Our Christmas Entertainment

I arrived in COLD and snowy Minnesota on Wednesday morning. Joce and I spent the day shopping at the Galleria, enjoying its festive atmosphere and catching up with each other.

The following day, Chrissy brought Sierra over to Nana and Papa's and we decorated sugar cookies while enjoying the little girls. Viv has a tendency to steal whatever Sierra has, be it food or Nana's lap.


Christmas Eve: another day full of family and fun. It was a might smaller than usual. Only those in our family who are MN residents and me were home. Vivian and Sierra, being the only grandchildren around, received lots of attention!! More than their fair share... :)


Sierra got a soccer ball from caring godfather David.


Our First Laptops. Viv and Nana both got one! Very exciting.


Viv showed Nana a thing or two, seeing as how she's already a pro at using hers.


Christmas Day was even more quiet. It was just the 'rents, and the four of us who are unmarried. We had the most elbow space at the dinner table that we ever have on a holiday. Following lunch, we all napped, then played a new game (Mom won), and went to church.

It feels amazing to be home. So normal. I'm soaking in every moment. :)

Not GFF

Remember this post? Well, turns out my self-diagnosis was wrong, as mine usually are. A while back, I went to an integrative medicine doctor down here, with the same stomach issues I was experiencing last year. She did blood tests, and the Celiacs was negative. Unfortunately, she didn't come up with a solution either... told me to take peppermint oil. It does seem to help some.

So this Christmas, I'll be able to eat everything!! :) Last year, even our traditional Christmas Eve waffles-on-the-woodstove were gf, and the boys weren't too happy. I admire anyone that can eat a gf diet, because it is hard!

Speaking of Christmas Eve, it's coming so fast. We're leaving tonight after I get off work, driving straight through. I cannot wait to see my family.

Jan- I'll be back down in this warm place on January 4th.

Fall has come to Arizona

Despite what the calendar says, the leaves are turning colors and falling to the ground. I love crunching through them. It's funny because they just stay on the ground right under the tree they came from, instead of blowing around in the wind.

I've been busy. Working mostly. Anneli left to MN on Sunday, and Jill leaves this weekend. We leave in 5 days! My Christmas season is going to seem mighty short, seeing as how it doesn't feel so Christmas-y without snow. We do our best though. We have lights, candy canes and exchanged scarves. No tree though :(

Bright side

I miss my family a whole lot, but I'm trying to look on the bright side of things. I got to go for a run outside today, December 5th. I was squinting into the sun, and sweating in its 75 degree heat!

I know what you're thinking

WHIT WHEW!

p.s. Beanbom- thought you'd get a kick out of this picture :)