A Symbiotic Pair

RJ and Chanel share a special bond, likely the result of being the littlest ones in a busy home. The pair aren't the biggest, or the loudest, and their needs aren't the greatest.  They therefore tend to be looked over on occasion.  

It's a good thing they have each other!

Revenge

Montezuma, the Emperor of Mexico in the early 1500s when the Spanish began their conquest, is famously known for reeking havoc on his conquerors' digestive systems.  It seems he was able to show his new guests how he felt about their visit in a very uncomfortable way, which coined the phrase "Montezuma's revenge."
  

Eerily similar, our vacations to Utah always seem to be interrupted by illness.  We only need cross the border before some vengeful bacteria attaches itself to one of us, then spreads like wild fire.

And so it went this trip to Utah with all but one of us succumbing to "Utah Revenge."  Perhaps the state has it in for us due to our choice to live within the borders of its southern neighbor, or perhaps a family member bitter over our bronze skin in the middle of winter is to blame, but as with the Spanish, "the revenge" didn't stop us.  We conquered it and though the girls had to skip the ski trip, the boys still were able to hit the icy slopes.

Our sincere apologies go out to our family members who might have caught the "Utah Revenge" from us.  We are genuinely sorry, but you can take comfort in knowing that "the revenge" doesn't seek you, it is us that it is after.

We are not bitter.  We will still come.  But we do take comfort in a little revenge of our own.   You see, we left the contents of Chloe's stomach in one of Utah's bowling allies!

Ho, Ho, Ho... no Snow?

As a kid I remember anticipating Christmas with every bit of joy within me. Looking through the Sears Catalogue when I was younger and going shopping with mom and my $100 when I was older, all lead up to the fun of Christmas Day!  With six siblings and all the gifts, it was difficult to even get to the tree Christmas morning!  Santa got smart over the years, making it near impossible (I say near because seven children are smarter than one, or two, Santa(s) any day!).  Santa started hauling the ping pong table up against the doorway (a mighty feet for such an out of shape old man) to block us from entering until mom and dad woke up.  It was utter torture to wait the 30 minutes for the German pancakes to cook and be eaten before we would race downstairs for Dad to pass out presents one by one, prolonging the event until late morning.  When it was all over I remember piling my long-awaited things onto my bed and thinking dejectedly, "It's all over."

I imagine things have not changed and that the feeling exists among my children as well.  So thankfully they always have their New Year's trip to Utah to look forward to.  Cousins, grandparents, parties, more presents, and of course that thing we don't see in Phoenix... SNOW!!!!

The snowmen, igloos, sledding, and skiing for the kids, the snow ball fetching for Chanel, the new all-wheel-drive SUV snow test-drive for mom and dad, and the hot chocolate after it all!  Oh, it's going to be fun!

Unfortunately Grammy and Papa J only heard we wanted snow boots for Christmas, not snow.  And Muck and Puck try as they might weren't able to help either.  Not even one little flake!  Disappointment and heartbreak!  No snowmen, igloos, sledding, or skiing.  No snowball fetching, no snow test-driving the new SUV.  Only cold and hot chocolate.  

If only we'd known that the snow on the side of the road at our pit-stop in Flagstaff was all we'd see, we would have broken out the new boots!

Thank goodness for family!

New Years 2012

Happy New Years!

New Years Resolution:

Spend more time with the people you love, 

and look great doing it!