Over the river and through the mountains a hiking we will go...

So Uncle Lance and Aunt Bonnie came to stay with us and Uncle Lance had a hiking book that he brought with him that was 15 years old and he thought it would be fun to take the kids on their first hike.. they were excited when we told them we were going to hike a trail in the Superstition mountains... we followed the directions to get there out of this hiking book and it was hilarious at first because it said to follow the freeway all the way to the end and you would then turn on this dirt road.. well the dirt road ended up being a gated community with these huge beautiful houses and an elementary school and huge playground...we were joking about how we were really roughing it out there in the wilderness.. but when you followed the road down through the neighborhood it did eventually turn into the dirt road that led to the trail we wanted to hike..
( I was driving white knuckling it the whole way through this dirt road and Luke even mentioned that he decided he didn't want to go hiking anymore...the drive was that rugged)


We made it to the trail though and wow was it BEAUTIFUL out there... it was super cold though.. Can you tell that the kids new thing is to give thumbs up in pictures now....the scenery was breathtaking..

we took a "fruit snack" break half way through...

As you can see for the kids first hike it was a pretty challenging trail.. they did amazing though and they really have no fear..even though mommy was a nervous wreck at times..

but seeing how happy and excited they were during the hike we will definitely be enjoying more hikes in the future...

Tree Hunting...

Off to find our Christmas Tree we went...The kids automatically start running towards a tree and yelling they found the one they wanted... I was happy that they found one so quickly and was just turning the corner to see what tree they picked... and then I see Luke pointing to it... I bust out laughing.. it was gigantic!!!! I couldn't even get the whole thing in the picture... I have no idea who has a house big enough to fit that ginormous of a tree in... We gently redirected them to more realistic options and they ended up happy with the one they picked.. Hailie didn't like when they were giving it a fresh cut though...
When we got home I gave the kids their baths while Kyle brought the tree in and it was so funny because they went running out into the living room to see the tree and Luke was so excited..
He threw his arms up and was like "OUR TREE!!!".. so cuteIt was way to late to decorate it so we just had them make little trees for the nativity scene out of the clippings and the tree stumps Hailie and I picked up at the tree place.. Love how they "watered" themThe next day we did a little decorating but poor Hailie got up in the middle of the night with the stomach flu.. so she wasn't really into it.. I felt really bad for her.. poor baby

She got up for a couple minutes to help Luke a bit but she was really clingy and just wasn't into it.. The tree was definetely bottom heavy.. hehe

And I Love how some of the ornaments were literally touching the ground hanging from the tree..

Kyle looked at me and mouthed we would fix later and I was like no that is part of the charm I want to leave them like that and he said, "geez thanks for making me feel like a jerk now for saying that"..

That night Hailie was a little better so we hung some of the ornaments that we saved for her to put on.. Especially her favorite princess one...

It turned out beautiful and such a reflection of the kids.. I really am not into the "themed" trees..

I prefer to hang ornaments on mine that the kids have made or picked out or are from Kyle and my childhood.. or that we have received from family and friends.. it creates such a loving and warm tree..

The phone is ringing off the hook...

so I must have really hit the Christmas Card thing out of the park this year...

The compliments are just rolling in...

Doesn't hurt that I have the cutest kids in the world though either..

ALSO I had a great photographer...

Geoff Rowe is now part of my family... Congrats mom and Geoff ..I wish you both the very best in your new life together..

Anyways, Geoff is a photographer and just moved here to AZ from the UK and is ready to take your family photos.. he will give you a smoking deal too, just mention that you found him on my blog.

He still has some openings if you need family pictures for Christmas cards..

There is still time.. He shot the kids..sent me the picture I loved and then I just got the cards done at Costco.. extremely affordable and the results were incredible!

My best Christmas Card to Date....

Here is another cute shot of the kids from the shoot as well.. I love Hailie's face!

Just email Geoff if you are interested in more information...

geoffrey.rowe@gmail.com

What a Holi-Day!!!

Our Annual baking day was today and we all had a blast..

Every year my sister in laws, mother in law, aunt, and of course Hailie and Sydnie get together and make a bunch of goodies to share with family and friends.. We decided to concentrate on three things this year.. the marshmallows (which I did the night before because they have to rest for 10 hours) .. White Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Fudge in Cookie Cutters.. and then the famous Bakarella Cupcake Pops...

The day started off pretty early in the morning...
Here is Becci and Amber mixing the cake batter for the cupcake pops.. Can't you just see the enthusiasm in Ambers eyes!

Kathy was at her usual spot manning the fudge...

and Aunt Kaleen was in her usual spot... supervising...


the girls were their usual adorable selves...

The fudge in the cookie cutters ended up turning out pretty cute and was super easy...
Then the rolling of the cupcake balls began...
Truth be told it was grossing us out a bit.. I mean you can only imagine the comments we had from this picture below!
It was a long process but finally the dipping of the pops in the chocolate began..

we were up to our elbows in cupcake pops!


But the end result was well worth it..they were amazing...

Then the packaging process began.. I found these little boxes to put the marshmellows in..

Cute right?

The End Results!!!
We were all exhausted...

So I text Kyle and told him I was so tired and asked what he was making us all for dinnrer jokingly.. and then he text back..just wait and see.... I was intrigued..
So when we got home he asked if I wanted to go out that he had a little suprise for us..
OKAY anyone who knows Kyle knows that this is sooo not like him...
We were all excited...
First stop.. Chili's for dinner... and when we pulled into the parking lot he said this was the first stop of three... The kids and I were giddy..
Dinner was yummy and the kids were so good and then he drove us to Starbucks and ordered four hot chocolates to go....

Where did we go???
There is this amazing cul de sac of homes every year that just goes all out for Christmas.. so he took the kids and I there and we were all excited...

The kids were so cute with their Hot Chocolates.. and Hailie kept calling hers "My coffee"
We had so much fun walking through the neighborhood and drinking our Hot Chocolate while we looked at all of the spectacular light displays.. What a wonderful way to spend some family time together for the holidays...