CHRISTMAS IN ARIZONA

It was nice to thaw out in Arizona over Christmas break.  We spent our first week there at Mike's parent's house.  The second week we spent at my parent's house.  We went to La Parrilla Suiza (our favorite Mexican restaurant), saw the temple lights, played with family, ate yummy food, watched movies, played games, went to the temple, visited with friends, opened presents, and sometimes did nothing but relax.  We are grateful we could fit so much into the two weeks we were there.  The weather was heavenly and made us miss Arizona, but we know that we are where we need to be.

ARIZONA OR BUST

We got up at 4 a.m. and left by 4:30 a.m. to go to the airport.  We found cheap parking at a nearby hotel with a 24 hr shuttle to the airport.  Our flight was at 7:40 a.m. so we left extra early to make sure we would arrive on time.  To our disappointment we arrived at the hotel to find out that the freeway was iced over and their shuttle was stuck among a bunch of other cars unable to move.  They had to wait for the plows to ice the freeway so that the cars could move.  By the time the shuttle dropped off their current load of passengers and fought traffic back to the hotel we had been waiting for 2 hours.  We arrived at the airport at 7:45 a.m. only to find a line snaking around the airport.  We waiting in the line for 2.5 hours before we reached the counter.  They told us that there were no outbound flights available that day.  We re-booked for the next day at 5 p.m.  We decided that since we were already in Indy we would go to the Children's museum.  We were so tired and worn out that we didn't stay more than a couple ours and then headed home.  The kids were a little confused why we came back home but they were good sports.  We all went to bed really early.  At church the next day some people were surprised to see us.  We left after sacrament meeting to make sure that we made it to the airport on time.  There was hardly any wait for the shuttle and only a few people in front of us in line at the airport.  We got through security with 3 hours to burn before our flight.  Luckily we found a playground for the kids just down from our gate.  We spent the next 2.5 hours wearing the kids out.  After a delayed flight we finally arrived in Phoenix at 10 p.m.  What a long couple of days.  Because we missed our flight we also missed out on some family activities.  We were all bummed about it but at least we arrived safe and sound.  Despite the icy weather we were protected and didn't have an accident.  Our kids were VERY patient and well behaved during all the ours of waiting and despite the change of plans.  We didn't have to pay anything to change our flight.  Even though we threw out most of our food before our 2 week vacation, we were able to find enough food to last us through Sunday so we didn't have to eat out.  We were truly looked after.

MIKE'S BIRTHDAY

Since we were leaving really early in the morning on his birthday to fly to Arizona we celebrated the day before.  We went out to lunch and then played at Wonderlab.  I made his requested dinner and a yummy strawberry cake.  As the kids are getting older they are getting more excited to celebrate things like birthdays.  They really enjoyed celebrating with their dad, as did I.

FIRST SNOWFALL

Right before we left for Arizona it snowed in Indiana.  We never get more than a few inches at a time but it's still fun to play in.  Unfortunately Mike was at school until late that day since it was finals week so he missed the fun.  As opposed to last year the kids actually enjoyed playing in the snow.  We made snow angels and a snow man.  I managed to snap a picture before it was destroyed.  Our neighbors even came over to play.

CHRISTMAS AT HOME

Since we were going to Arizona for Christmas and didn't want to take all our gifts, we opened our gifts before we left.  We went to the annual visit of Santa and Mrs Claus to our Bishop's house, complete with cookies and cocoa.  This year was picture perfect.  No tears and no fears.  The kids walked right up to Santa and Mrs Claus and sat on their laps for a picture.  Then they thoroughly enjoyed the cookies afterwards.  When we got home we opened our gifts.  It was a very fun, Christmasy day.