Snow!

Not Quite a white Christmas this year but very close!!! We had snow in the desert! It didn't stick to the ground at our house but it did fall from the sky and flurry around long enough for my boys to catch some flakes on their tongues and noses. The sheer excitement of it was plenty enough for them! It had rained the entire day and night before so the ground was to soaked for it to build up and blanket the ground but the mountains were covered and the town of Oracle (10 miles North of us) had an impressive amount on the ground. We took a quick drive up just to sight see and snap a few pictures. It was too cold to get out of the car. I recently lost my coat and the boys don't really have warm jackets either (not much need for a warm coat here in the hot desert) so we just stayed inside the toasty warm car!

My Gift from Gabrielle!

I don't normally get Christmas presents from the kids but this year Gabrielle went out and bought me something with her own money!!! She bought me a plaque that says "Mothers: Children and Mothers never truly part, bound in the beating of each other's heart" and a beautiful porcelain statue of a mother and her little girl, it has sparkling rhinestones and the sash on the mother's dress reads "Everything I am and ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother"

I cried like a baby when I opened it! Gabrielle and I share such a wonderful bond! I love her so very much, she is MY angel daughter!

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve!

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse!

"The day of the solstice is essentially the shortest of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Many people consider to be the official start of the winter season. There are not many days like Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. Take it from people who know: astronomers. There was maybe one day like this Tuesday in the past 2,000 years. The last known lunar eclipse on the winter solstice occured in1638. Few alive today are likely to see a recurrence. The next time the winter solstice and a total lunar eclipse will occur on the same calendar day will be Dec. 21, 2094. " ~Quoted from the NY Times

With an envent like that described, who would want to miss it? NOT ME!!! Gabrielle and I stayed up until midnight to watch and capture the pictures! We were equipped with hot chocolate and warm blankets and a charged camera. It was beautiful, The cloudy sky cooperated just enough until it turned the burnt orange-red color and then the sky decided to cover up. That was okay with us, we were freezing cold and we had got our pictures.

Santa Claus

Seeing Santa Claus this year was the BEST year ever! Grant was so excited, Carter was unsure and super nervous but it has been the same Santa Claus Every year since Grant was born so that was really nice! Grant loved taking to Santa he climbed right up on his lap and made himself at home. He tugged on his beard and gave him high fives and played a little peek-a-boo. He told him everything he wanted; a bike, a zhu zhu pet, a zhu zhu pet battlefield, and a ton of other things, he even told him what Carter wanted because Carter was a bit too shy. He had a billion questions for Santa that Santa was quick to answer! He asked where his sleigh was, where his reindeer were, where the elves were and then he told him all about our Elf on the Shelf. Santa sat and talked to my kids for at least 20 minutes if not longer. There was not another person in the mall and he had nothing but time for us. Then the best part.... Capturing it on camera..... Quite possibly the best Santa photo ever taken, especially for us and I have some really good photos! Last years was really good, but this year's photo is my FAVORITE!!! I have the best looking kids with the most beautiful smiles ever!!!!!!!