The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We had a very nice Christmas this year. It has been a very nice break from school work. We have had a lot of fun just relaxing and playing with the kids.

Just a couple of days ago we decided to take a short day trip up to Prescott (pronounced presskit, the Arizona way). We visited the World's largest Gingerbread village. The one behind the kids was my favorite. It almost makes me want to try to make one. Maybe next year.

After the Gingerbread village, we headed downtown for dinner and some dancing under the local and musical light tree. It was pretty impressive. The huge pine tree was planted the year Arizona became a state and resides in front of the courthouse. We met another couple who had come up to Prescott from Phoenix too - only in hopes of finding snow. We wanted to beat it. I think they got what they wanted yesterday.

We have a book called Just Me in the Bath by Mercer Mayer. This is where Noel learned that by putting suds on his face, he can be Santa. So - he is obsessed with soap suds. Even when it's in a sink full of dirty dishes. He will get the bathroom stool, bring it out to the kitchen, get up on it and grab a handful of suds and slap it on his face. Then he laughs like crazy and yells, "I'm Santa!" and runs around wild.

Christmas Eve we started a couple new traditions. We made Christmas pizza.

Then we made a birthday cake for Jesus (not pictured, unfortunately).

Then I played some Christmas hymns and songs and we sang. The best part was when we got out the jingle bells and the kids sang the song. Claire said, "this is the funnest!"

Christmas morning at our house was a little unexpected. Aaron told the kids Christmas Eve, that they had to stay in their beds and go to sleep if they wanted Santa to come. At bed time they went in their room and shut the door. They didn't come out for anything. We actually had to go get them in the morning. This is such a drastic difference from the norm at bedtime at our house! We spent the rest of the day playing with new stuff and talking on the phone to missed family.

Sunday morning. It was nice and relaxing Christmas week-end. We hope that yours was safe and happy too!

Let it Snow?

Last week-end we ended up visiting the Peoria Sports Complex and they carted in some snow! The kids were able to play in it and they loved it. Claire is always talking about how much she loves snow and wants us to move somewhere with it. The funny thing is, they only played with it for about 5 minutes and then they were done.

This place had a bounce house set up for the kiddos and Noel could not get enough. The place didn't put a time limit on it, and that was fine with me. He loved it.

Happy Snow Princess

This is the Glendale Christmas music tree. The lights flash off and on to music from like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The kids keep asking to go back to see this one. We are finding fun things to do together even though it's just us this year.

Santa Pictures

Merry Christmas! Our kids got there pictures taken with Santa last week and they were so excited. Noel may not look too happy in the picture, but he really was happy to be sitting in Santa's sleigh.

Someone asked me what we are having. It's a boy. At my twelve week ultrasound we were pretty sure it was. We wanted to be surprised, but it was pretty obvious. They put it up on a TV right up on the wall now instead of having to peek over the shoulder of the tech. Claire was upset and cried when we told her. She wanted a sister! It was kind of sad. Anyway, at my 20 week ultrasound, it was confirmed - a brother is on the way. I didn't want to give Claire any false hope after her initial reaction to the news.

November 2010

November was a fun month for our family. There was a lot going on, and with the end of the semester approaching, there was a lot of school work to do as well. I'm officially in the second trimester of this pregnancy and have more energy. It's been really nice to be able to enjoy some foods again too.

We visited Papago Park and hiked to the hole in the rock. We met up with our friends Vi and R. I used to watch R. when we lived in Phoenix and we miss them a lot. The kids especially miss having a playmate over every day.

It was a beautiful day. What a cool place! And a nice view too.

This picture looks as if they are a little too close to a cliff. But it wasn't nearly as dangerous looking in person.

In other news: Noel loves going to the barber with daddy and showing off his haircuts when he gets home. We also decorated a little bit for Christmas. Our tree is a little Charlie Brownish, but it's all we need with our two little rascals in our home.

Thanksgiving was really nice this year. We had Aaron's brothers, Uncle Ben and his family and Uncle Dan come visit. Hiromi is/was expected a baby in early January, so it was really nice to get a visit from her when we knew it would be a while before she would travel to see us again. (Her baby was born last Sunday, the 12th. A little early, but they had a very healthy little baby boy, named Taiyo. Congrats guys!)

Yet, Hiromi still had the energy and motivation to get out for Black Friday shopping. It was a crazy morning, but we got some good deals and had a lot of fun. It was fun week-end and we miss them. Christmas is going to be kind of lonely for us this year. But we are going to try to make the most of it by doing more thing together as a family. I'll post some of the December fun soon...

Pumpkin Patch

Yes, I realize I am a little behind in posting things on the family blog. But now that the pregnancy is getting a little easier and our school semester is almost complete, with only one more assignment to do, my excuses are pretty much nonexistent.

In October, Claire's preschool took a trip to a Pumpkin Patch in Glendale, AZ. Yes, even in Arizona, in the hot desert, farms exist. And I'm so glad. What would fall be like without a visit to a local pumpkin patch?

with corn mazes...

and rides like these...

that create smiles like these...

and more rides like these...

and farm animals like these cute piglets...

so I can get cute pictures like these...

Can you even tell that we are in Arizona in these pictures? Well, despite the fact that we are wearing short sleeves in October and some visible palm trees in the background... you might have not even known.