Rock Climbers

We were feeling adventurous again today so we went rock climbing at North Mountain park. This park is nothing to get excited about but it was kind of pretty in the very natural desert setting. If only there weren't so many broken beer bottles and litter everywhere. Sometimes I wonder who are these freaks anyway. That deliberately destroy and upset the fragile and delicate natural environments that we live by. Dan had a good idea and said he would like to take his boy scouts here on an outing and they can pick up litter while rock climbing.

Elena really seemed to have no fear of climbing and was begging for more afterwards. Sierra was being a scaredy cat and Maysa was just enjoying riding on Dad's shoulders.

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you, you!

What a beautiful place! A tropical paradise in the middle of the desert. A desert oasis indeed. We had a really great thanksgiving day at the zoo. Let me tell you a little secret. Nobody goes to the zoo on thanksgiving day. We really felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was really fantastic. My favorite part was the Columbian rainforest and oddly enough it was the only part of the day we needed to bring out the umbrellas.

We also enjoyed how open and big it was. Lots of walking and space for the animals to roam. We didn't feel sorry for them like we do at other zoos. We saw every part of the zoo today. We wish we could have stayed longer but it closed down at 4 so we left feeling exhilarated and satisfied. Can you believe its almost December! I wouldn't trade Arizona for the world, we feel it is the best place to live on earth! Dare I say.

Turkey Lurkey

This year we did a turkey on Tuesday so that we could go to the zoo on Thanksgiving day! This 20 pounder only cost us 8 bucks. I was so satisfied with myself that I decided to blog it. Don't even ask me how it turned so golden and moist because I don't even know. This is the very first turkey I've ever done!

I forgot to take out the gimlet bag thingy so Dan was thrilled about that. First thing- he took a big bite out of the heart and acted like he was on cloud 9. I took a bite too just to see what all the fuss was about and almost spit it out. It MUST be a man thing.

Anyway, we had a real fun dinner as a family and I wouldn't hesitate to bake another turkey sometime. It was a good learning experience!

Christmas is yet upon Us. (These are last years photos in Northern Canada) !

I have a little secret. I actually do like snow.......... at Christmas! :)

After Christmas is said and done, I'm wishing for summertime again.

So this will be our first year away from extended family for Christmas. Our first year spent all alone in the warm comforting walls of our very own home. The first in ten years! It will be different, but I am oddly excited about it.

Why is it that December is the hardest financial time of the year for us. It seems we've overspent throughout the summer then Christmas lands in our laps and there is no money left to speak of. The kids end up spoiled by Grandparents and cousins, so life goes on. Call me scrooge, but I really hate Christmas shopping. Why is there a feeling of a need to buy... for so and so.. and so and so. Lets say we all donated money to our favorite charities for Christmas. Lets say we didn't emphasize so much on giving gifts and instead did service work for eachother or baking.

Something that has me utterly confused is why so many anti- christians celebrate Christmas. If you don't believe and have testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior of this world then WHAT ARE YOU CELEBRATING!! "Happy holidays, have some spirits and we'll toast to Saint Nick." Christmas must be so simple and meaningless to those.

Okay enough scrooge. This year I would like to focus more on serving and celebrating the nativity. I do love Christmas because of family and I will miss my Canadian families dearly this year. But after the New Year is done and I sit outside in my lounge chair soaking up the Arizona rays, I'll be gratetful to start a new year and maybe a crash diet.

Obama Wins

The awaited day arrived. Finally the opponents speak words of grace, compassion and humility towards one another. There was no sore loser here. It is my hope that color had nothing to do with nothing in this election. I like to believe that people based their votes on moral conscience and researched issues. I hope people did not base their votes in the ferver of excitement and the event that America will see history in its making- the first ever African American president. I like to hope that the American people researched what they were voting for and looked deep down inside and prayed about who could handle the country's issues best at hand. All is said and done and we are looking to a future that could bring about major changes, for better or worse. We are looking at a day where the word tolerance will have to be stretched thinner than ever.

2 days before this election, Boyd K. Packer spoke personally to our stake here in Arizona. He said something to this affect: Things are going to change and they are going to change drastically. Don't live in fear and don't let your little ones be afraid. Be firm and steadfast in the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stand for what is right and we'll be alright.

It is my belief that we are approaching the last days. It is now more than ever important for us to hold fast to the morals and teachings we were taught in our youth. Lets be prepared and thankful. Lets keep God in the equation and remember who gave us this great and free and beautiful land in the first place.

Hiking Picacho

Today I hiked Picacho Peak with some good friends in the ward. It was the hardest hike I have ever done in my life. Lots of climbing and hanging on to steel cables. It was alot less terrifying than I thought it would be. We saw this huge tarantula about 30 seconds into the hike. Gross! I screamed like a 2 year old. We met lots of nice people on the hike and got lost hmmm, maybe only 3 or 4 times. The summit was incredible and breathtaking and we are so glad we made it. Lots of fun and would recommend this hike for anyone. There are no dropoffs and climbing the steel cables wasn't as hard as it looks. We did this hike in a total of 4 hours. The picture at the top is the full view of the Picacho mountain. The hike was straight up and straight down- no friendly flat levels.

Mothers Against Halloween!

This year I was going to start the Mothers Against Halloween Movement. Dan just laughed when I asked if he thought anyone would join. Well needless to say, we went to the ward trunk r treat and had a fabulous time. I have never been in a ward where all the adults dress up too, it was really funny! The reasons I don't like halloween. Money- candy- cavities- money- candy -cavities- money- candy- cavities- money -candy-cavities. You get the point. And I always promise myself I will not touch the kids halloween candy this year, I'll just throw it all out.

Well after two hours of stake conference today we all came home and dumped all the candy out on the floor, (just to go through it- you know-). Well 10 or 15 pieces later I felt like throwing up and Maysa was running in circles yelling "candee dee, candee dee!) The other kids were desperatley trying to hide all the gum and hard candies they knew I would throw out and Dan was packing a bag full for his truck outings while relishing on all the fabulous chocolate bars you can buy here but not in Canada. So next year- I'll start my group. Any takers??!

Ah it was fun to dress up anyhow, even if we do look rather pathetic, the kids are cute.