Joys of Christmas

Christmas ain't easy!


Especially when there is a "sing-a-long" and I can't be sure of
what song I'm supposed to be singing


Christmas is hard. Especially when you need the "jaws of life" to
extricate your kids toy from the box it comes in

Wait a minute Tanner.....hold on.... just let me get that box off.....

Two hours later.....



Christmas is hard when the wrapping paper is more like an
indestructible tear resistant polymer and less like a decorative
disguise.
Use your teeth Hailey. If that doesn't work then I'll get the chainsaw


All that work for a bottle of lotion?


Christmas is hard because I usually get confused with Dave's choice
of gifts. This year he got me a Kindle (yeah!) But also two boxes
of books (huh?)


Christmas is hard for Dave because I always give him gifts
representing a "theme". This year I paid tribute to his "metro"
personality. I gave him some fabulous leather boots, a
merino wool scarf and gloves. Unfortunately, I forgot to
include the West Side Story Soundtrack--- "I feel pretty, oh so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and ___!"



Sniffles, the guinea pig, is the only one that doesn't think Christmas
is hard. He doesn't have to unwrap his Christmas carrot.

Mission Accomplished

BEFORE: Tanner monopolized the master bedroom. The bed
was essentially his domain where he spread out like Henry VIII
after a good meal. Even though we've attempted to relocate his
slumber to other locations, he has inevitably returned, refusing
to leave.




TRANSITION: After ten years we've finally felt ready to kick Tanner
out of the bedroom completely. We locked the bedroom door. We
locked the cupboards. We locked the fridge. For all we cared, he
could roam the house all night if so inclined. In the weeks that
followed we woke up to find Tanner asleep on the couch. All lights
were on, the sink was running, the TV was blaring. BUT... he was
out of our bed!




NOW: The poor boy has finally realized that his own bed is fairly
comfortable and warm. Each night we'll still hear him rattling the
locked master bedroom door trying to return, but in the morning
Tanner will be back in his very own bed. After all these years
Tanner's room has an occupant.

Use The Fork!

We all know that Tanner's greatest pleasure is eating.
He eats with such gusto, with such wild abandonment
that it really bums him out when he's reminded to
use his fork. Lately, however, using the fork has
brought an unusual reaction.

There Goes The Neighborhood

On Halloween a hobo child camped out on my front steps.
She looked so pathetic that I gave her a piece of candy and
sent her on her way. The next thing I know she's begging
all over the neighborhood. Later, following a rain storm,
she knocked on my door again looking a little soggy and
cold. So I took her in, gave her a bath and discovered
that the hobo was actually my daughter!


Featuring Dave's new graveyard attraction...handmade
gravestones with catchy epitaphs. I had to make sure
he didn't go to political.


Dave's proudest achievement, however, is his vomiting pumpkin.

Sick Pumpkin

Hailey's deformed pumpkin wasn't only sad but it
was violently ill.

Sad Pumpkin

Hailey worked at a pumpkin patch for a few hours last
weekend and as payment she was told to pick out any
pumpkin she wanted.
She brought home a misshapen, pathetic thing which couldn't
even stand up on it's own.


I asked her why she picked this pumpkin out of the entire
patch and she told me it looked sad.
Welcome to our home poor thing!!

THE MOAB 2010

A four day weekend, great weather and beautiful scenery
makes Moab a perfect destination in October. For us and
about 100,000 other people. We decided to wing it without
hotel reservations and were perplexed when every hotel
had a NO VACANCY sign. Apparently, this is the 2nd most
popular weekend of the year. Out of sheer determination
Dave found us a fun little place with only a king bed. The
maid brought in a roll-away bed for Hailey, making our
small room just one big huge bed.
During the next three days we enjoyed amazing landscapes
which most tourists travel thousands of miles to see. And
to realize Moab is practically in my backyard makes
me wonder why I don't come here more often.


Hailey is ready to tackle the hike to Delicate Arch


slowing down

pooping out


Sooooo worth it!


Landscape Arch is one of those natural wonders which could
fall at any moment.


Nowhere else on earth can you experience such crazy formations.


Of course the Big Sand Mountain was the chosen favorite.


Still, Tanner prefers to be back at the hotel where he
can flip through channels. For him, keeping it simple
is the key to his happiness regardless of how beautiful
the world is.

The Second Decade

It wasn't too hard to make it through those first ten years. The
second decade taught us the lessons of life. We learned that
although the world is a beautiful and wondrous place, it can't
be enjoyed fully without the companionship of a family.

2001


2002


2003


2004


2005


2006


2007


2008



2009


2010

The First Ten Years

It all started one autumn afternoon in September. I was
just dying for a "Beef 'n Cheddar" at the Arby's not far from
my parent's house. He was dying for an "Albuquerque Turkey"
at that very same time and place. Little did I know that the
timid guy giving me the eye across the room would end up
being my husband. That was exactly twenty years ago.
A year and a half after that fateful meeting we tied the knot.


1992
Just look at that young, hopeful couple,
ready to begin a long and glorious life together




1992
We promised to always have fun and do new things...which
is what we always did.


1993
I changed my hair color from time to time while he watched
his hair go from the top of his head to the inside of his ears



1994
Back then neither of us felt insecure in swim wear. I could
wear a bikini and he still had a bum



1995
When we climbed Angel's Landing for the first time neither
one of us considered pushing the other off the cliff



1996
And we were very fashionable. He wore his big sunglasses, I wore
my lycra bike shorts....everywhere



1997
Everywhere we went together was paradise



1998
When Tanner came along we brought him with us...at first



1999
When Hailey joined us we still had fun


2000
Two kids later we're still looking pretty good

Still, there's the Second Decade.......