Snow in the desert!

It started snowing on our way home from a shopping trip today, and hasn't stopped yet! These pictures were just before sunset, and there's much more after just an hour. Shannon helped the kids throw snowballs and showed them how to stick their tongues out to catch snowflakes. Charlie loved the snow and ran wild in the yard, then proceeded to lick it right off the patio furniture! No snow days here though!

Yummy snow!

Where's it coming from??

Think my truck will get around in the snow? :)

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to share a few pics from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The kids had much fun opening new pajamas from Grandma & Grandpa on Christmas Eve and amazingly went right to sleep in anticipation of Santa's arrival! Christmas Day brought orange danish & cinnamon rolls, then time to open tons of presents! Maddie got Dora bedding, a new dress, clothes, dolls and a new bike! Hunter got more cars and trains than I've ever seen in one room, a big caterpillar dump truck and lots of new clothes too. They haven't stopped playing w/them all morning. Special thanks to both our families who were so generous! We enjoyed video-chatting while the kids opened their gifts. Thanks again!

The new dump truck!

Candy canes!

Hunter opens his Thomas PJ's.

Maddie was so excited to get Dora PJ's!

Not a new toy, but they sure enjoyed it in their new PJ's!

Hunter loves trains!

Pics around the Christmas Tree

Just a few pics after church today. Our Christmas cards are already in the mail so you won't see these on there. Charlie wandered into one also, but it wasn't very flattering! Enjoy!

Dec is here!

Well, Thanksgiving is but a memory and Christmas fast approaching. The kids are enjoying the Christmas tree and decorations, and anxious for Christmas Day. They're enjoying playing in the leaves, going to park, and art/music classes during the week. Maddie has 2 more weeks of school until the break. Hunter gains more personality by the day and is very engaging. He loves trains, and will 'strenuously object' if you take him away! Maddie is a good big sister, and wants to hold his hand when walking down the street and give him random hugs. We're looking forward to the Christmas break, although we'll miss being with family this year. Enjoy!

We went to ride a tiny train that one of the local families owns and Santa was there!

Yes, we actually have leaves in the high desert! And our house is at the junction of 2 streets, so we gather all the leaves on the street when the wind blows!

Ready to go!

Sup?

Birthdays and Hunter the photographer

So the last 4 days have been exciting, with the Marine Corps' 235th Birthday, Bill's ??th birthday ;) and Hunter learning to use the digital camera! Bill finally got to wear his Evening Dress uniform, which has been hanging in the closet for 2 1/2 years, and Shannon got to wear a dress that she's been waiting to wear for 5 years! The Ball was quite fun, and a welcome reminder of why I do what I do. One of Hunter's favorite things to play w/is our digital camera, but just this week he found the button that actually takes the pictures! So you'll see some closeups of him below, self-portraits! Enjoy!

All dressed up and someplace to go!

Our newest photographer!

Bill's 20lb weighted running vest. Happy b'day!

Who does this kid look like??

Maddie wanted a picture where Mom & Dad were standing too.

Our little boy was exhausted after playing at the park, and we wondered why he was so quiet. Here's why....he was out cold!

Halloween

Just wanted to share a few Halloween pics. Maddie ran from house to house gathering candy w/her best buddy Tyler 'the cow'. Hunter wasn't far behind, although he really didn't care about the candy. He just wanted to shout 'trick treat' at each house. It was great fun, especially for mom who gets to pillage all her favorite candies! Happy Halloween!

Hanging Out

Just a few pictures of the kids hanging around the house. Greg paid us a brief visit recently, Grandma/Grandpa are here now, and Grammy/Pop Pop arrive tonight following their cruise! A busy few weeks at the Maples', but great fun all around. Enjoy.

Sharing a blankie on the couch...a theme here!

All dressed for church!

Our new UT football tackle dummy is a hit!

Same place, different positions.

Familiar yet??

Hunter had good times w/Uncle Greg!