The Makings of Frosty (Williams Trip, Part 1)

 Brendon's wonderful parents took us up to Flagstaff/Williams last weekend for a little fun in the snow and to ride the Polar Express to the North Pole. We stayed overnight and had a terrific time! As soon as we arrived, Peyla played with the "snow" (i.e. ice) in the hotel parking lot. Can you tell she's a desert girl?? Ali...well, Ali wasn't as into the snow. In fact, she just kept walking around uttering "no...no...no". It was a little sad but pretty hilarious! She must be our resident beach bum. But Peyla is definitely a snow bunny. Just wait until we get her on a snowboard! 

 

 

All decked out and ready to play!

 

"snooooooow!"

 

Ali's a careful audience.

 

I imagine her thinking, "this is in? I don't get the fascination."

 

Here's where she starts saying "no...no"

 

The beginnings of Frosty!

 

She was giddy the entire time.

 

Carrying her snowball to contribute to the snowman!

 

Ali is trying to escape back to the hotel. lol

 

He's taking shape!

 

Brendon doing the important facial work.

 

Peyla was so proud of her snowman effort!

 

Family photo op.

 

Waiting for him to come to life. I guess Brendon's hat just won't cut it.

 

Hugging Frosty goodbye.

 

She was really sad to leave him behind!

 

Bye Frosty! See you again next year.

A sweet little Ali handprint. I had to make her at least touch the stuff!

The Littlest Snow Bunny

Someone got into mommy's winter gear. I think it looks MUCH better on Ali!

 

Tinker McJingles

Introducing our little elf friend, Tinker McJingles. He showed up on our doorstep on December 1st and has been creating shenanigans every since. The girls love searching for him every morning and marveling in his antics! He's very busy each night...good thing he never gets tired! 

 

 He loves the girls' sprinkles.

 Hitching a ride on the moose.

 Little posers!

 TP party in the bathroom. Peyla couldn't believe that one!

 Giving the girls Rudolph noses...

 ...which quickly became the new hit toys! Peyla calls them "north pole poofs".

 These things wind up everywhere in the house.

 Caught red-handed in the cookie jar (baggie?)

Of course she needs to help him with the crumbs. ;)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Peyla hanging the first official ornament, of course it's Thomas the Train.

 

Ali joins in. It's her first "real turn" at decorating for the holidays.

 



I don't know why but I like this shot.

 



The best part is just opening up all of the ornaments! Love her little feet.

 



"Go show mommy"

 



 



This picture doesn't do it justice, but most of our decorations

ended up on the bottom quarter of the tree. ;)

 



Celebrating their hard work with their first candy canes.

 



Time to hang the stockings!

 



There is nothing as grand as the wonder in your child's eyes.

 



 

Little "girls only" photo op by the tree.

Thanksgiving 2013

This year we hosted our first Thanksgiving with about 25 of our closest relatives. It was a lot of fun to have both sides of our families present to celebrate the day together. And thankfully (pun intended), I had so much help from my mother, grandmother and mother-in-law! It takes a village. :) Unfortunately these were about the only pictures I remembered to take.

Frosty!

The girls are slightly obsessed with Frosty the Snowman, credit the animated movie (circa de 1960) for that! My sweet and wonderful grandmother bought this lit snowman for "Brendon's birthday" this year...although it was really more of a gift for the girls! They were so excited when daddy put it together and selected the perfect place for him outside.

 

Santa jammies and popcorn

Let the holiday movie nights begin! Every once and while, we let the girls stay up and have a "movie night"- which usually consists of a short show on the Disney channel. And popcorn. Always popcorn. These girls love their salty treat as much as mommy! Of course this night, they particularly excited to be wearing their Santa jammies and watching Frosty the Snowman (their fav).