Top 10 from Christmas 2011

10. Long-overdue play date with dearest Adrianne and her two gorgeous babes at a park that included merry go rounds, play things, grass for tag, and a train ride.

9. Cousins! And lots of boy cousins, too! Thank heavens for them. Sam, Andy, Ammon, Austin, Aiden and baby Alec (Isabella and Ashley, too, but she's not a boy...but we love them too...).

8. Warm Arizona weather that enabled zip line swings, horse rides, 4 wheeler rides (and wrecks, too). Noah now has the distinction of being Grandpa Doug's only grand child to EVER wreck a small white 4 wheeler for kids. And Noah went above and beyond by not just wrecking once, but twice, in the same day. (Noah really likes fast turns; apparently the 4 wheeler did not...)

7. Cooking in a kitchen with Martha. We spent a lot of quality time in the kitchen this trip trying to feed a lot of people, and there is no one I'd rather share a kitchen with than her. Besides, she doesn't chide me when I steal cookie dough just as long as I do so evenly from each of the 12 cookies baking as to not under size one single cookie too much. No worries, i did my best to accommodate.

6. A hilarious Christmas morning with a very excited Sam, Isabella, and Noah who were all so eager to see what Santa (and others) brought them they just couldn't wait. The idea of taking turns was laughed at heartily so we did our best to keep up with the rip-roaring chaos that was our Christmas morning...and the note Noah left for Santa is priceless...

5. Drugs. Unfortunately, we all got sick with something or another. Fortunately, cousins in town had all just had the same or similar somethings-or-another, so they were willing to open up their medicine cabinets and share. Doctors might not approve, but they weren't the ones cleaning up vomit at 2 and 5 in the am, so phooey on them and thank heavens for medicine that works miracles and stops the puking.

4. Food. there were the downs: a well-intentioned but big miss on my part of getting my dad a Kentucky Bourbon Cake AND Pie. I thought, given his penchant for fruit cakes, he'd love them. Of course, I should have tried them first...but alas, despite all the alcohol cooking out, these treats were just a wee bit TOO bourbon-y for this dry bunch of Mormons...the ups included Martha's rolls and pecan pie and Misty and Scott's Thai night feast. Two thumbs up for green papaya salad and fresh spring rolls. And I cannot forget to mention fresh tortillas made locally and eaten on the spot. Daily. Plus Dad bought a great selection of cheeses and I gobbled up. I definitely got that affinity from him.

3. A day trip to Tucson to see the old stomping grounds. With a car full of kids, Martha, James and Dad, we drove 2 hours to show our kids where we were raised, went to school and church, and occasionally had a great chocolate malt. We also went to see mom's grave, which was the first time in a long, long time Martha, Dad and I had been there together and it was very significant to be there with our children, her grand babies.

2. My dad. I may be biased, but he's pretty darn great. It was wonderful to be with him and hang out. i miss him and regret that we live 3,000 miles apart. Grateful for the time we are able to spend with each other, when we are able to spend it.

1. Costco. Let me explain. Dad discovered that Costco works miracles with old VHS tapes and puts them in digital format. So, for Christmas, Martha and I got some old home videos on DVD. what a treasure. Not that I am keen on seeing myself "model" in my grandma's living room at age 13, but my dad did a have a great saunter, and it was a breath of fresh air to hear my mom's voice and see her face light up when she teased my dad...which she did often on film. she was always one to play to a crowd...


It was an exhausting Christmas holiday - with a lot of family, a lot of sickness, a lot of traveling, and a lot of joy.

Adr & her baby girl, Lucia. and me... I miss my friend. we were such partners in crime for years!

The best grandpa in the world.  Moses let him carry him all the time. Whew.

Noah's note to Santa "I think you are the greatest person in the world Santa. Noah"

Spy glasses even make Christmas morning hair look cool.

Easy riders.  Pre-wrecks. Sam, Isa and Noah...

2 of my favorite people in the world.

Another one of the favorite little people. Noah was so brave!

Quality cousin time snuggling and playing ipad.

Sick baby Christmas eve...

My daredevil baby. I have no doubt Moses will be fearless for life.

Ammon and Noah sharing a saddle.

Moses even wanted a turn sharing a saddle w/ Ammon, too!

My excellent sport of a husband travels across the country with me to visit my family. I love him.