SaNtA

Almost too cool...but a little reluctant to stop believing.

This one just knew he was with the real Santa

You can see the excitement on this ones face.

It's a little too scary to sit on his lap and yet...

it's totally fine to take his candy and give up a quick "knuckles"

AnNuAL TrEe CutTinG 2010

It seems my blog is getting repetitive...so many yearly traditions!!

The Bill Arnett Jr family Annual Pinetop Lakeside Tree Cutting Party!!
This year twas StUpEnDoUS!! Sunny, warm and bright with plenty of good packing snow!!

The Brethren-A Full SET!!

me and my dad

jonny, shauna, me, cynthia, sara and kathryn

walter, jenet, monte birk, monte sr and rex making hot cocoa and popping corn (the poppers didn't work so well on the bon fire)

jack-et chillin' with grandpa

clyde-ster!!

alison, andrew, jonny, monte birk

4 Peaks!

If you were wondering what it means when I tell you each Thanksgiving we go to 4 Peaks...just count the peaks on the mountain behind us...The Arnett Family Tradition that has been going on since my memories began.

Clyde and Sr

Walter & Monte

Seth, Jack, Sr, Clyde

Mom and Seth

Sr and Clyde

Me and Jack

school party-round 1

I was a bit of a Scrooge for the trunk or treat. Today I made up for it by donning a sporting costume and surpising the kids at their school parties.

'Barefoot and in the kitchen'...frightening!

it's a custume people...don't get any ideas

My SeLFiSh UtaH TrIP

July 4th we go each year to Utah for the entire week. That's not quite true. I go with the boys for the week and Monte is there with us for either the beginning or the end. Whichever one the 4th actually falls on. I call it my selfish trip. I do what I want in my own time with my own little family. This year we went straight from the airport to Provo town center for the crafts, booths, and bouncers. We hang out at the MTC park picnicking with the Buehler cousins forever to see the Stadium of Lights. Laughing at the way people save seats. We light our own fire crackers in the street. (unlawful in AZ) We go to the big July 4th parade in the morning. We visit with all of my non-family friends and old college room mates that there is never time to visit on the family trips to Utah. We stay at Karen's house enjoying my sister and her sweet family. We go to the park every day, because in AZ it is too hot to go outside if you're not in the pool. And we live a life of unscheduled frivolity. This year we did fit in quite a bit of the Gardiner family as well. With a picnic at the Jordan family and Sunday church with Margot and her kiddo's. Grandma came to both of those as well. Karen and I snuck in a night out alone together for Steak dinner and to go see Audra McDonald in 110 in the shade at the Orem Hale Theatre-a real highlight of selfishness. We came home around 11:30pm to poor Fidalis, the babysitter brother-in -law, and all 4 of my boys and one of his 2 girls wide awake. With the twins crying to him, literally, about how they are going into 2 separate classes for school this year...random. we came home tired, happy, sick of fast food and ready for our pool! I have pictures of it all but those will go into the family book...you just get this...see?...selfish!

4th of July

OK here's a few more pic's... Provo does a fantastic job of entertaining the kids with crafts, face painting, food, jumper toys and the list goes on...we made bracelets, painted, sawed wood and had scouts burn scouting symbols onto our cirles with rod iron pokers...but I ask you now, does it get any better than the $3 Wal-mart shirts? Every good mom should get them!!

Fireworks

This is how the day ended. I begin here because you should have seen Monte and I carrying in all 4 boys to the hotel room-up the stairs and all the way down the hall. It took at least 7 trips total for persons luggage and all. Up the stairs, past the girl smoking-who knows what- on the balcony, while I tell Monte no way can I leave ANY of our babies in the room alone to make another trip to the car. However, 'hotel' is a term I use loosely as I am not sure that your idea of a hotel is anything like this place!! Monte got a voucher from work for a free nights stay here and I honestly believe that someone died in our room at one point or another and no doubt there were a few drug deals going on while we were there. Luckily we were there just long enough to sleep, we were out of there early for church the next day. At least the towels were sufficiently bleached, they must have used 2 gallons on our towells alone-you could still smell it!

as night fell the David Arnett cousins came. We had gotten there early...around 4:00pm to save our seats. Provo is BIG on seat saving. Karen brought a picnic dinner and we played ball, climbed trees, dug in the sand, played with glow in the dark "thingies" you know-what we do EVERY year!!

WHY do I love the fireworks in Provo? WHY will it remain our 4th of July celebration for years to come?

#1 I do not sweat through my various layers of clothing #2 Where else in the WORLD can you be with this many people and not have one person blowing cigarette smoke in your face? #3 It is my "selfish" trip to see my sister #4 The events are planned for you and FREE #5 just LOOK at that sunset!!

the race is ON!!

the pay off

No gift has ever had a bigger pay off than this face when he opened the nintendo DS from MoM and DaD (thank you Game Stop for the awesome-ness of your used items)!

...and then there was Christmas...

See the controlled (and smiling) AweSOmE big Bro holding tight to the escapee in this shot?

MoM and DaD rocked it this year with plasma cars...and Scooters...

Seriously...do they come any cuter or more fun than this guy?!!
SaNtA didn't do so bad either setting up this 'ol trampoline all by himself. Mrs. Clause was cold and tired in the house getting the rest done.

Phoenetically speaking

I LOVE that he reads at a 3rd grade level and writes...