CHRISTMAS IN ARIZONA...

I spent Christmas with Mandy and Jon and the

little ones in Arizona.  I flew out on Sunday, the 22nd

and came home on Thursday, the 26th.

It was warm and relaxing.... and I loved being

with them and away from work!

 Mandy posted this on Facebook and I had to copy it.

I painted this advent tree many years ago when my kids

were little.  Over the years, I had painted four different "count down to

Christmas" things.  A few years ago we drew names for

who got which one.  And Mandy got this one.  It has 25 

little painted ornaments that hang on the tree and apparently

it was a big hit with Reesie.  She loved to put up a new

one each day .... and to rearrange them every day.... in anticipation

of Santa coming and bringing her PINK presents!!

 We made cookies!

 We played at the park!!

 We watched movies...... First time I have seen

"Christmas Vacation" all the way through. I had seen bits

and pieces of it but never the whole thing.  And

on Christmas Eve we watched "A Muppets Christmas

Carol" which I had also never seen.  Jon's family has watched

that every Christmas Eve since it came out.  I loved
the music in it !  The day after Christmas we went to the

theatre to see "Frozen".  Reesie loved it and I loved holding

Jensen all the way through it... he just sat on my lap....facing the

screen..... watching and a little snoozing..... not a peep

except for a few coos and goos and an occasional jump and 

throwing out of the arms when it was extremely loud. 

 Jensen's Christmas morning stash...... 

Gma Vicki got him "Scout" and daddy programmed it...

Jensen really liked it!

 This is Reese's stash..... PINK presents!!!!!!!!!!!

But...... see the book "COUNT 123"..... she came out...saw the 

presents... then saw the book.... picked up the book and sat down

and read the book.... slowly and carefully..... it counted from 1 to 20

and she slowed read all 20 pages and lifted every pocket and 

examined every illustration..... we kept asking "Want to open your

pink present?"  "No, I'm reading my book!"  She does love books!!

Reese loved her mommie's new piano!!

Hopefully she will let her Mommy play it now and

then.  She sat down and was playing and if you tried

to play she promptly pushed your hand away!!

Didn't take her long to figure out how to make it work.

I am hoping she will learn to make music on it!

 And we made snowmen......

I found this idea on Pinterest and am going to make

these with the rest of our family at our Christmas

party when I get home.  Took some for us to make

in Arizona.... Reese doesn't know what a real snow

man is.... so we had to make one!!

She ate, actually not ate, but licked the frosting off

of about three or four cookies a day! 

 Reesie Snowman, Mommy Snowman, Daddy Snowman

 HO! HO! HO!

Best part of my trip was Christmas night when I tucked

Reesie in bed and snuggled with her under her new quilt

that I made her.  Had my phone with me to take a picture of her

with her new quilt..... Had the idea to make shadows on the wall

with my flashlight on the phone....... made a bunny... only thing I 

could remember how to do.... then made shadows of her hands

and feet.....she giggled her head off...... then just made like a 

pinching hand.... first little on the wall next to us and then it 

got bigger and bigger and bigger and came down and 

tickled her tummy!!  She giggled and giggled!! We did this

several times without it getting the least bit tiresome.  She

wanted it to go on and on.... Finally.... worrying that Dad was

going to come tell us to settle down.... I told her it was time to be 

quiet .... so we started talking...... listed "all the special things

that she got for Christmas".... she could remember everything...

Then we talked about all the people that love Reesie..... Gma Vicki

Mommy...... Daddy..... Gma Jody..... Gpa Jay...... on and on.....

Then I told her Gma had to get on an airplane and go home 

tomorrow....She said "Stay here Gma" ..... that started my tears...

Then I told her it was time to be quiet now and go to sleep...

So we were quiet for a while.... then she took out her binky...

said "I LUB YOU GWAMMA", replaced her binky.....

And I laid by her quietly crying until she fell asleep...

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER..... is the 

love of a PRECIOUS CHILD!!!!!!!

 Chunky Monkey.... Jensen...... 4 months olds

Probably around 17 pounds!!

So adorable!!!  He is the best baby.

Only cries when he is REALLY hungry.

Sleeps 10-12 hours a night.  Smiles and coos 

and melts your heart when ever you look at him.

He was the best present under the tree!

Not too sure about this photo session stuff!!