Just Another Day at the Park

If you live in Arizona, you know that this is the time to be out of doors!


We spent last Saturday watching our children (with one exception) running up and down hills chasing after rockets. Alas, none of them were ours. The rockets, I mean. Not the children.



Before you feel too sorry for the little boy without the rocket, let me assure you that he was just excited watching them launch and then come down to earth (despite what the picture may look like).

Up and down, up and down.



Some of us got a little tired.



And maybe a tad bit distracted by the really cool drain. (Mama's always holding her breath around these things.)



And one of us was just enjoying being outside laughing at everyone else's goofiness.



Yup, just another beautiful day!

Holding Our Heads Up

Finally! After years of waiting, crying out, praying for a miracle, dropping our heads in defeat...

It's happened!

You have to understand the passion that reigns in this house around this time of year. The earth stops spinning, time as we know it ceases except for that one-eyed monster that spews forth either the euphoric ambrosia that we drink or the grimy stagnant liquid that we are forced to swallow.

Do you know what I'm talking about? Does this happen at your house?

I'm talking about football. At this time of year is there anything else?

Well, now we finally have something we can be proud of out here in good ol' Arizona.

It's the:




Just for honesty's sake, I will admit, I am a fairweather fan. For years I would shake my head in disgust at our home team as they fumbled and tumbled. But then...Kurt Warner.

I think my husband just sighed with delight at the very thought of the hope Kurt Warner (and all of his wonderful partners in crime) has given us.

Years ago, I thought that all Cardinal paraphenelia should be banned forever from any kind of store willing and wanting to make money on these poor souls who couldn't even score one touch down.

This year, I went and actually, purposely purchased a Cardinals hat for Bubba.

Boys, you made a believer out of me!

*And also a wife who prays you continue to win because I don't want to have to drag my poor, mopey hubby out of the depths of despair. Again!

Happy 2010! Yawn.

You know, New Year's Eve just ain't what it used to be.

Remember when you would stay up late with a ton of other party goers just to watch the clock change to the magical time of 12:00? Those were in the BC days.

BC as in before children.

Nowadays our New Year's celebrations are a little more, well, subdued.

6:30 pm finds us toasting with our pizza:


And playing the game "Who can make themselves sick the fastest":


Then after that rolicking good time being had, we proceed home and amuse ourselves any way that seems, uh, amusing:


Promptly followed by little people falling unconscious in various locations in the family room (no doubt due to the vigorous pizza-eating):

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:


Still, there are those who determinedly hold out for that clock to strike midnight:


But here's my favorite New Year's tradition of all:


And that will never be subdued!

PS We didn't really make it midnight. Daddy and Mama decided to make 11:25 the "new" New Year time. What's thirty-five minutes, anyway?

Happy New Year!

It Was Merry, Indeed!

It was a very merry Christmas around here.



Aw, there's nothing like that first Christmas ~ unless it's your thirtieth and you're getting a new bike!



...or it's your fourth and you're getting a new kitchen to make yummy things in...



...or you have a new way to emulate your hero...



...or your eighth and your parents give you new ways to guarantee bumps and bruises...



...or it's the Christmas you're given a second chace at the modeling career you always wanted.



All that to say, we had a positively lovely Christmas, and we pray that it was the same for you!

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas, our dear friends!

We pray blessings and peace for you and your family on this blessed day!

Love,
Paco, Jamie, Gi-Gi, Bubba, Ya-Ya, and JuJu!

Cookie Cut-ups

Fact: I am a Norman Rockwell lover.

Fact: I want every holiday to have that Rockwell-esque feel to it.

Reality: It never happens that way.

Yesterday, I thought, 'Oh, wouldn't it be fun to make and decorate cookies with the kids. It's such a perfect Christmas thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.'

Fun, it was. Perfect, it was not.

It started like this:

*Please note my husband's face and the fact that Ya-Ya is ducking her head.

Here's why:


The result?

An adorable Ya-Ya covered in powdered sugar.

So, while Mama cleaned it up,

there was an expedition to the front door to enjoy the short afternoon rain shower. (Do you know how rare those are in Arizona?)

After the explosive powdered sugar was cleaned up, we rolled:


and we sprinkled:


Even Ju-Ju got into the act as a taste tester:


The Rockwell family model we are not!

Who wants to be perfect anyways?

I hear it's completely overrated.

Guess I'll never know.

Because They Are Just So Darn Cute!

Because I am a proud mama, I wanted to subject you to more pictures of my amazingly sweet children.

Seeing as it's my blog, I don't think I'll hear any objections.

Because, really, they are just that cute!




Yes, these are my children. Yes, I gave birth to all four of them. Yes, they are worth all the stretch marks.

Well, of course they were going to end up cute with parents like these!


Biased, you say? OF COURSE!

I am just one of those mamas.

My camera is one of the first things I would save if my house was on fire.

*Notice, I said things.

Brace yourselves! Christmas pictures will be coming soon. Prepare to be subjected once again.

Do I hear any objections?

I thought not.