The Best Gift

I was looking through our pictures from Christmas tonight, and I found myself stopping to look at these particular pictures for a long time. Now, I am never one to want to post pictures of myself (or even let my wonderful blogging husband post pictures of me!) but there is something so special about these pictures, that I had to post them for my boys (after all, that is what this blog is all about). As I looked at these pictures, it reminded me how lucky I am to still have this very special man in my life. My Grandpa Voeller is 93 years old, but you'd never know it. As always, he was a crack up and full of energy, getting all of his hugs and kisses in with the great-grandkids. All my life, we would spend Christmas Eve with him and my Grandma and it was always something I looked forward to. We continue that tradition by bringing the boys to see him on Christmas Eve each year, and after looking at this picture of the boys with him, it made me realize what a true gift it was to spend that time with him again this year. The best gift I received this year (especially after the rough year we have had) was to have this time with him. We not only spent Christmas Eve with him, but he and "Grandma Bernice" came over to spend part of Christmas day with us too. We were missing some very special people this year, and the holidays are always the toughest times. It is sometimes too easy to take for granted the time we have with the ones we love. It was nice to take a minute just to sit and be grateful for the true gifts we have...no wrapping necessary. I love you, Grandpa!

Time Well Spent

Daddy is out of town for a couple of days, so the boys and I have been catching up on some serious cuddling. Tonight, Grandma took us out to Souper Salad and then we met up with Uncle Jarrod and Makayla at Borders. Jake and Brady had a great time showing all of the books to Mak and having a little treat with her (thanks again, Grandma!). We've all been feeling a little under the weather, and this was a great way to spend our evening. The boys even picked out 5 books to buy with the giftcards they got from Poppy and Ma for Christmas. Jake chose "How to Eat Fried Worms," a Scooby Doo book, and a Cat in the Hat book. Brady chose a Power Ranger book and a huge encyclopedia of BUGS. Daddy called tonight and he is looking forward to reading them all with us when he gets home. Thank you for a wonderful evening Ma...you're the BEST!

Little B

I was looking back a few years at some of the stuff I have rambled on about. I found this gem and had to update the picture.

Right in the...

Snow Day

We finally took the boys up to Flagstaff to get in some flaky fun. In spite of the global warming weirdos and their fuzzy science, it is cold in Arizona...colder than last year by far. All that cold air + lots of moisture = free fun only 2 hours away. One of my personal motto's is "If it's free, it's me" and so we went. Yeah so the gas wasn't free but it was well worth it.

The drive was nice and easy. The boys played their new leapsters most of the way. Jake had a little car sickness scare again, but managed to keep it under control with half a Dramamine and a little nap. Pheew.

Once we got there we found a nice little play area just shy of Snow Bowl. Just a bunch of new snow and a bunch of families enjoying it. We got the boys all bundled up and they zoomed off. It wasn't long before I was getting hit with snowballs. Most of which were made of hard pack snow and thrown directly at my "lower" extremities. Great fun. We did all the usual snow stuff; snow angels, sliding down a snow hill, bastardizing someone else's snowman as our own, falling down a lot, crying because your fingers are frozen...and laughing until it hurts. We even filled up the cooler with fresh clean snow which we used to make Coca-Cola Icees when we got home.

Good times indeed.

The Real Reason for the Season

Yesterday I told Jake I missed having Great-Grandpa Ritz with us at Christmas, and he said, "Me too. But he gets to celebrate Christmas with Jesus! He is lucky...I bet he gets to have birthday cake with him!" You have such a wonderful way of looking at things, Jake...just wonderful!

Merry Christmas

This is absolutely my least favorite part of Christmas. The part where it's over. We had such a great time, that I just don't want it to end. The boys were so much fun to be around these last few days. Not that they aren't always rockin' little dudes, but...this was Christmas. They turned it up a notch. Hugs, smiles, laughs, and sweetness were everywhere you looked.

We started off our Christmas at Great Grandpa Voeller's on Christmas Eve. The boys got to spend some great time with their ol' buddy and lots of family. They sampled just about every little snack there...and sampled again. It was really great to see the young fella up to his old tricks again, walking around and telling jokes. I am convinced he is simply more than human but less a God.

Mimi & O's was our next and final stop for the night. The boys ate meat pies, tamales, beans and rice, and bunch of other good stuff. They played with all their usual favorites and caught up with Aunt Annie. Then they got to open their presents and give the grandfolks their gifts. The boys went home loaded down with gear, full bellies, and smiles on their faces.

When we got home, the boys and I put on our new Christmas PJ's Mommy got us. Then we put out the gingerbread men and cookies the boys made, along with a huge mug of hot chocolate. The boys each wrote Santa a little note to let him know the treats were for him. How thoughtful. Then it was time for Mommy and I to read our traditional books to the boys. Mommy read The Polar Express, and I read The Night Before Christmas. By the time we finished, the boys were ready for bed. It has become routine for the boys to talk and chitter chatter for a little bit before conking out, but not last night. They hit the pillow hard without a peep. Sugar plums and all that junk.

B got up first this morning at 7:30. I walked out and found him peering down from the railing at the presents below. He saw me and screamed out, "Wow, look at all the stuff Santa brought!" I still can't believe he got up before Jake. Brady went in and woke big brother up and then it was game on. Santa apparently used his magic to light a nice fire on his way back up the chimney, as a special treat to let the boys know they had been extra good this year. Nice touch. The guys tore into their stockings and found a bunch of cool stuff. Then it was off to see about all those presents under the tree. Santa got them lots and lots and lots of stuff...but most importantly he came through with a few things they really wanted. Brady got his Ant Farm, Jake got his High School Musical 2 DVD, and they both got the Wii. Santa sure could have saved some money if he'd have known the reaction those three gifts would get. Everything else was just gravy.

The boys had the whole morning to tear into their stuff and give it all a good hearty playing with. We had no where to be until 3PM so it was super nice to relax and let them do what they do best. After all that, we headed over to Ma and Poppy's for Christmas dinner. As always, a crazy big gathering and crazy good food. Until I met my beautiful wife, I would have thought Italian food at Christmas was pretty nutty...but now it's one of the things I have come to crave. Of course, this year I had to just stick with meat balls, roast, and salad...but it was mighty fine nonetheless. Mommy and the boys ate their fare share of all the good stuff, so I know it was as awesome as always. After supper and playing outside forever, everyone opened gifts and more gifts. The boys got even more cool stuff once again. Good grief.

In conclusion, our house is now about 400 square feet smaller due to the boxes and toys strewn about. Our bellies and hearts are full. The boys are resting peacefully in their beds. My beautiful wife is just about to fall asleep on a couch about 10 feet from me. I am probably 30 seconds from passing out face down on the keyboard. Oh and one last but not least thing, Happy Birthday Jesus.

Three handsome dudes.

Hope you like it O.

Man, we are gonna be stepping on train tracks all over the place.

Cleaning out their stockings.

Santa Bait.

They are moving faster than it looks.

Santa must have been really hungry and really thirsty.

To: Jake and Brady From: Santa

He's half Sun Devil, half Fighting Tiger and 100% Brady.


And there it is.


"Thank you brudda!"

The desired reaction, realized.

Where's Waldo?

"Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

Holy cheese whiz, it's a piano!

Adam is about to take Uncle Jarrod to school on the short bus.

Brady doing what he do.

Jake doing what he do.

Ladies love an artistic man.

Brady's House

You are 4 years old, son. Already a better artist than Mommy.

Chris...Holi...Winter Party

The boys had their winter party today. It was pretty awesome. They brought a few little presents for the class. It's pretty neat how they have them open them. Everyone gets a guess, and then there is a little Q&A session before they finally get to tear into the present. The kids get all into it and makes it last a little longer.

They also got to decorate ginger bread houses. The boys showed remarkable restraint in that they only put every third piece of candy and/or scoop of icing into their mouths instead of on the house. As soon as they were done deco-gorging those they moved right into decorating cookies. Then eating them. Hooray for sugar.

The day wound up like always; the clean up song, songs and stories at circle time and then the goodbye song. I think the world would be a better place if adults had to sing a song before they did anything everyday. Hard to be in a bad mood when you describe what you are about to do in lilting sing-song.

My reason for reason.

Airborne...All The Way!
(For Uncle Jimmy)

The Tinkertoys brought the house down.

"...and further more, I say no new taxes, just new toys."

Artsy Fartsy.

Mommy got to sneak down from her class to get in on the action.

An orange abominable snowman...hey find me a real white one.

Prediction: He will break many, many young girl's hearts.

Brady is thiiiiiis close to reading, thanks to that big guy right there.