Happy 7th Birthday Jackson!

Merry Christmas!!!

December in Arizona: Part 2

With only a few more days until Christmas, we've tried to cram some more fun holiday activities into our already busy schedule. This past Monday night, we went with our friends, the Wrays and the Hobbs, to see the Mesa Arizona Temple Lights. It was a little odd that we didn't have to bundle up like in previous years (to see the Salt Lake Temple lights), but it was kind of fun to see the all the different lights and arrangements at this temple. They had even strung lights throughout the citrus trees on the grounds. Pretty cool.

Last night, we joined our friends again so the kids could make gingerbread houses. This was something I've always wanted to do, but for some reason we never had (probably because I didn't want to clean up the mess!). The kids had a BLAST creating these little houses and they actually turned out pretty cute.

Top Left: Alora's, Middle Front: Jackson's, Back Right: Noah's

Mesa Arizona Temple

Alora, Jackson, and Noah with their friend, Jensyn, at the Mesa Temple lights.

The Little Boy That Could

Max is INTRIGUED by the red balls on our tree. This boy LOVES balls and he can't resist grabbing them off. As a result, he's broken almost a dozen of them. We've had to resort to blocking off the living room the best we could, but this stinker can find all the little gaps and still get through.

December in Arizona

This is our first winter in Arizona and it definitely does not feel like it. The weather has recently been in the low 80s so we haven't really got to wear our long sleeved clothes yet and definitely not our coats. It's kind of sad because you associate Christmas with snow and we just don't get that here. We're lucky if we even get a little rain! Despite the lack of Christmasy feel, we've tried to help the kids get in the mood by participating in some of the local events. Maybe the big guy himself will surprise us with a powdery white surprise Christmas morning (one can wish, right?).

Alora with her friends Halle and Bailey at their preschool Christmas performance.

Jackson with his friends Luke and Kristopher at his class Winter Craft Activity.

Max at our church's Christmas Party. What a thoughtful Santa we had... he gave out little hard candies for all the kids!

Alora with her friend Bailey at our church's Christmas Party. Alora LOVES this little girl and is always talking about her.

Our community hosted a Winter Festival and brought in some snow. Even though it was fake, the kids had fun making snowballs and playing in it.

Alora, with her friends Finley and Isaac at the Winter Festival.

The boys' school presented a winter concert called "Paint the Town December." Each grade sang their own song and then collectively for the last song "Hearts Around the World." Noah's 3rd grade classes sang, "Lights of Kwanza."

Jackson's 1st grade classes sang, "Paint the Town December." (Sidenote: If I have to hear that song one more time, I'm going scream!)

When I Grow Up...

Noah's 3rd class did an awesome project recently. Each child was given the assignment of writing and illustrating what they wanted to be when they grew up. Afterwards, the teacher sent the completed papers off to a publisher, who bound it. The end result looks like an official book, hard cover and all.

Noah's Submission:

Did you know the people in movies,they are called actors. I want to be an actor one day because I want to be famous and make a lot of money so I can buy special stuff in my room.

I would get married and have 2 kids. Hopefully one boy and one girl. I don't know what their names would be. My back up plan would be the richest guy in the world. So I can buy a mansion and my friends would be jealous. In my mansion I would have monkey statues, a swirly slide, and a pool.

My family would live in Hollywood. The boys in my family would wear a suit and all the girls in my family would wear dresses. I will practice acting all through school. I want to be just like David Henry [actor on Wizards of Waverly Place}. I would go to the University of Phoenix for six years to get my masters award. I hope it comes true so I can be awesome.