Snow Everything

Snow Balls

Snow Toes

Snow Ride
(cause of snow toes)

First Snow

Snow Fights

Snow Deep

Snow Snacks

Snow Family

Snow Sally

Snow Sledding

Snow Watcher

Snow Men

Snow Man

Snow Cousins

Snow Visitors

Snow Oompa Loompa

Snow Tubing

Snow Sadness
(too cold)

Snow Beauty

all pictures taken 12/21-12/24 in payson, az

Pit Stops

12/19

We just got home from 2ish weeks of traveling.

And I'm so thankful for our pit stops!

We spent the first weekend w/Brent & Errin in Oceanside...only 6 hours away!

Errin had a special treat for the kids...dino bytes (see above): sprinkle covered marshmallows from Mexico. I don't think one was finished all the way but ummm they were fun!

We did some shopping at the Carlsbad outlets.

And went to this home that had 80,000 lights alone.

Santa visits houses with lots of lights.

12/19

Jones is cute.

We traveled 1/2 hour from their house to try Pinkberry (frozen yogurt).

And I would do it again. I can't stop thinking about how good that stuff is!

12/19

From there we went to Payson to be with Justin's family.

We were traveling on a Sunday so we didn't stop to eat...until my parents house. My dad's famous breakfast burritos and citrus punch were waiting for us.

And the kids got their presents from my parents early.

12/20

Then we just had one more hour to Payson!

No pit stops on the way home, though...we were done packing and unpacking so we drove through the night.

It's good to be home.

But we really miss our family!

A lot.

Can I please smush Monterey (ocean/scenery/friends), Oceanside (weather/shopping/eating), and Arizona (family/warmth/and the occasional snow) altogether?

Snow

12/21 - the Rim in Payson

Didn't think we'd be seeing snow in AZ...
hence Owen's shorts and my flip flops.

My feet have never been so cold!

Falling snow is so pretty...and such a rare thing for us.

12/22 - Sally's first snowfall

Merry Christmas!

I Collect Stars and Kids

Last year I put this ornament in my cart at Target.
When loading up my car I realized it never made it onto the little checkout conveyor belt.
So I put it in my glove compartment to pay for at my next Target trip.
A year later (that would be 3 days ago) I remembered to take it back.
Didn't show up in their computer anymore so they just gave it to me.
And that's how I got a free $1.99 ornament from Target.

This is the Target star I bought this year. And love. Been filling our tree w/stars our whole marriage.

And this is a cute picture.

When in Monterey, Get a Monterey Pine

12/5

Mostly because they are the cheapest ones on the mountain.

But also, they smell good and barely shed.

Which I'm sure any freshly cut tree would do.

But I wouldn't know cause
this was my first time cutting one down...ever!

I loved it.

And by loved it, I mean I loved taking pictures of it.

Collage for Nichole

Justin had mandatory study hall Saturday
so we got help cutting/transporting the tree from friends.

12/7

We love our hairy, awkward tree.

They Ate their Veggies for This

Pacific Grove Christmas Parade - 12/3

Seriously this is a big deal...Drew ate broccoli, cauliflower, AND mushrooms without crying to go see Santa.

Owen cried (over one little piece of mushroom), but he still ate it.

I need to find a Santa to see every night.

Redone

My $10 bench from Craig's List got a new paint job.

And it converts to a desk.

My $20 Craig's List dresser also got redone.

They both look fabulous from far away in dim lighting.

My painting skills are not the best.

But it's about time these got done!

They've been sitting in my garage for 3 months.

I was touching up the bench/desk in Sally's room
the night before my family got here.

Apparently I need deadlines.

Mini Tree Decorating

They loaded up the tree
Justin used last time he was in Iraq.
And took their work very seriously.