tales from a far-land

Last Saturday was Grandma and Grandpa Landers' joint birthdays.  And sadly, it was also their last evening in town.  To celebrate, we all gathered for dinner at our house.  Before dinner, the kids wanted to play one of the new board games they received for Christmas and to ride their bicycles on the driveway.  And before the kids went to bed, Grandpa and Grandma read them a couple of bedtime stories. Playing Gallop with Aunt Alisha and Grandma    Aunt Alisha and Aiden  Grandma, Aunt Alisha and Madi  Aiden on his bike Grandpa and Aiden fixing a bike     

Annually, we have made it a tradition to go to the Fiesta Bowl Parade.  This year was no different.  We are very lucky that the Maxwell family lives right now the street and they save enough seats for all of us to have a perfect view of the parade.  The kids are really starting to become more interested in watching the parade.  It is really cute to watch them interact as the floats and marching bands as they pass by.  Fun times! Keaton and Simon  Aiden hiding from the camera  Poor Maelyn she wasn't feeling well  Paige and Maelyn  Teagan  Nancy, Paige and Kathy  All of the kids watching the parade  Madi  Madi showing me her Fiesta Bowl sticker  Aiden and Madi  Watching the parade

Last Thursday evening we decided to go to Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo.  It is an extraordinary event in which the grounds of the Zoo are entirely decorated with 3.5 million holiday lights.  It was a very enjoyable (even with a couple of Madi's tantrums) experience among all of the beautiful lights. Entering Zoolights Aiden all bundled up Madi posing for a photo Madi and Grandma Landers Enjoying some kettle corn Grandpa Landers and Aiden pullling the wagon Madi chillin' in the wagon Mommy and Aiden   The Landers Clan One with me ... Just the four of us

This quote sums up our Christmas holiday so perfectly.  For the entire two-day holiday celebration, family was the focus.  We could not be more blessed to be able to spend our holiday with both of our families. We spent Christmas Eve with my parents (and Oma) at their home.  It was a lovely celebration.  We opened gifts, enjoyed a delicious meal and played a little game of Jenga.  And the evening concluded with the annual Christmas Eve present -- matching family pajamas. Christmas morning, Josh and I awoke at seven in the morning pleasantly surprised and shocked that we were not disturbed by our children.  So, we enjoyed some coffee and conversation as we waited for the children to rise.  Aiden was the first to come down the stairs.  Let me just say, his first response was not exactly what we were hoping for. After a little cup of milk the crying subsided and Aiden was ready to see what Santa brought him. Here is Madilyn's res...

On the Saturday before Christmas, the Farrell-Landers family drove up to the snowy town of Williams, Arizona.  It was time again to board the Polar Express to the North Pole.  This was our family's third visit, but the first time that both of the kids would be old enough to understand what was about to occur.  Our good friends, the Bukatas, joined us for the adventure.  We all stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The weather was beautiful crisp and chilly with snow still on the ground, but enjoyable all the same.  We arrived at the hotel about three in the afternoon.  This gave us enough time to check-in and wind down before our five thirty train boarding time.  The kids were so excited (so were the parents)!  We had the *best* train car this time.  The baker girls were enthusiastic and got everyone in the car in the holiday spirit. Plus, they were able to get Madi to sing and dance in the aisle with the other children.  We just cou...

This holiday season we were invited over to the Graingers' house for Cookiepalozza.  It was just as much fun as it sounds.  As a family, we joined their family and some of their friends for cookie baking and decorating. We baked and decorated sugar cookies, bourbon balls, buckeye balls, candy cane cookies and pretzel sticks.  The adults and kids loved decorating the cookies and eating them along the way.  We hope this becomes an annual event.  Thank you Grainger family for a fabulous afternoon of fun! And let the decorating begin ...   All of the girls decorating Kimmy in the kitchen Madi The boys Aiden is in pure heaven The final product ... Now time to make the buckeye balls Here they are ... Time to make the candy cane cookies Teaching the girls how to roll the dough ... Some of them look like candy canes ... Sugar cookies and pretzels