10TH & 11TH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011

I love weekends!  When I think of weekends, I think TIME.....I don't know why though.  Time flies by too fast.  I can spend more time driving kids all over on Saturday then on a school day.  Then Sunday night rolls around and I can't wait for everyone to go back to work/school and I can have some TIME!  This weekend was all about the Christmas decorations.  Sure we put the outdoor lights up and had the nativities set up, but nothing else.  Kyler was very concerned about this.  After church he asked if we could put up our tree and when I said yes, he jumped up and down with pure joy.  I love that boy and his joy!!!  This year I put Kyler in charge of the tree.  He was so happy and went right to work bossing everyone around.  His favorite ornaments are the ones from 2004 to now.  He only likes the ones he's represented in, like this one.  This ornament was our family ornament from 2004 with our new baby Kyler.  (my favorite family ornament is with our whole family as polar bears....and one of us is decapitated...Kyler must have been a toddler, I always have decapitated decorations when my kids are toddlers!)

 Here's Kyler's tree!

I wish my kids would like to be in charge of others things....like laundry!

Merry 10th & 11th Days of Christmas!

9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

On the 9th Day of Christmas we went to a White Elephant gift exchange....and look what I brought home - A MITA TREE......or a Charlie Brown tree.  I love it!!!!

8TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

This is where the boys have been doing service lately....

but last night they served Mamita in her home (not "home" as in nursing home....well, not yet...heehee)  They took her washer (the same washer that flooded her house) and dryer out of the home and the two shelves that were above them.  I love that my family is happy to serve others!  

7TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

My Nativity Collection!

I finally made some time to pull them out of the garage and set them up. In case you were wondering....this isn't the bulk of my collection....

 THIS IS!

I think I counted 42 versions on this table.

 I really should photograph all of them one day.  I love all of them, but I'll just share a few tonight.  Here are the bears - front and center.  I bought this set at Bear Country in South Dakota, Summer 2008.

 I found this set in a little boutique in Utah - October 2004.

 This was one from my home as a little girl.  

 This year I've already been tempted and bought 2 new nativities.  First, a glittery Holy Family...

 and a clay nativity.

It always feels more like Christmas when I put up the nativities.  Merry 7th Day of Christmas!

6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

I think I've found my MOST FAVORITE tradition...

Getting a massage!!!!!!

I had such a relaxing afternoon getting pampered and my mom was even able to join me.  Neither of us wanted to do anything afterwards.  Thankfully we were excited to move on to the next treat...

 FREE BAHAMA BUCKS!!!!!

It's the most delicious shaved ice and it was FREE!!! (yes, dad....it's my favorite word right now!)  I had 1/2 coconut cream pie and 1/2 strawberry daquiri with creme on it.  DELICIOUS!  (I think mom had black cherry and raspberry with creme)  I even ran into lots of friends while I was there.  When I got home I discovered Tony and the boys missing.  About 20 minutes later they walked in with their Bahama Bucks!

We seem to be all over the place today.  Tony picked up the boys for me, Kyler was at a friends for part of the afternoon, we went to Bahama Buck's separately and now Asher's seeing a performance of The Wizard of Oz with his friend's family.  I wish that it was a rare occurrence around here...but it's not.  Tomorrow the boys going in different directions for Scouts.  (side note: Colton just received the Save the Date for Prom in April.......and he'll be 16 and could really go if he wanted to.......I'M NOT READY FOR THIS!)  

Merry 6th Day of Christmas!

2 KINDS OF ARIZONA SNOW

First, the other day I looked outside and saw "snow" falling down.  Tons of tiny little leaves were blowing off the trees and off my rooftop.   I wish I could have captured it better than this. (I NEED A NEW CAMERA!) Anyways, Roscoe was going crazy and had to run out in them.  It was so cute! 

Roscoe's head looks a little small....we're in the middle of grooming him (always at least a three part process) and only the fur on his head was trimmed up.  You should see how skinny his little legs look now!

 Even he gives me the look like, "really....another photo"

 Here's his new tie....love the psycho stink eye.

Second, it's FREE SNO DAY!!!!!!!  Bahama Bucks is giving away a free 12 oz. shaved ice to everyone that shows up.  I'm so there!!!!!  We don't even care that our high will be 54 degrees with a low of 29....it's FREE SNO!!!!!  And sooooo delicious!!!!!  We just found out about them this summer and have eaten a lot of sno since then.  I've even shared it with you here.  Well, if you're in Arizona, make sure you go and get some FREE SNO!!!!!!!  (you're welcome!)

5TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2011

What would Christmas be without Charlie Brown, Prep & Landing and COOKIES!!!!  Fun times with the kids on this very cold night!!!!  (would be nice if the tree was put up....but I'm not holding my breath.