Snow Day

We had a couple of snow days in a row where Charles had school cancelled.  The first day it was still warm enough to go out and play in it for a bit.

Bragging

I'm so proud of my husband who got B's and A's this semester in law school.  Those are good grades normally, but with the semester we had with a broken toe and me being so sick for so long and then miscarrying, they look even better.  Throw in his job and he did Freaking AWESOME!!  Way to go, honey!

Sydney in the desert

I took these while we were on our trip.

Back

We just got back today from a ten day trip to Tucson.  Family, games, Old Tucson Studios, Mesa, hiking, being sick, rain and freezing temperatures were all a part of the trip, whether they be good or bad.  I took over seven hundred pictures and will hopefully be getting them up, not to mention the pictures of our activities for the month of December.  So be prepared for a barrage of posting from me in the next couple of days.  Yay, right?

Cowgirl on Horse

Ever since we got Sydney her boots she has been dying to ride a horse.  Thankfully, the pony rides at Old Tucson are by donations only, so we let her ride while we were there.

Petting "her" pony.

Overexposed, but I kinda like it.

Last pet.  My favorite part was when Sydney was talking about how much she loved horses and Talia commented on how Sydney was going to be one of those girls who wants a pony and Charles told Talia that if we could at all afford the horse and the land she probably would have a pony.  Talia looked a little shocked, which was the very best part of the conversation

Durans

My Dad's family.

Jumping

There is nothing better...

...than jumping...

...on a trampoline...

...with your cousins (or second cousins, as Eli is my cousin Steven's son.)

Family visits.

My Aunt Teresa and Uncle Jaime and their two kids Jessica and Joseph came over to my grandparent's house and we made s'mores out in the fire pit in the yard.



To get enough light, I had to do long exposures, which causes ghostly looking people.

So, I told every one that they had to stay still...I thought they would at least look normal, but eh.  Notice Jessica's face and Joseph's pose.

Night desert sky with smoke in the background.

Sabino Canyon

We went to Sabino Canyon to do a little hiking.  Especially since it was about forty degrees warmer than it was in Nebraska.

Showing Sydney that the cacti were sharp.

We are very serious hikers.

Can you see Sydney's face?  There was a cave behind them and someone said that there could be a mountain lion in it and she was terrified that she was going to be eaten.

This is a SAD face!

Everyone else took the tram up to the top and Charles and I did a little exploring off the paved trail. Here, he has claim this rock with his bamboo cane.

Group picture...well, minus me, behind the camera.

My dad doesn't smile for pictures...I think it is a military thing.

Seriously, this is his smile for pictures.  You have to catch him laughing to get a good smile.

And then she complained about having to walk with wet socks.

It was hilarious to her to take a picture of me taking a picture of her.

The best family shot we got.

Quotable Sydney

Sydney, after Charles told her that something was just pretend.

"I don't want to be pretend.  I just want to get real."