tales from a far-land

For the third year in a row, I have created a vision board to assist me in keeping my life's goals on track.  This year my goals are specifically centered around turning the big 4-0  in October.  As I focused on what I wanted to include on my board this year, I started to realize that I would like to "re-frame" myself.  What this means to me is that I want to "re-frame"  what kind of person I want to be and what kind of person I am for others as I enter this new decade of my life.  As I grow older, I think it is important to appreciate who I am knowing that I can still strive to be a better person daily. I want to "re-frame" my mind.  I would like to start being more grateful for all the wonderful things that I have in my life.  I want to have less stress in my life, in general.  I want to be true to myself more.  And I want to enjoy the little celebrations in our lives more. I want to "re-frame" my relationships.  I want to mak...

Josh and I spent New Year's Eve in Flagstaff, Arizona with our friends, Megan and Greg.  It was a fun adventure -- four adults in one car traveling through a snow storm to ring in the new year.  We spent the evening beer bar hopping, walking from one place to another in freshly powdered snow. It was so beautiful (and a little chilly).  We finished the evening with a six-course meal and wine pairing at Tinderbox Kitchen.  Sadly, after dinner, most of us were ready to retire back to the hotel and missed the chance to watch the infamous "Great Pinecone Drop". Here's to hoping that 2015 is as full of friendship, love, adventure, and happiness as it began!  On our way up to Flagsraff, it was snowing Our first stop -- Lumberyard Brewing Company Second stop -- Mother Road Brewing Company Greg and Megan Josh and I Photos in the snow on our way to our third stop A picture with the infamous "Great Pinecone" Third stop -- Pay ...

Yesterday, Josh took the kids to the Children's Museum to play and expend some energy.  Here is the artistic piece Madilyn created for me.  I love the eye lashes and the squiggly arms.

Christmas was so much fun this year -- a little chaotic at times, but nonetheless a fun time.  The morning started out very quiet.  Josh and I awoke, enjoyed some coffee on the couch, listening to holiday carols while we waited for our children to wake up.  Finally, maybe with a little help from me, the kids awoke and the gift opening began. This was Aiden's year.  He was super excited about everything.  He loved opening the gifts.  He wanted to pass out the gifts.  He wanted to throw away the wrapping paper.  He wanted to assist everyone in opening their gifts.  He just wanted to be a part of the entire process.  It was so adorable. Madilyn, on the other hand, was excited about some presents, but very nonchalant about other ones. Anything that involved her baby dolls were a big hit.  She would get very excited about it and want to to start playing Mom and Dad immediately, After we concluded our own family Christmas at the hou...

Christmas Eve is a very special night for the residents of Moon Valley.  Each year, all of the streets of Moon Valley are lined with luminarias.  This has been a tradition which began over twenty years ago.  This year, we wanted to join in the tradition, so Josh and Paul distributed sand and lunch bags to all of our neighbors so that we could spread the "light" of the season.  It was amazing to see Aster Drive illumined with the traditional luminarias. However, just seeing the luminarias in our own neighborhood was not enough.  We also wanted to enjoy the luminarias and lights of Moon Valley for ourselves.  So, with the help from the Matchetts, we grabbed a trailer, added some hay to sit on, decorated it with lighted garland and loaded it with our family, friends, and spiked hot chocolate so that we could experience the tradition of  Moon Valley firsthand.  It was a perfect night for a hayride and the house light displays put us all in the carol...

On the fourth night of Hanukkah, we enjoyed a traditional Jewish feast of brisket, latkes, noodle kugel, green beans and rugalach with family and friends.  We are so blessed to have people in our lives who are willing to embrace "Chrismukkah" with us.  It was a beautiful affair full of lively conversation, intense dreidel spinning and ceremonial candle lighting.  This is definitely one of my favorite Jewish holidays. Sitting down to dinner Grandma Farrell and Madi The kids in their Hanukkah pajamas Our family I was also able to get a couple of good pictures of the kids on the eighth night of Hanukkah. The kids really looked forward to lighting the candles and saying the blessing each night.   Happy 8th Night of Hanukkah!

This past weekend we took the kids up north to enjoy the snow and visit the North Pole via the Polar Express.  We had so much fun!  The kids are a perfect ages to enjoy both activities. Christy and Brandon joined us on our adventure this year.  Neither of them had ever taken the Polar Express, so we invited them to join along.  Aiden was really excited (or maybe it was all of the candy) to go on the train to meet Santa.  Madi also seemed pretty excited..  Both kids colored him pictures to give to him on the train.  On the train, we all enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate, the reading of The Polar Express , a visit from Santa Claus and the singing of carols. Sunday morning, on our way down the mountain, we stopped in Munds Park at the Farrell cabin so the kids (and Josh and Christy) could play in the snow.  They really wanted to build a snowman.  And so they did. What did they name him?  Olaf, of course.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed t...

Another holiday event that we love at Moon Valley Country Club is their Santa Brunch.  It is a great way for the kids to meet Santa up close and personal.  Plus, the food is always amazing! Madi before the brunch Being silly! Aiden ready to see Santa How did the Santa greeting go?  Superb for one kid and not so great for the other.  Aiden was pretty excited to meet Santa this year.  He was *so* antsy in line as he waited for his turn to sit in Santa's lap. He wouldn't even sit still for Santa.  He just kept moving and kicking around.  It was pretty funny! Waiting in line to see Santa Laughing with Santa Aiden's conversation with Santa Madi, on the other hand, didn't want anything to do with sitting on Santa's lap.  We did convince her to take one photo with her brother on Santa's lap before she broke into tears.   My two kiddos The kids and Oma

This year we returned to Moon Valley Country Club's gingerbread house making event.  We enjoyed creating a family gingerbread house so much last year, so we gave it a whirl again this year.  I am not sure you would call our gingerbread house methodically decorated.  It was more a contest between each kid to see how much candy, cookies and frosting they could place on any open space of the house's roof top.  And that was only when they weren't eating the so-called construction items.  It was still a fun time even though we all left with stomach aches from all of the sweets consumed. Ready to begin Josh getting the house started The family working together Eating the decorations Dad and Aiden Mom and Madi The final creation...