Trimming The Tree

Better late than never is how it goes in the Monge house these days. Our tree was up later than usual, but this whole month has been a little behind!?!

We had a Friday Night Family Date night and we all had a fabulous time. We turned on Rudolph, pulled out the decorations and got to work. I couldn't even unwrap all the ornaments before Landon went to town!

This was his work and it was a fine job. But, of course Mommy has a slightly different "style" for the tree. So I gently urged him to consider moving the placement of them! ha!

When I started trimming the tree with it's ribbons and fabric and flowers, Landon moved onto the fur-babies around here. Ruth is such a good old dog. She hardly seemed to mind when Landon started decorating her!

(No animals were harmed in this picture. lol! )

Then, after the tree was decorated and the ornaments were put away, this is how I came back into the room and found our little Curious George! This is one of boxes left over from the ornaments and he's playing with a Lion King Musical snow globe that was given to me by one of my friends/sales clients at ASU Gammage. (We're going to see the performance on January 2nd.)

Sugar HIGH!!

Landon and I were invited to a Gingerbread decorating party again this year! It's part mess, part candy 'free-for-all'! But, it's ALL fun!

I added the frosting for him, at his request...this was the end result after he added all the candy!

Traci and I have been celebrating Christmas with the boys since she lived in my neighborhood. We met when I saw her and her husband walking a stroller with a blue blanket on top. I rushed up with my stroller and eagerly asked, "do you have a boy?! how old is he?!" The boys were less than a year old...but, we began our playdates the next week!

The rest is history!

Although, now she also has twin 7 month old twins. (They're shown in an earlier blog post.)

This was an attempt to get a decent picture with 2 pre-schoolers, with 2 pounds of candy, 2 cameras, and at least 30 pictures taken!!?!

Millions of Lights in Sedona

On our way home from the Polar Express we decided to go see the Red Rock Fantasy of Lights. Literally, MILLIONS of lights in 29 different themed displays! They're all displayed throughout the Los Abrigados Resort.

We met our friends Jen and Jason and their daughters Maggie and Elyse....

But, of course...it didn't take long for us to start acting like dorks! Carlos THOUGHT he was holding up the world...until I told him...it's just a hot air balloon!

Landon is in a Wall-E phase right now. Honestly, could that movie be MORE boring? But, not to him...he's got it all memorized. And even knows that cockroaches are indestructible! If you look on top of Wall-E's Santa hat you'll see the little roach!

This was a cute moment...we were all just taking it slow, walking around and enjoying the light. Then, we looked up and saw the picture below!!?!! Elyse and Landon were holding hands. We sat back and giggled under our breath and of course had to snap a picture!
As Landon calls this one, "Spush-bock Square Pants"...known to the rest of the world as "SpongeBob Square Pants"!

Brrrr....the Apple Cider had nothing on my mom's...but it did warm us up a little.

Nothing says MERRY CHRISTMAS than a Sundevil light display!! :) Gooooo devils!!

This Carousel is actually a HUGE water fountain...and in the winter they transform it into a giant light display.
Inside the resort a beautiful tree of poinsettias. And we actually got Landon to smile. A perfect end to a beautiful night!

Walk In The Woods

I had forgotten how beautiful being in the mountains can be. Landon was in heaven with the sticks to make "guns" out of and the rocks to throw at trees.

On Monday, following the Polar Express...we took a little walk around the neighborhood in Flagstaff. When we stepped out, Landon informed us we were "hunting for squirrels with sharp teef".

So many homes just a breath away from the natural beauty. Carlos turned to me at one point and said, "I would not get tired of this...waking up every morning and taking a deep breath and seeing God's creation." So true!
I also LOVED the chance to play photographer for a a while. This is the one I'm especially proud of. It took about 20 pictures to get one good one. But a they say, you only need one!

Polar Pictures???

So, I get lump in my throat even writing this...but not because of the memories, read on.

The Polar Express was again --Magical! The second year traveling by train to the North Pole. Another year of Landon walking right up to Santa and climbing on his lap with no reservation about the bearded man in red, at all. Another year of Landon belting out Christmas carols...especially Ho-Ho-Ho in Here Comes Santa Claus.

But, the near-tears come from the fact that when we were getting ready to board Train car H, I pulled out my camera.

(cue the sad, sappy music)

When I went to turn on my camera and take a precious picture of Landon handing his ticket to the elf ..I realized no battery. Even worse? No memory chip.

No problem, Jen is on the train with us and she'll have her camera.

We board the train, she says, "My camera just broke! Do you have yours?"

So, I'd love to show you pictures of a great time...but, they will have to be "developed" from the silly disposable camera we bought AFTER the train ride.

You can all console me later.
And STOP laughing!!

Cabin Fever..Not!

Chilly weather, pine trees and a cozy fireplace!!

Sigh.

This is the what family time is all about!

We're up at the one of Carlos client's cabin in Flagstaff relaxing and enjoying a little time together before we head to The Polar Express!!

We went last year with Landon's friend Wade and his entire family, and this year we'll be heading to The North Pole with Elyse, (who's 3 months younger than Landon) her older sister Maggie and long-time friend/"sister" Jen and hubs Jason. Honestly, it's the perfect way to start the Countdown to Christmas!

Passing the time is easy...a lot of nothing! Walk around outside. Come in and lay around. Play with Landon, lay around. Munch on food. Lay around. The only thing that would make it even more perfect? Snow and a random craft here or there! :)

"Tings" with Sharp Teef!

Since we got home from El Paso, Landon has been on the "hunt for things with sharp teeth"....or in Landon-speak, "tings with sharp teef'. I assume this means the variety lion, tiger, shark and such.

Never-the-less...he's been determined to keep the goggles, which came in a kids drill set, his Buzz-lightyear gun and a fishing pole that picks up magenetic fish on his person at all times!!

I know this last picture is blury...but I still laugh when I look at it!

The BIG Feast

Just a few pictures to post of Thanksgiving with the Monge Family. We would have more, but one of Landon's cousins got the stomach flu and was sick, so we had to keep the kids separated most of the week. Thelma hosted us in her beautiful new house and we were blessed by all her service in preparing everything from the turkey to all the fixings! I wish I could say I made something but, after flying in late on Wednesday, my only contribution was asking Carlos to pick up a bottle of wine and Village Inn pies! :(

Maybe next year we'll be in new house and we'll be able to host the big feast. ....hey! I girl can dream, can't she?!

After lunch Landon had a pillow fight with his Tia Thema ... they were really going at it for a while...so much so Landon konked out in Carlos' arms!

While he was sleeping we had an opportunity to watch a movie and play Wii...the coolest video game on the planet! It was the first time we played it and the competitive spirit in both us make for a lively, and sweat-breaking event!


In all, we are blessed to have spent another holiday with Carlos family, especially Landon's Abuelos!

Thanksgiving Eve

I'm getting ready to go to El Paso to meet up with Carlos and Landon who are already there visiting his family. They left on Sunday and have been spending the week there.

I'll be flying out on the busiest travel day of the year ...the first flight after the work lets out for most!?! I've been contemplating just going to the airport 2 days in advance to stand in line for security! :)

But, before I head to Texas I got a wonderful surprise from Heather!
I also wanted to leave you with a few little Christmas goodies! The ornament is is something I made last night... the other is something we create and are being sold at Enchantments Home and Baby as well as through Birds of a Feather.

Good luck as you start to add your final touches to Thanksgiving dinner!