Christmas Presents Back in Alberta

A Dora block set, cowgirl hat, new jeans, a Disney tea set, hand knitted with love mittens, a belt buckle, new books, a toy riding horse, a book on Ian Tyson, camo coat, a tool set, and a kid-free weekend in Banff, and a full on blizzard were all waiting patiently for us to return home. It was our very own Christmas in the Kitchen! It was good to be home...

Family Time in Arizona

After Travis returned back from a short trip to Alberta, we took some time together as a family. These are the moments I truly treasure. These are the moments I am going to want back when we are old. They are priceless...Simply priceless. First, we took a two hour drive up Tuscon's Mount Lemmon (mid-way we stopped for a picnic with our burgers and fries). Then we returned back to Tuscon for an afternoon at the park. Who would not want to go and play at the park at the beginning of January? We played and played and then I convinced their Dad to takes us all for ice cream at the Cold Stone Creamery. He was all for it! With full intentions that it would ruin everyone's dinner. So we did...because we could...

The Tucson Desert Museum

After the girls recovered, we took both kids to the desert museum. One of the highlights of the trip (once we rented a car). Jaya's favorite creatures were desert beatles, Elynn's were the praire dogs, I enjoyed the oter swimming, and Travis enjoyed the cougars.

Christmas 2010 in Tucson, Arizona

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... That may sum up the entire trip. Both kids came down with ear infections and Jaya wanted to one up Elynn by contracting pneumonia. The girls did enjoy their time with their cousins Hayden and Koah, but being so sick they were hardly their joyful selves. Everyone was present, Grandpa Joe, Oma, Aamon, Kristen, Ian, Uncle Rich, Aunt Carla, Hayden, Koah, and the four of us. Travis thought it was a bit odd spending Christmas in plus 22 degree weather, but I think it eventually grew on him. I loved the weather! The kids (when they weren't sick) loved playing outside, walks in the stroller, the park, and the wonderful sunshine. We have tons of pics with the girls and their cousins and grandparents. We had our first Christmas Mongolian Stew Pot Dinner. I am sure it would have been amazing had both of our children not had extremely high temperatures ending the day at the ER with Elynn. Pics always speak for themselves....