Grand Canyon

We made a family trip to the Grand Canyon National Park.

It was a chilly view, with snow on the ground and a bit breezy.  I accidentally left my good camera at the hotel, so had to rely on Auntie Rochelle and my iphone...but you get the idea, we'll definitely make the trip out again, hopefully in the spring when the weather is warmer.

Dog Days

E's favorite dog is now also N's. Buster, the Arizona farm dog.

One Second Longer

Today marks the point in the year when our days get longer!

On Dec 21st, the sun rose at 7:55 and set at 4:20 - the day was 8hr 25 min 15 sec long

On Dec 22nd, the day is 1 sec longer!

On Dec 23rd, the day will be 8 sec longer than Dec 21st

On Dec 24th, the day will be 20 sec longer than Dec 21st

On Dec 25th, the day will be 37 sec longer than Dec 21st

Obviously it will take a while to see the change, but psychologically, Dec 22nd is a lovely day, happy Winter Solstice.

Swansons

We like to visit this nursery around Christmas. They bring in animals (camel, donkey, and reindeer), set up a train and this year the kids got to pet koi in their Garden Cafe...

*ps, a total coincidence, but I love that his little green hat made it's second appearance at Swansons!

Ho-Ho-Ho....Boo-Hoo-Hoo

Elvis

E was busy creating one thing or another at the table behind me as I faced the computer screen with our Christmas Shuffle playing on iTunes.  All of the sudden Elvis' 'Merry Christmas Baby' came on and without looking up she spit out, "Can you change this?" to which I replied, "But it's Elvis."  Then turning around to look at the cover art for the record she said surprised, "And he sure is handsome."

Imagine Childhood Giveaway!

Mosey on over to their beautiful site!

Elmo with Ricky

N enthusiastically asks for an Elmo video at least 10 times a day.  He has a handful of Elmo books, and a few weeks ago August introduced him to the glorious 'Elmo on Demand' aka Elmo videos on my phone from YouTube.  I hadn't given in to his request to watch snippets on my phone until today when we were stuck in some pretty nasty evening traffic traveling home from his doctor appointment; he's sick with fever, ear aches, and was hungry and grumpy.  So after sitting in a dead stop and staring at blinding brake lights forever I quickly pulled one up and handed him back my phone... it ends about 3 minutes later and he immediately of course asks for more so I hit the next one on the roster and all the sudden I hear a familiar British accent asking if Elmo wants a lullaby because he's having trouble sleeping.  I was in the front seat in hysterics.  I can't see it, mind you, just listening and picturing it.

So I get home, give him dinner, put him to bed, call D and E over to watch it with me and we were just rolling.  There's also this Ricky Gervais/Elmo interview as well that is just great.