Christmas in Arizona

Christmas with the Dean cousins.

 You may not always be able to tell, but these boys LOVE each other.

 Matt, Maya, Katie, Violet and Jackie.

 Charlotta was complaining that she doesn't have any photos on Santa's lap, so we HAD to make a special trip.  She was so very happy!!

 No, Skylar is NOT actually taller than me yet.

 We went to the new aquarium and Skylar got to swim with the fishes:)

 We went horse back riding at the ranch and I was really surprised at how well Brennen did.  He was an absolute natural with no fear (except for that one small moment when he was dismounting and his foot got stuck in the stirrup).  Kellen was very cautious and just wanted to go about 10 under the speed limit.

Best friend cousins!

Home Christmas 2016

Before we head out to Arizona for Christmas week, I like to celebrate with just us.

They were all pretty happy!

How we spend our weekends in the winter!

We are usually at a pool somewhere and I got us all together for once.

Thsnksgiving in Nashville!

As always, we headed down to Nashville for the week of Thanksgiving.  I have destroyed my phone and I think that some photos have been lost in that process, so I borrowed a few from my sister in law:)  We always do so many things, it's hard to remember it all. We went hiking at Radnor Lake,

played with cousins,

 celebrated the birthday buddies,

 

(Nothing says 1, like a pinata!)

  

 Went on a General Jackson Cruise for my mom's 60th birthday,

 

with a special trip inside the captain's deck!

 

We also did our annual Turkey Trot, adult night, but those photos are missing:(

A view of swimming from the gym!

Brennen found the comfy spot.  Another Saturday, another swim meet.  Brennen loves to be with the big kids!

Awards Night!

Skylar swam on the high school swim team this year through Sioux City.  She did well enough to be on varsity and earn a letter.  This is her high school swim team at the awards banquet.  She really fell in love with swimming during the high school season.  She had a lot of success and really sees a future in it now:) She is more willing than ever to put in the work to swim in college!

The kids' second favorite day of the year!

Only Christmas day beats Halloween!  The kids (yes, my husband is a giant kid) love to dress up and get loads of candy!

  

Cutest witch around!  And the Cat in the Hat.

 Skylar and her friends were Alice in Wonderland.  Skylar made a great Alice!

 Grim Reaper.

 Pumpkin Bobble head scarecrow.

 My favorite leprechaun! Even shaved to have lamb chops:)

A very well dressed group this year!

Finally! Pumpking carving time!!

The kids got the pumpkins weeks ago at Pumpkinland, but if you cut them too early, they will rot!  Today, we finally get to carve them! Good thing-tomorrow is Halloween!

 

Indoor marching show

 So, they take the marching band into the gym and do a field show in the gym.  It was neat to see it up close.

Surprise Date night!

 JT surprised me with tickets to a group that I love-Pentatonix.  They are an acapella group that I just find amazing!!  I didn't even know they were on tour or close to us, so I was completely surprised!

Lotta's first swim meet!

She has been dying to get on swim team and now it is her first meet!! I wish I would have remembered to get a picture of her in her suit (she is so stinkin' cute), but the first meet is always total chaos!  She did so well though and I was so proud of how hard she tries!

Meanwhile, back at home, Papa teaches Skylar how to drive a stick shift.

James' choir concert

This time he has pants that button. (pat on the back, mom!) We have a new choir director and she is amazing!!  I could not believe what she could do with a middle school choir.

Palm Springs and Pumpkinland!

 A weekend after New York, I had a trip with my mother to Palm Springs.  My kids were a little irritated that I was gone TWO weekends in a row, but that's just how things fell.  We spent one afternoon hiking around the Aerial Tramway park.  It was a beautiful place!

While I was gallivanting around the country, JT took the kids to our annual trip of Pumpkinland!