Christmas Vacation to Thatcher, AZ

The night of Christmas Day the tree came down, the living room pulled together and bags packed to leave bright and early at 4 a.m. to start our trek to Thatcher, Arizona to spend our Christmas vacation with Dave's sister Wendy and her family.  It is a 14+ hour drive to get to Wendy's but the girls do amazing in the car.  We couldn't ask for better kids for long trips.  We did the drive in one day and arrived in Thatcher at 7:30 p.m.

One day of hiking



Wendy and Kevin - what a cute couple

It was kind of funny that we left Utah, which had no snow and found snow on our hike in Arizona.

I love these pictures.  I sure hope when they're teenagers they'll still want to hold their Dad's hand.

 

A Day at the Spa with Nicole

Tyler was such a good sport to let Nicole do his hair.

 

A Few Random Photos from Nicole Playing with the Camera

 

One of the things the girls loved the most....playing games with cousins

After Nicole playing with the camera there ended up a fingerprint on the lens.  I didn't catch it for quite awhile as you'll see in the next few pictures.

 

 

A Day at the Zoo

 

 

Tyler, Wendy & Lauren

our awesome zoo tour guides

 

 

 

Thanks to the Jensen's for letting us come and invade their home and Christmas vacation. We had a great time hanging out with them for a week.  The girls have already asked if we're going again this year.

Christmas Morning 2011

This Christmas, Santa tricked us and deposited all of the presents upstairs in the TV room.  He was so awesome and wrapped the door to the room and added a huge red bow.

Santa did leave the stockings downstairs so after we had our traditional cinnamon rolls and orange juice, we dug into the stockings.

After stockings, we headed upstairs to open presents. Grandma Peterson drove out and joined the party.

 

 

 

Here's a cute picture to prove that Dave was there.  How does it happen that there are no pictures of me?  Don't worry.  I was there....just the one behind the camera.



Christmas Pjs

On Christmas Eve just before going to Grandma & Grandpa Welker's for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, each of the girls got to open a brand new pair of pajamas.  You would have thought I'd given them a million dollars.  They were so excited.......and cute!

and a bit silly....... 

 

 

 .......but cute!

A Promise to My Children

A Promise to My Children

As long as I live, I am your Parent first and your Friend second.  I will stalk you, flip out on you, lecture you, drive you insane, be your worst nightmare and hunt you down like a bloodhound when needed because I LOVE YOU!  When you understand that I will know you are a responsible adult.  You will NEVER find someone who loves, prays, cares and worries about you more than I do.  If you don't hate me once in your life, I am not doing my job properly.

Love,
Mom

Hannah's 4H Project

Some may know and some may not that Hannah has joined a 4H Dog club this summer and she will be showing Kiera at the fair tomorrow.

Kiera joined our family back in early June for the summer.  Our good friends, the Benson's, have let us "borrow" one of their Bichon Frise (pronounced Bishon) dogs for the summer so Hannah could participate in this adventure.

I know....I am like most of you......who would have EVER thought Dave would allow a dog inside our home. I guess it's amazing what three pairs of little eyes from three little girls can do to soften a Dad's heart.

Kiera has been a great "trial" dog for our family.  She is three years old, doesn't shed, already potty trained, kennel trained and leash trained.  Yes...we're spoiled.

Kiera is in love with Hannah and Hannah is in love with Kiera.  Ashley and Nicole adore her and do get upset at times that she always follows Hannah around.  However, we make sure and take turns at night as to whose bed she gets to start out in before put in her kennel for the entire night.

We went to our ward swim party Tuesday night and were gone for a few hours.  Upon returning home the girls were on the floor hugging Kiera and she was kissing them.  Man....you would have thought we had been gone for days the way this reunion was going.

We wish Hannah good luck tomorrow in showing Kiera.  Here is a picture of the two of them that is hooked to her score card.

 

Good Moms

My mom sent me this saying today and it made me take a sigh and say to myself that I am normal.

This came at the appropriate time when I'm struggling and stressing to stay above water with work, laundry, household chores, church responsibilities and life in general.

Maybe it well help you as much as it helped me.