Pinewood Derby

 It is that time of year again. Time to put your best racing car forward. Well we didn't do too hot this year in the racing. The boys did have fun designing and then helping Dad to build them. Dad had his work cut out to get two cars done. Thankfully for him they only have this one year of two boys. This was Tyler's last year.

 Who knows what they are saying to each other.

 Hunter award this year was Best Workmanship! Way to Hunt!

 Tyler got the Best Detail this year! He loved it. Notice Gracie in the background. I couldn't keep her off of there. Little stinker!

 My cute boys are growing up too fast.

 This is more like their personalities.

 Hunter was pretty sad he kept getting 2nd and 3rd place. Dad promised to do better next year. Only time will tell though..

MLK

 Cousins are the best! All of the kids cousins were there except Kim's Griffin. We do get to see him at the end of the week though. Kim is flying in with baby Griffin. Hunter wants to babysit Kim.

My parents have two foreign exchange students right now. They are so funny out in the desert. They take a million of pictures of the cactus and other  desert plants. They thought we lived in the rolling sand hills without any vegetation. This most of my family now. It keeps growing.

One wish

Hunter brought this home from school yesterday. It says " If I had one wish. I wood use it to help people. I wood give food and water. And I wood give them money." A Mom couldn't ask for a sweeter boy than that. His teacher stamped it NICE. I would agree. Love my boy!

Finally Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is always magical. Even as an adult I get excited and can't wait to wake up.

Can't wait for next years Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

 This was one of the best Christmas Eves we had. We went out to the desert and had a day filled with BBQ, Quads, and Prowlers. Papa let Hunter drive!

 Lucy got to bring Maddie. These girls had fun together until the in a cactus patch.

 Travis was in heaven.

 Travis couldn't get over this rock for a quite a while.

 Hunter took a quick nap.

 Our three legged dog ride in the prowler. She isn't very fast a running anymore.

 We all felt like this at the end of the day.

Christmas Time

 My family acted out the story of the Birth of Jesus. The kids loved dressing up and acting it out as Grandpa read it.

 Tyler was Joseph. Hunter and AJ were our shepards.

Lucy was our Mary. Gracie and Kate were our Angels!

 Jesse did his part really well!

 These are suppose to be our wise men.

After the acting we opened presents. Everyone of my siblings and parents were going to be gone for Christmas so we had an early Christmas. It was really weird not to see my family on Christmas.

Gingerbread Houses

 After seeing Deb's cute house she made I had to try one year to make ones from scratch. We always make them at my Mom's house every year the weekend before Christmas. I went ahead and 6 of them. I was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it. They are so much better then the graham cracker ones we do every year before. My kids always fall apart that day and these held up for a couple of weeks.

 Tyler loved making his. He was doing it the longest. He kept adding more things to his.

 Lucy loved building hers with Nana!

 More candy made it into Hunters mouth than on his house! Don't let that face fool you!

  Mommy had to help Gracie a bit more than the rest.

Lucy put on a lot of mini Reese's Peanut butter cups.

Here are the finished products!!

"Not the Chickens"

 This a phrase that is yelled in terror by the girls of our family. Mostly by Lucy and sometimes by Gracie too. Hunter thinks it is quite funny. Back in December for my family Christmas party Hunter figured out how to catch the chickens. He wanted to show my so I pulled out the camera and got some shot of him in action.

 Gracie came to watch the show. She doesn't like the chickens!

 Hunter got one. It is not very easy to do. Way to catch it Hunt!

 Kate also Hates The Chickens!!

 AJ didn't want to touch it.

Random picture alert! We love this time of year in AZ! Love our oranges.