White Tank Library

I love libraries! I love hanging out at the library! I love looking around and seeing books and books and more books!
In November we went out to the opening of the new library at the entrance to the White Tank Mountains. Needless to say it was a zoo, so this last week we went back to see what it was like without the crowds.

It is a great library, very peaceful and you can't beat the views!


Danielle got her very first library card and Rayce and Avie spent most of the time playing with the train table.

They also have a pretty cool nature preserve and it's close enough to the White Tanks to do some exploring, as far as libraries go it is pretty amazing!

Ponytail Girl

Nothing cuter than a baby with a ponytail!

Nine is Great

Danielle's Birthday was on the 12th of December. I'm sorry to say she's a year away from the double digits. I can't believe my baby is nine years old, she's definitely a keeper! She loves to cook and craft and draw and paint. I wouldn't be surprised a bit if she grows up to be a teacher. She's incredibly sensitive and compassionate, and is a tremendous help with her brother and sister. I'm sure she makes a difference in the lives of all she meets!

For her ninth birthday, Danielle wanted to have an inside-out birthday party. So all of her friends wore their clothes inside-out and backwards.

We played some fun games, like pin-the-donkey-on-the-tail.




Danielle received some great gifts from all her sweet girlfriends!


The Guests with the Birthday Girl!

Life would not be the same without this girl, we love her!!!

Happy Birthday Raycey Boy!

My sweet son turned four years old on the 3rd of December. He was born on a cold December Sunday shortly after church, and it was love at first sight! He came out head up instead of the preferred head down, so he was a bit beat up for the first couple of days.


He could barely open his eyes they were so swollen!

Rayce wanted a cowboy themed party, so I turned it over to Dan and he played a bunch of fun games with the kids. They roped a horse, had some target practice and an O.K. Corral style show-down.


Dan and Mike showing us the art of the show-down.


The Birthday Boy in all his gifted glory!

Rayce was just about 18 months old when we moved here to Arizona, now he's 4. I have truly enjoyed every moment with this kid, he's a joy!

What a Kid

Danielle has had a busy month so far. Her dance recital was last week and she was amazing! Her class performed two dances, one jazz and one ballet.








Rayce and Avie loved watching, but Avie kept inching closer and closer...


maybe, Avie is ready for dance as well.

Danielle was also chosen by her school teacher for what is called "character counts". The teachers choose two students from each classroom that they feel demonstrate the six character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Dan and I were able to come and surprise Danielle at her school where she and the other chosen kids were honored in an assembly!


I love this girl, she's the best!

It's a Zoo

It was another fabulous Thanksgiving this year, a little bit cold to eat outside like last year, but still so much fun with amazing food. We weren't in the mood to hit the stores on black Friday so we decided to go to the Phoenix Zoo instead. All of the animals were cooperating beautifully. The kids had a blast checking out all the cool exhibits and even rode on a smelly camel!


Rayce with cousin Claira



The highlight of Rayce's day! If it wasn't five bucks a pop we would of let him go again and again!


Seeing the Cheetah up close was worth the price of admission for me.

They Come But One Time a Year...

Pictures

Tricking but Mostly Treating

What a fun Halloween we had this year. Danielle was bat girl, Rayce was a cowboy, (although he was trying to figure out a way to fuse ninja, cowboy and pirate into one testosterone filled entity), and Avie Jo was a ladybug. Avie thought Halloween a complete waste of her time until she realized exactly what it entailed and then...well I bet you can guess!


Avie's not sure about this.


Still not interested,


Not quite yet,


Bingo! At this point she's thinking dressing up like a dumb ladybug is fine if it gets a kid a plastic pumpkin full of skittles and smarties!

What a great night and it didn't hurt that the weather was perfect! Happy Halloween!

Avie's Many Napping Spots

I'm thinking she must have some form of infant narcolepsy. She just kind of drops wherever she is and is out, although she seems to prefer a rug of some sort. It's quite convenient except when I want to vacuum!

Stick Em' Up

This last Saturday we packed up our posse and headed over to Glendale for the Wild Western Festival. Now maybe it's just because my expectations were in the dirt or maybe I've just been that bored, but, I'm happy to say it was a lot of fun.

There were a couple of shows and every time a volunteer was needed, guess who volunteered...


Dan and Ben decided to not be yellow bellies and to volunteer to stand there holding a piece of crate paper while the guy attempted to snap the paper with a whip (dentists don't really need fingers anyway). Luckily no appendages were lost but I think Rayce was inspired to volunteer for the next demonstration.


Rayce was told his job was to stand there looking cute, at which point he immediately went into his super model smile winning the crowd over. I don't know where this kid came from, but he is a little ham. The cowboy then circled him with the lasso, Rayce thought he was pretty cool and the cowboy gave him a bullet as a souvenir.


Don't worry Avie had a lot of fun also,


She was a little jumpy and irritable with the noise of the gunshots, but she loved the horses! Danielle captured this happy moment on camera.


I can easily say we would go back again, the kids had a great time and although it was still a tad hot, it felt great to get out of the house and be outside.

A Good Thing

Usually when my kids are quiet it means they're doing something really naughty, but sometimes...


it means they've just worn themselves out!

That's right, that big mess of hair to the right is Avie Jo completely out a top her big Sis. They do love each other and I have the pictorial proof; these moments make my heart happy!

Pretty, Little Pumpkins

Is October almost halfway over already? This month is flying by! It's still been pretty hot during the day, but the night's have been cooling off which is good, and the mornings are lovely. Now that it's decent weather you will most likely find us on Friday nights watching Dan play soccer.


Maybe even Avie as well





In October we've also been known to do some cookie decorating,

and to also fill our house with lots of pumpkins!


I love everything about pumpkins, even the smell of cut pumpkins. Maybe it has more to do with what comes with pumpkins, cooler weather, the beginning of holiday season, whatever it is I love this time of year!

We also had our family pictures finally taken last weekend (preview to come shortly), but you can view the photographer's blog at http://photosbynatalie.blogspot.com/
It hasn't been that long really, only about 6 years. Better late than never, right?