapped and ready to mail, too.




And then... Lunch... a pretty picture of Zo- she's more willing in front of the camera these days, which is nice.


A little later, we skyped with Ross and Max read to him from his library book from school!



A full day at home, even feeling not 100%, is hard for Zoey... she needs lots of things to do! So, next we made pretzels for a snack!


After we ate our yummy pretzels, we settled in with some hot cocoa and a little TV! Zoey set up some stations for us! We have the comfy spots on the couch...



And the Relax Area! I got to lay down and get a little back rub! Nice:)


Dinner with our Advent wreath candles. Our church does this thing were we gift each other with prayer and they set up each day to pray for certain families, and the kids have been into it this year, checking to see what families and how many we pray for each evening. It is nice.


Oh, and I know its blurry:) I kind of dig the feeling it gives when you are getting a glimpse into life... maybe it's just me?

After dinner, another advent calendar (we have a few)... this time we get a little treat!


And, the end of the day... we take a ring off. We moved it here and divided the strand. The long side is how much Ross has left (still tentative) and the other side is extra, both the time that it will take him to actually get home and just any extra days he may have to actually leave! there is an end in sight, but December is definitely creeping by for us...


Wishing you happy December!

Arizona- Hockey Fun

One night, while in Arizona for Thanksgiving, we went to a Coyotes Hockey game. My sister and her kids were there too, so we had a good bunch of fun. Always silly, with food and fun and laughter (usually until we have tears)!

They had a HUGE blowup hockey guy, so Zoey had to run into him and try and move him!


Max did too, but my camera wasn't ready! Sometimes it's a one shot deal with him!



We ate dinner at Margaritaville and then had Coldstone for dessert! It was so nice to be walking around by the fountains...


And to see all of the Christmas lights and to not be FREEZING!!



And then we went to the hockey game! We get the hook up and have close seats... hockey live is so much better anyway, but when you are close... woo hoo! So fun!













Max's attentions span isn't long for things like this, but he took my camera for a whole period and took pictures. This made him last the entire game! It was neat to see his pictures. He took this one...


And after they scored, they howl (for coyotes), so he took this picture too! I think he took 200 pictures! love the digital camera right?

Divine Motivation!

We have an Advent calendar, where you turn the flap for the day and it says to do something. Some types of things included are praying for family members, praying for peace, helping mom out, etc... They basically vary from praying and thinking of others and being kind, to doing little chores.

So, Max has already previewed all of the days, and apparently, memorized some of them. I was cleaning up around the kitchen, and asking the kids to do little things as well.

And then I said, "You know, Max, your room needs to be picked up again too. I saw your books off of your bookshelf!"

He said, quite eagerly, "Mommy, on the 19th I will run up and clean my room!"

Confused and wondering what I was forgetting about the 19th, I asked, "Why the 19th? What's going on?"

He said, "On the 19th, it says, 'Jesus, today, I'll clean my room!'"

And there you have it. Sometimes I can't argue with him. I just laugh and marvel at his mind;)

Post 700! Randomness...

1. 700- whoa... I didn't even know that was coming until I started this post, so hey, I just decided to go with it... I was planning for a little Friday Fun anyway...

2. And Random- well, that's Zoey's favorite word, so I figured I would capture that little bit of info too.

3. Three cheers for being an awesome blogger? Okay, not so much. I'm not even going to say I will do better, because pretty much, I won't. maybe after Ross returns...

4. Zoey bought these cool crayons the other day (in October, oops)...






5. Zoey is the sweetest and I want to remember this... She knew about Cyber Monday and decided she was going to spend some of her money that she earned from my parents over Thanksgiving (she has a racket going on) on Max. She searched for books and puzzles on Amazon for him. I told her she didn't need to and she said, "well, he's my brother, afterall!"

6. Max asked to play my iPhone, but it was charging, so he made himself available...


Check out how straight he is sitting!

7. And I just happened to catch these crazy clouds on camera (again, in October)... this produced a crazy storm a couple minutes after I took this picture!! I hadn't ever seen clouds like this before!



8. So, it is deer hunting with a gun season right now in our area, and well, I know where all the deer are hiding... On the running trail! I ran into three of them today! I hate it, because it sort of scares me. They let you get so close and give you a stare down before they run off. And sometimes they don't run off! I just keep hearing, "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" in my head. I know they are probably more afraid of me than I am of them, but I keep thinking that I don't want the hoof print on my forehead!!

9. This makes me grumpy...


well, not really, it actually makes for a pretty morning. But, I am definitely not excited for winter... not that you couldn't have guessed that.

later-