ChRisTmAs In ArIzOnA

Our family just recently returned from a trip to Arizona to see my side of the family...(and Tanner and Emily) and to have sweet lil Cole blessed. It overall was a good trip...I can't help but say that the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" reminds me so much of these trips we take yearly. The trip is full of lots of fun and funny moments, places to go, important things to see, with some good 'ol family conflict and arguments and a great ending. It is a necessary trip and it sure wouldn't be Christmas without it. Here are the highlights...

Seeing my mom's newly remodeled, beautiful house; Cole's blessing; Annelise's bday; and...seeing my family...(Uncle Brandon, Aunt Mayra, (& Yoshi), Uncle Corbin, Aunt Amy (who we found out is 8 weeks pregnant!!!!!)








& last but not least Grammy; (who is beyond adored by my kids) and all the wonderful Gardner family cousins and grandparents. (I tell ya...they are the most loving supportive family!) It is truly home there in Arizona for me...
And what would Christmas be without pictures with lights and new pj's? (thanks mom for the new jammies!)


We visited my dad's grave and put a fresh wreath on it. Annelise collected a bunch of fake flowers that had blown into the bushes next to his grave and put it on top in a pattern. Surprisingly, she know alot more about death, heaven and Grandpa Dennis than I thought. And Aaron just played with the flag we had on his grave from Veteran's Day...and Cole got to be there for the first time. But, who knows, maybe Cole met my dad before he came to our family here on earth and knows more than we think! Christmas does make the memories more poignant; and I miss him most at Christmas and on the day he died. I bet he is happy for us though.



We went out to dinner to Benihanna's restaurant
and to Neilson's Frozen Yogurt (family tradition)

from the funnest pedicure I have had (I love the argyle paint I picked) to playing dress up and loving Yoshi a little too much...



to a super fun night at Golfland (a personal favorite)




I know I posted a ba-gillion pictures (I used my new fav. word of the month) so I am sorry if there were just too many...but it just was such a memorable trip! What can I say? I sure miss and love my family so stinkin' much! And I miss Arizona too. The weather...wow is it nice.

MoThErInG...oR...sMoThErInG?

Cole is now 2 months old...and I must admit we are all so in love with him. He is a sweet baby and a good baby at that. It has been so fun with him here...and I never knew how much I could love babies! With each kid I have...I realize how fast time goes by and so I think I am trying harder to cherish each day a little more when they are babies. I wish Cole could stay little forever sometimes! He is now wearing his 0-3 mos clothes (instead of the newborn size) and size 1 diapers!

And it is not just me who loves him...Annelise is quite attached to him...hence the title...she does "mother" him...and helps alot; but she also "smothers" him too...with kisses and tight hugs...and pats him on the belly and head- I just wonder how any of us made it to adulthood with older siblings! I am glad she loves him though. How could you not love a new baby?

MoSkY & CoLeSkY

After watching "Twilight" I was just absolutely destined to miss Seattle extra...(I loved all the trees and the rain!) But it made me miss it even more when my sweet Monica (mosky) came and visited. There is just something about Seattle that gives me the best memories and that place will always be super special to me. I miss Seattle and I miss the Shribers! love you mosky....

PoSt-PaRtUm??

DiSnEy On IcE





I must have been going through some post-partum emotions the last month...I can cry at will at any time of the day...and I do! I get teary-eyed watching Disney movies with Annelise and I even cried at Disney on Ice! Commercials make me sad and any sad news...it really doesn't take much. Too bad for Josh- I am not so sure he likes having a super emotional wife! Did this happen to you all? To the point where everything is a big deal and I have a hard time coping with normal situations...what a pathetic situation I am in. I am going to try hard to snap out and work through it...except should post-partum depression still be affecting me when my baby is 2 months old? Uh oh!

CoLe"S bIrTh AnNoUnCeMeNt

Our little Cole is a little over a month old...and my how the time flies when it isn't your first! I cannot believe he is a month old! Well, we are all still doing great...he really is such a good baby and we are so lucky. I think we are all still working on getting little more sleep...but I must say we are all happy!

HiStOrY iN tHe MakInG

It truly has been a historic day in many accounts. We now have a new president, Barak Obama. I am glad that I voted...so now I have right to complain as much as I want for the next four years...but I must say that what he achieved is truly amazing and historic. He sure has his work cut out for him though. Good luck to him fixing the economy and the other problems he faces! He is going to need it...(especially with the ways he plans on fixing things- I am not so sure he will be fixing anything but making it worse!) But, this is a wonderful country...and a blessed land...so I believe the Lord will take care of his people. I do so love America though! Here's counting down until the next four years are over!!

FaLl HaPpeNiNgS

I gotta say that I just love Fall more than any other season! It is so fun and I am so sad when it is over. Because of Cole joining our family, October flew by and we didn't do as many traditions as we usually do...but we still had our fair share of Fall fun!

We of course had to go to Lagoon's Frightmares...boo hoo...no more Lagoon till next year...




and then the local pumpkin patch...(aaron enjoyed this the most!) I love the pic of the kids with Josh going down a slide...he looks more scared than the kids do!




Our family also had a family party (josh's side) and the kids had so much fun...and Josh loved being a Mexican Rancher and I was Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter. Can you guess who the kids are and the other people are in our family...(think Juno)





And then there was Annelise's school program. They sang the cutest songs about Halloween...and her teachers said she is their loudest, best singer. (I can only imagine!) And it was funny because during the program she stopped and told her teacher she was cold standing in the shade and asked to move...then 2 minutes later asked to move back. No other kid said a word. She is so outspoken! But at least she asked politely. ("ummm...excuse me teacher...I am cold...")


And what would Halloween be without a good ol trunk or treat and a neighborhood haunted house...




We had the best weather for Halloween this year...so we Trick or Treated until the rain started! It was the best year and I just loved seeing kids dress up! Now if I can only keep from eating their candy! It was too funny too because one of the houses in our neighborhood was decorated really well with lots of spooky things...and both kids were super scared and on our way to the door...Annelise realized she was too scared and yelled..."Mom! Let's go back home...the candy isn't worth it!"




I sure love my little superheros...Wonder Woman (or Super Princess as Annelise called it...) Batman and Superman. I can't wait till next year!