the Fairmont Princess tree lighting

Last night Alyssa invited us to her work for their first annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. They have grand plans in the years to come. We were all alittle bummed because we thought we were going to get free hot chocolate but it was free apple cider...and free cookies too.

The Scottsdale Fireman were there collecting gifts for the toys for tots drive which we completely forgot about!

The girls loved there fire hats!

Alyssa and Courtney

Alyssa and Samantha

Sydney!

Sydney shakin it!

the tree!

the girls!

RJ and Alyssa

the girls LOVE Alyssa and RJ!

This would have been this years Christmas card if I wasnt already on top of it and got them already!

The first sighting of Santa this year!

tis the season...

the weekend after Thanksgiving I am in the mood to start the Christmas season!

The stockings are hung (on the wall) with care

the advent calendar is filled with chocolate. I have a book from my childhood that on each day it tells part of the Christmas story. It's written in the King James version very fancy words but the kids really like.

our tree
I keep threatening to take it down because the girls cant help to touch each ornament!

The tiny "pink" tree. All the decorations are pink.

Most of all JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Turkey

Jon was a little bummed that we didn't get leftovers so he cooked a full on turkey dinner this afternoon. Yummy! With the leftovers we made frozen dinners in the 'seal and save.' We even ate in the fancy eating room too!

Thanksgiving 2010

We spent Thanksgiving with the Short family in Arizona City. Way to much food and fun was had! The adults stuffed themselves silly and the girls ate just the right amount. We were so full when we left 5 hours after we ate...but after maybe 15 minutes in the car the kids were complaining on how hungry they were. We should have taken Mary up on the sandwiches...They came home and ate ham and cheese sandwiches! I just couldnt even think about eating...

The twinks playing Sequence with Samantha Ray while Cody played with his cars in the background!

The Kids table! It's so funny when you tell the kids to look up and they look "up!"

Jon playing cars with Sydney

A rousing game of "desert" croquet

Samantha patiently waiting for her turn

Courtney playing in the sand!

Papa had a little to much to eat!

way to much fun playing croquet!

and the day wouldnt have been complete without coloring!

Jon and I braved Black Friday. Papa showed up at 4 am so we could head out for the 'deals' Crazy deals and crazy people. The lines were scary Disneyland long. We got some great deals but we probably would have got them at 10 am too. We weren't looking for the big ticket items like a lot of people were but the girls are going to get a little more then we had planned! It was kinda fun in a weird sort of way!

Underwear optional

Yesterday Jon had the kids for the day why my mom and I went shopping. Mom did the shopping I was just along to drive. Jon told the kids to go get dressed so they did. They got to the really fun Rio Vista park. It's about a 20 minute drive from the house. They got out and started playing and Court comes flyijng down the slide with her dress up and showing the world all of her nakedness! Needlessly to say they left and went to Target and Courtney got some new purple underwear!

campout

Yesterday the girls wanted to have a campout...we obliged a little bit with a bonfire and s'more's but the camping was on the couch downstairs!

Student of the month

Samantha was student of the month (October and November) They had a big assembly today and invited all the parents and (Namy and Papa came too) to come see them get their certificates ...along with a free pizza from Peter Piper Pizza!

can you find her smiling? She is anxiously awaiting for the assembly to start

Samantha doesnt know the names of the kids to her right but on her left are her classmates Jaden, Ari, Brady. Her teacher, Mrs. Nuesse (rhymes with messy) is standing behind Jaden.

So happy!