Christmas Eve

Getting the PJ's is so exciting because

#1- they fit

#2- they are "SO SOFT!"
#3- it means we are that much closer to Christmas Day!!!

We are still at such wonderful ages for the MaGiC of Christmas with SaNTa, the ReinDeEr and all that it entails. We very carefully sprinkled our reindeer food on the driveway tonight. We put the cookies out on the you are special plate. We poured the Jolly old elf his glass of milk. Then Seth and Clyde added something wonderful from school, their "Elf Applications" for Santa. So tonight I find myself at the computer drafting a reply.

"Dear Santa, I would be a good elf because I always tell the truth and I use good manners. Love, Clyde Gardiner. PS I love milk and cookies." - his application is attached to the cover letter.

"I would be a good elf because I love you. And I follow directions. And have good manners. I love Christmas. Love Seth Gardiner." - application also attached.

S P A C E R

This is my spacer for...

THE PIANO RECITAL

GRANDMA'S VISIT

THE 1st GRADE FIELD TRIP

and THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY.

With my tonsillectomy, Christmas preparations and this guy...

I GOT A LITTLE BEHIND.

smiles?

See me smiling there in the side bar? That's right, the small photo, just me...to your right. Yeah. I believe that smiling like that right now may actually be painful. TONSILS. OUT. OUCH.

PerFeCt little GiRl

I promise to post about our tree cutting expedition soon but until then I just had to steal this photo of my beautiful new niece from their family blog. Isn't that little face so perfect?

Introducing...?

She's only 15 hours old so you can't really blame them for not having an official name just yet. My vote is for Sophia...what do you think? Steve and Brindy had cousin #32 in the Bill Arnett Clan last night. Monte Birk and I squeezed in a quick trip to the hospital on the way home from his school field trip. Isn't she Gorgeous? I just love that new baby smell on their skin and the little moaning noises they make. Ahhhhh sweet girl. Maybe someday...

This guy loooooves babies. He is so AweSOmE!

FieLd TriP

3rd GraDe FiEld TrIp

Arizona Science Center

How much longer do you think he will beg me to be a chaperone? I'm worried that my time may be limited! Luckily I have good friends that will take care of my 2 little ones for me so I can participate with my older kiddo's at times. I would not have wanted to miss this!!

Our little group of gentlemen helped out Miss Procaccini by carrying the lunch bucket into the building. As you can see, it was HEAVY!

Gotta love the "long arm" shots!

We had the best little group of men there! Our other parent Chaperon was one of our best friends, Sister Walton. Monte and Jonah were in the same 1st grade class and have been fast friends since the day they met.

(boys L-R) Monte, Nate, David, Ethan, Jonah and Aleck

The "hardest" pulley...HEY! Don't knock it till you try it!
The best part about this museum is that it is all hands on. NOTHING says "don't touch!" There were 21 schools there today with us. Just a tad bit crazy at times.

Why am I the only parent that liked to try things out? (I have a sign in my kitchen that reads "young at heart, slightly older in other places" - THATS ME!)
Don't worry I didn't steal time from the kids! You should've heard our group "wow" at the mom pulling her own body weight!

2011

So VeRy BleSsEd

why not?

Lovin' this one a little extra this week.

man is SHE old!

My BIG sister is turning 40 tomorrow!!

Phew, glad it's not me...but equally glad for a reason to have a surprise get together! Happy Birthday Shauna...you're gonna rock 40!!

(With what was left of her cake at the end of the party.)

An amazingly talented friend of mine made this for our surprise lunch. Seriously Melissa!! Wonderful! I'll let you all in on a secret...it tastes as good as it looks!! Unbelievable, I know..but Oh so TRUE!

(l-r) Tenay, Rachel, Shauna, ME, Brindy and Lanie

BEST FRIENDS!

I am so blessed to have the most wonderful sisters in the world! (Karen and I got online together, her in UT and me here, to pick the cake theme, we missed her at the party.)

Lanie's gift cracked us all up!

They're BOTH 40...tee hee...I feel like such a kid with these ancient ones...

We recycled the bow from the top of the cake and put in on the bottom tier. It was a shame to have to cut it but consuming that was my favorite part of lunch! And that's saying something! (Costa Vida's/Cafe Rio's pork salad is just about my all time fave.)

But Seriously, I hope 40 isn't THAT bad I'm just 2 years behind her!

ApaCHe TeARs

Just outside Superior AZ and Just just past the Arboretum there is a small dirt road off to the West. There you find the precious Apache Tears. Bring your hammer and tools for it is a dig. Everyone can find one...they are everywhere.

About 75 Apaches and the US Calvary squared off against each other in battle on a mountain overlooking what is now Superior, Arizona in the 1870's. Rather than face defeat, the outnumbered Apache warriors rode their horses off the mountain to their deaths. The families of the warriors cried when they learned of the tragedy. Their tears turned into stone upon hitting the ground. Today these beautiful translucent gemstones are known as Apache Tears, Good Luck Stones.

To us it's just a stone, but to the Ancient Ones it's a frozen tear, lost in the sands of time.

At first you see just a little black in the rock (above) and more often than not, that is all you will chip out. But after many small victories you may find yourself chipping away more and more until you reveal something large and exciting! (below) Once polished and held to the light the stones are translucent, otherwise they are black.

No matter the size you can leave with plenty for your family to keep and remember their fun family time.

And fun family time if most definately IS
Dad-Clyde
Dad-Monte-Clyde-Seth

Will-Jack

Seth

(Clyde carried the bumbo-the baby seat-on the hike out...)

My goofy guys had so much fun on the way to the car after the dig.

Sr-JrHave I ever mentioned my "hunk-a-hunk-o-burnin' love" has got ROcKin' muscles?...yeah, I'm a lucky gal.

Like Father like sonS

Monte Birk and Seth

profound for 3

Tonight at bedtime Jackson wanted the song with "the leafy trees, you know mom the one where the flowers are naughty?"

and

"Mom, I'm sick, I'm really really sick. I've got worms in my throat."

(*germs-Mom has swollen tonsils and he doesn't want to be left out.)

and

"That was a GREAT trick or treat"

TruNK or TrEAt

Mountain Ranch Ward TruNK or TrEAt

2011

If a picture is worth a thousand words...

...enough said.