Christmas Recap

We were home in RI for Christmas this year. Every year on Christmas Eve we go over to my parents for a little food, the reading of the Christmas story and Twas the night Before Christmas. Here is my dad reading the Night Before Christmas with my kids looking on.



We do the Jammies on Christmas eve gifts. Here are some of the kids in their new duds with Nana. My mom was really sick but she was able to come sit with us to open gifts. She then had to go lay back down but it was good to have her there for what time we could.



Then Christmas day arrived and my kids were beside themselves with excitement. Kasey got up a couple of times during the night saying he had to use the bathroom and did Santa come yet!! They were then up at 7am on the dot. We used the video camera to capture the excitement upon first going out to the living room...so unfortunately I don't have still shots of that.



Chaos in front of the tree. Packages, wrapping paper, toys everywhere.


We then went to my parents on Christmas day for dinner and gifts. Jordan with his new Chemistry Kit. Jordan loves science and building things. He can't wait to do his experiments. This is also a shot of his new cowboy boots for Grandma Gooch. She sent both the boys very nice boots. Kasey wore his with his PJ's and didn't take them off the whole night. He was excited to "be a real cowboy" he said.

And that is that. I am now suffering from the "Christmas is over" blues. On to New years Day, my birthday, and Kasey's birthday coming right up from behind on the 6th. The events continue!!

Shhhh go to sleep!

It's Christmas Eve and I am so excited. As kids, myself and my 4 brothers would stay up all night waiting to come down stairs on Christmas morning. We couldn't come down until 7am and I tell ya...watching the clock click down the minutes took soooo long. We snuck down most times and only got caught a few (due to the creaky floor boards in our house). I'm still like a little kid. I can't sleep on Christmas eve!! I can't wait to see the looks on my kids faces...I LOVE it. So merry Christmas to you all and a to all a good night!!! (Go to sleep Lora....I can't, I can't) Shhhhhhh.

Snow Storm!

Putting up the Tree

I love putting up the Christmas tree. We put on the Christmas music, sing, dance and have a good time remembering the past and putting up ornaments that have special meaning. My mother-in-law has a fabulous tree and my aim is to have one like hers some day; but, since my kids are young I just let them have at it and put it up the way they want. We put the tree in the opposite corner this year where the ceiling is higher that way we could get a taller one. I LOVE it. Sometimes I just like to sit next to it in the dark with the tree lights on and remember my Christmas's as a kid. When I was young, my brothers and I would bounce our heads on the couch to the beat of the Christmas carols, right next to the tree. Too bad we'd look silly doing it now, or else I'd do it for sure.



Such concentration!



The finished product.



Things then started getting a little crazy for my two little monkeys! Crazy monkey #1




Crazy monkey #2



Now off I go to await this snow storm.....it's a comin'. Merry Christmas!!

Rockin' it in Rockefeller center

We went to NYC this weekend to visit Maline and Alan for my nephew Cooper's 1st birthday. We had a great time. We took on the task of pushing through the crowds of downtown Rockefeller center and pushing we did. It was jammed packed with people and it took us a long time to get to the tree, it was cold, but it was worth it. Before you turn the corner to the tree this store on 5th avenue is covered with these snowflakes that blink to the music. This of course makes everyone stop and watch which in turn makes the 'getting thru' that much harder; but it was REALLY cool. Thanks Maline and Alan for the great weekend!!!



Us in front of the tree. Of course we're not really in front of it, we're actually quite far down the path but this tree is so big it looks close. The tree is AWESOME!!! All my life I've lived on the East coast, I've never braved Christmas time in NYC. Check it off the bucket list.



They had these beautiful angels along the path leading to the tree. Very Pretty.




Cousins.



And then we have the train pictures. Daddy and Kasey.



Awwwww...love, love!



And the craziness that IS riding the train with noisy kids with ants in their pants.



Need I say more??

All I Want for Christmas...

Is my two front teeth! Literally...Jordan has lost yet another tooth. 4 and counting since April. His 2 front ones are gone and he looks soooo cute.

Thanksgiving in Arizona 2009

I know these pictures are kind of late but with so much going on I really havn't felt like blogging. The wait is finally over though and I'm sure you've all been dying to see them, so here they are. We had our annual Turkey bowl as usual.....Here are all the playuz in the house!!



Jordan finally decided to play with them this year. He had a ton of fun. (Nice guns there honey..he)



Scott in mid-air


Jordan and he's cousin Bridgette. This little girl is so stinkin' cute I just want to eat her up!


Our hike up to Sabino Canyon in beautiful 80 degree weather. That's the nice thing about Arizona...nice warm weather and sunny skies in November. It rained while we were there which I don't think I've ever seen yet in all my times there. When it rains, it rains hard! I loved it.



The annual family with a cactus picture!



So after we got up into the canyon, the little kiddies got down to their skippies and got in the cold cold water. They had a blast! They even built quite the nice dam!





Scottie and his sister Julie.



Scottie and his brother Quinn with a mouthful of apple!



Scottie and his momma!



And of course the trampoline. My kids LOVE this thing. They were on it all day practically every day. As soon as they got up they asked if they could go get on it. I'm loving this shot of Kasey. Talk about getting some air. His broken finger didn't stop him at all. He got sweaty and dirty every day and we changed that bandage a million times. Fun! Thanks to Scott who was out there every day bouncing them on this thing.



Triston, Bailey, Kasey and Jordan. LOVE Bailey's pigtails.



On our last day, we went to visit my cousin Kimmy and her husband Todd in Buckeye Arizona, about 3 hours north of Tuscon. They own a huge farm and fields and lots of equipment for my boys to drool over. This is a cotton picker that we got to ride in. You can see how huge it is. Todd showed us how it works and then they let us plow a couple of rows of cotton with his dad. It was SO cool and my boys were on fire with excitement to say the least.



After the pick the cotton they put it in these huge bins and use a machine to squish it down into blocks. Todd let the kids jump in the cotton. It's so spongy. I tell ya, they really work hard out there.



This isn't a good shot but the sun was going down and there was tons of dust from the machinery. VERY big tractor.


They have calves, cows, sheep, goats and even a donkey. The kids were in their glory and very dirty. Todd even took them in a ride in his little plane the next morning. Thanks to Todd and Kimmy for housing us and taking us around. Todd took tiime out of his work day to entertain us and we really appreciate it. It was good to see my cousin since I don't see her very much. Thanks so much guys.

We went to the zoo and to a couple of movies and did some shopping also.

And so, another great trip to Arizona. Great family, friends, food, fun and relaxation. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for all you do for us and our kids. We love you.