Christmas with Grandpa and Gramom

Christmas Camping '12

Waiting for Grandpa and Gramom to drive up:

 

Children's choir on Christmas Eve:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I love Grandpa and Gramom"

 

 

 

 

 The weather was CHILLY while G&G were here and so, despite the disproportionate number of photos in this post that were taken outdoors, we spent most of our time playing games and reading books in front of the fireplace:

  

he writes us notes

(hint: those "3's" are actually arrows between the words)

"I love you so much mommy.  Really much mommy.  I love you soo soo soo soo soo...much mommy."

Uncle Garrett and [almost-Aunt] Ellen came to visit us just before Christmas

 

 

The camera was ignored in a drawer for most of the visit (something to do with a few of us taking turns with a nasty stomach flu).  But I needed proof that they were indeed here in our state and in our town, so here we all are as we said our goodbyes (despite the smiles in the photos the kids were actually very tearful).

 

See you next at the wedding, you two!  We promise (ahem) not to cry then. 

happy new year, ya'll

incognito

"Mommy, Nibbles doesn't recognize me in [whispering] my disguise."

 

 

the not-posed photo

Balloon Fest 2012

Last year the event was canceled due to fog, so this was our first time to really get up close at our local balloon festival.  It was really fun, and the weather was clear and warm (ish).  If anyone wants to plan a visit out here in early December next year, this would be a very worthwhile event to attend (weather permitting).  I highly recommend it!

 

Hiking up:

 

 

We arrived early enough that the balloonists were still arriving and getting set up:

 

At the top:

 

 

Coming down, with a brief detour to roll down the dunes:

 

One of the many benefits of such a small balloon festival: some of the pilots love getting as close as possible to the rest of us!

(before you cross the street, look both ways and watch for hot air balloons!)

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent the first couple of days at home, doing the usual kind of thing...

 

fruit turkeys!

real turkeys!

...and then we hit the road.  We visited the Painted Desert and Petrified National Forest,

 

...and then onward to Sedona!

 

 

 

To anyone who is planning a visit to the Southwest and plans to go to Arizona, I highly recommend a stop in Sedona.  This area could have been (perhaps should have been) made into a National Park.  It is just beautiful. 

As it is, there are plenty of state parks to hike and bike and climb in, and a river I hear is good for swimming in (haven't tried that yet), and plenty of other stuff to do.  We've barely scratched the surface.

Thanks for the visit, Granny and Papa!

all dressed up to go to the potluck (like you do)

 

Christmas Wishlist

We cannot seem to locate the original copy of L.'s Christmas wishlist.  This constitutes, in this blogger's humble and unbiased opinion, a tragic loss for humanity. 

I cannot recall the full contents, but I know that it included, among other essentials:

- a disco ball
- a visit from cousin P-roc
- books of all kind [naturally]
- a girl hamster [as a companion to our boy hamster, presumably]
- permission to watch Harry Potter at sleepovers
- proof of Santa
and,
- attention.