Ohhhh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

One of the best things about Christmas is that it gives me the chance to sing endless Christmas songs. Yes, I'm one of those people who love Christmas music! I especially like to sing songs like "Let it Snow" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," both of which feel a bit ironic considering that our weather here in the Valley of the Sun is nowhere near snowy, and I've never actually experienced a "white Christmas."
Sunny, with highs in the 70s this week, the weather is certainly not frightful...it's quite delightful!!

We've got some beaUtiful flowers blooming

Chickens are growing up. We'll have fresh eggs soon!

Lily riding the new electric scooter grandma gave her for Christmas

We spent the day at the Phoenix Zoo enjoying this gorgeous weather.

One of our favorites. We love otters! Some of you know why!!

These guys are just weird.

Is that a panda in the bamboo!? Oh, it's just Lil.

When did the zoo add a taddie exhibit? (If you don't know what a taddie is, you really need to ask Lily!)

Mystical Taddie Land

Lily full of energy + no pain = Awesomeness

Luminous Lily. My little pearl.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Merry Christmas!

Girl's Christmas party at Grandma J's house. We also celebrated Lily's birthday and the fact that Aunt Mary Lou (Lily's great-great aunt) was with us for a visit from Idaho.

Christmas morning

The month of December is always an especially busy (and fun!) time of year for us, not just because of all the holiday parties and events, but because it is also one very special girl's birthday.

Lily was born 12 years ago on December 13th. Even as I spent the day in labor, I was multi-tasking! We spent the morning searching for the perfect Christmas tree and the afternoon decorating it. By that evening, I was finally ready to head to the hospital, where Lily was delivered a short time later.

Lily was a beautiful, healthy newborn; she looked like a pretty little doll with chubby cheeks and a head full of long, black hair.

I was so happy and excited to finally have my sweet baby girl in my arms. She was absolutely the best Christmas present ever!

This Christmas, I am so thankful to still be able to hold my girl in my arms. She truly is a gift and a blessing to everyone who knows her.

Birthday Tea Party

Lily had a fun birthday weekend. She spent a Saturday at Amazing Jakes with some of her best friends, riding rides, playing games and eating pizza. She had a lot of fun, even though I think that place should be called Crazy Jakes rather than Amazing Jakes! Wow. It was wild.

The following Sunday was much more calm and peaceful. We had a lovely birthday tea party in our backyard. It was a beautiful day- clear and sunny with a nice cool breeze. We all wore our party hats, of course.

12 years old!

This was more my kind of party! Colorful flowers, fun hats, parasols, lemon tarts, fancy frocks, Edith Piaf playing in the background and organic herbal tea in teeny tiny tea cups. These are a few of our favorite things....

Tea Party Regulars

As night desended, the mustaches came out!

Those that already had a mustache grew a uni-brow!