Christmas

Christmas!!! We got to see a lot more of Cade, we were mostly decorated after the move the week before, and it was a white Christmas. The Christmas tree before it's ravished. You can't see the homemade picture / gifts from Leah which are sooo cute. My stocking even had a sticky note picture with a $1 bill stapled to it and she said she didn't need it and thought I'd have more fun with it than she would. You can't see the picture below are the presents and note which Jesus left. This was my favorite part of the day, I got choked up because of it. :)

The green light to come in and see after all camera's and video were set up. Santa did well...this was the reaction that was always hoped for.

Cade, I mean Carter got laser tag guns for Christmas. It was on his Santa list and I have to say we played with these the most throughout the day. Note in the picture above this, Carter was clutching as much as he could while Cade explained how to work the guns. :)

Leah had a great time as well with all her presents! A music box and a make-up kit from Grandma Littlefield was a hit.
The oh so talked about Madagascar 2 game for his xbox! Thank goodness Santa got this but the reaction live was way better. He looked like he'd just won the most important thing ever, he shook and everything! What a nut.

Even though we tried to steer Leah to wanting other toys she was determined to get a "Fashion Puppy" I think just because the word fashion was in the title. :) The rubber-band peg board from the Galloway's is fun too. It's like one of those zen games of just relaxation with countless creations. Yes, I play with it, what's the matter with that? :)

At the end of the night, the snow was swirling around in a storm that had the lights flickering so we turned them off, lit some Christmas candles from the Broadhead's, and sang Christmas carols. A very peaceful way to end a wonderful day!

Leah's first bus ride

So here's Leah walking the crosswalk in Anthem by herself. For any of you that know this was a big deal for her to be old enough to do this and she has her own special walk for it too. :) She pretty much insisted that I not pick her up at the curb so she could walk with the big kids. Then she'd get picked up on the other side.So when we moved, she got to ride the bus to and from school which is also very exciting for her. Notice the difference in clothing from these 2 pictures. Shorts and flip flops to full length everything and a jacket.

Leah & London waiting for the bus.There she goes. Look at all those older kids and they're all boys! Leah did fine & I'll be ok.

Logan Canyon Adventure

Logan Canyon is b-e-a-u-tiful! So we decided to go for a nature hike along the trail to the Nature Center that is very kid friendly. We had a wonderful leisurely time, stopping at any little thing of interest. You can't see very well that Leah is holding a butterfly by these flowers.

That's one huge pinecone! There are tons of hands on activities that the kids tried.

What's a nature walk without a little walk in the freezing stream? Carter has my tender feet but Leah could've done this for hours.

I love little feet and toes!

People I want to be like when I grow up!

We had to have a quick going away dinner with some of our favorite buddies. I could go on and on about the different people that have taught, served, and impacted my life in Anthem. Let me just say that when I think of people that I want to be like, raise my kids like, treat others like, it's the Killebrew's, Woods', Wood's, Christensen's, Wright's, Jackson's, Willden's, Brandon's, Gurr's, Hallsey's, holy cow I shouldn't have started a list because there's too many people still to put on. So let me just say, I love you all, and if you're reading this, you're on the list!L to R in couples: Wright's, Woods', Jackson's, Us, Wood's, Christensen's, & Mary Killebrew

THE MOVE! Also makes me cry! Beware this is mushy.

I LUV everything about Anthem, Arizona...except the scorpions! I love the weather (yes even the heat), the cactus, the food, the community, the wards, and especially the people. There are so many fun community parks and regular events that make this place one, I will always call home. There are sooo many wonderful people that I didn't even get pictures of.

Here are just a few, and to those I missed, I miss you still.My Sally Wright or should I say "Companion". Hee hee, that's only funny to the 2 of us but it's my blog and I can say what I want. :) So many people, like her, that make me happy and want to be a better me.
MY GIRL'S! I love these guys so much!
Kameron and Kelsey you better keep in touch!

Leah actually took this picture. I don't have pic's of most of my YW,

so please send them to me if you're reading this.Attention all the high school boys at Anthem: Eat your heart out!!! Carter's been kissed by the 2 cutest girls in the school. (Brad, he's only 4 but you better watch out!)

One of the Easton buddies in Carter's life. He insists that our next child will be named Easton.

I echo Carter's sentiment to the move. Blah!No, that's not the tears in my eyes, it's just blurry but it's all I've got of my best bud Misty. Thanks for all the packing and emotional help! You rock!

The Jackson's were our first great friends here and the last ones we saw before driving away at midnight. We'll love ya forever and let's face it, you're stuck with us.

Sea World! It makes me cry! Beware this is long.

We started out our Sea World experience with feeding the dolphins. Carter wouldn't do it but Leah and I got some good pets and feeding time. Look closely in the next ones and you can see us doing that.

Flamingo's on parade.

At the Sea Lion / Otter Show, Carter got picked out by the opening pantomime act. He pretended like there really was something that got put in and taken out of his head. I couldn't believe what a good sport he was and the mime was really good.
He giggled and held his hand to his head all the way back to sit with us, like he was stopping the bleeding or something. Very cute! Shamu, Shamu! This show actually made me cry. It was so well-done and high-tech, I was moved to tears. Plus, being there with my little kids...magic. :)

Ok, this Sesame Street, 3-D, interactive movie was AWESOME!!! We had gushes of wind, water sprayed on us, chairs vibrate, and more. I think I was more of the kid during this one for sure. I could've gone right back in to do it again.
This is as close as we could get Carter to touching anything that day. I even had one of those wonderful Mom moments where I was like "This is fun and you're going to experience this mister!" I snapped out of it quickly though.
If you look closely at the sign it says "Please don't take the starfish out of water." We didn't read that until after the picture was taken. We got to pet so many things, it was awesome. Leah is very brave in these situations. The sting ray literally came out of the water and inches from her face and she didn't even flinch. She would've kissed the thing. :)

Carter's favorite part of the day, besides getting a Sea World sword, was the shark tank. You start out looking at them from above and slowly move through an in tank tunnel where they can swim over you. Pretty cool and eery at the same time. No cute little penguins or petting starfish, just show him a shark. :)

We ended the wonderful day with the rides and playground area. It was a magical day and I would love to do it again anytime.