Family in Town

...and they're here to stay!

"before" - Oct 1st

I haven't blogged much about this except to mention that David's parents have been living with us off and on since September when they sold the only house they have ever lived in since getting married, left Salt Lake, and moved to Albuquerque!  They had decided to build a brand new house in Rio Rancho and so were staying with us until their new house was finished.  A pretty great Christmas present arrived for them when their house was finished on December 23rd.

So, we kicked off Christmas weekend by moving Grandma and Grandpa to their new house, that is now 10-12 minutes away from ours (depending on whether Daddy is driving or Grandpa...Grace likes to time them with her new watch.)

"after" - Dec 25th

Barbara said she wanted to host a meal at her new house on Christmas.  I thought she was crazy and couldn't imagine anyone getting enough unpacked and put away to do something like that so quick after moving in.  But, true to diligent Grandma form, she had her tree up, her stockings hung, her dining room table decked out, her living room immaculate, and was all set to have us over for lunch.

We haven't had "family in town" for the holidays in 6 years since moving away from Salt Lake.  We've made do quite well with sweet friends and neighbors and adorable adopted Grandparents.  But, it was pretty great to see the kids get to spend time with extended family on Christmas day for the first time ever for Hattie and the first time Grace could remember.

Aunt Christine even flew in for the occasion and the girls got to open presents with her.

Well we're sure that Grandma and Grandpa are extremely happy to not be living in our guest room and have their own digs now after being homeless for 3 months.  We know the kids will miss their live-in playmates though.   Welcome to New Mexico, Grandma and Grandpa!

Nutcracker 2010

At the historic Kimo Theater:

With my 2 little Christmas Angels:
(oh, let's forget about the 45 minute tantrum over putting on tights to get ready, and then not having time to do hair.)

of course - had to take pink B

I remember that looking through the fancy program was one of my favorite things to do as a kid at The Nutcracker

Grace and Harriet love the music.  I particularly love that that Grace gets really excited about the whole thing - dancing and all - since she's not prone to liking anything "girly" otherwise.  Hattie appreciates it a bit more now that she is in ballet herself.  Grace started to appreciate the complicated choreography this year.  The girls learned that one set of pointe shoes only lasts 5 hours and cost $75.  They thought that was a pretty big deal - that you would have to buy new shoes just about every time you danced.  They even asked me if they could make a donation to the dancers for shoes.

Hattie looks so tall because she is sitting on a GIANT pile of  coats!

Speaking of "girly" we were most shocked when it was little whiny Clara who killed the Rat King in this performance.  We have NEVER seen that happen before.  Is that a commentary on our feminist society?  Why do the women have to do EVERYTHING!  Come on, can't the Nutcracker Prince just do the one chore?  All in all though, a pretty great performance and a nice night with my girls.

Desert Snow

Last weekend, Grace went to bed crying because she missed the snow in Massachusetts.  The kid loves winter and adores snow.  Let's just say I didn't move her to a place where she will be getting much of either.  I felt SO bad for her.  I felt a little selfish having moved to my ideal climate while taking her from hers.  I have to admit though, it is just a little weird to celebrate the Christmas season without jackets on.  We said a little prayer that we would please get snow in Albuquerque.  I guess Someone heard her and listened.  

In the last 48 hours we have gone from 65 degrees and planting bulbs to this, yesterday morning:

Hattie was so excited to get to wear her rain gear again.  

To this, yesterday afternoon:

It CAN be done!  A snowman in the desert!

Our last "hurrah" with the Evans family.  They are moving back to California this weekend.  We will miss them on the street and wish them well.

To THIS, this morning!!!!

snow covered desert - looking towards the volcanoes 

I have never seen a kid so happy for a snowstorm as Grace.  Hattie was pretty pumped too.  She ran from window to window when it started yesterday with big huge eyes and a giant grin on her face.  Of course, since the entire city of ABQ owns all of about 5 snow plows and 4 shovels (we own 3 of those shovels), 6 inches of snow really slows things down.  We had a 2 hour school delay this morning.  It turned out to be a perfect way to start my birthday.  The snow couldn't have come at a better time - we had no plans for this morning.  So, we got up, asked Daddy to fish the sled out of the attic, and headed for the hill at the library and got a good hour of sledding in before the school bus showed up.  I LOVE living in a place where it is a treat to get rain and snow and not a daily chore.

 

Last day of school for both kiddos today, fresh snow on the ground, fun birthday weekend, and Christmas just ahead.  Not too bad at all.  Thanks for the early Christmas present Santa!

more December happenings...

...and there will be more next week too, but here's what we've got so far:

GORGEOUS sunrises and sunsets.  (did I mention that today is December 15th and I planted bulbs in my yard with no jacket on?  I don't know if I will ever get used to this weather, but I like it!  My whole adult life I have wanted to live somewhere that I didn't freeze to death all winter.  Thank you ABQ!)

A preschool program, put on by Miss Hattie Marie and company.

First time using the curling iron on this girl.  Her gorgeous goldilocks ringlets have not survived the dry ABQ air, so we had to give them a little help.

"backstage"

First dance with a boy!  Estevan told his mom that he was so excited to dance with Harriet.

"I am an angel fairy."  This was her only line.  She was surprisingly upset later that she only had one line, but the preschool didn't think she'd do it if they gave her more since she never speaks!

A second trip to the Galloping Grace Christmas Corral tree stand.  No, we didn't get another tree, but we went back for some Santa time and I let the girls play as long as they wanted, which turned into over 2 hours.  Actually, I think I still had to bribe them to leave.

Tinkering in Santa's workshop

Getting comfy in the gingerbread house after thoroughly cleaning it.  

We met Mrs. Claus!  Come on, she should get more credit.  We know she does most of the work all year and Santa gets to be the rock star on Christmas Eve.

Hattie, barely daring to whisper in Santa's ear.

Grace, gleefully making her second request, in person,  for something that was NOT on her list.  NOT ON THE LIST GIRL!  I sure hope Santa has his A game on.

A mini recital at ballet class today.  Hattie is 3rd from the right.  If I could ever get a video to load on this blog, I would post one.  I recorded the Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer performance today and I've got the preschool one too.  

We did Grace's class party today too and will do Harriet's on Friday.  Then, after Friday, these kids have 18 and 20 days off of school for Christmas break!!! What??? I never got that much time as a kid.  Should be fun - I'm looking forward to it!

Mo-Deb

Being the first grand-child, Grace had the honor of giving my mom her Grandma name.  Nope, it's not something loving or sweet like Nana or Gammy or Gran or Mema.  She got Mo.  My mom is Mo-Deb (somehow it sounded something like Grandma Debbie to Grace.)  "Mo-Deb" caught on like wildfire.  All my sisters call her that now too as well as the rest of the grandkids who have followed Grace.  Funny thing is though, Grace stopped calling her that recently and just calls her Grandma, but poor Mo, the rest of us can't bust the habit.  Sorry Mom!

Well, Mo-Deb came to visit this past week.  We love her tradition of coming to our house the week after Thanksgiving.  It's just starting to be Christmas time, there are lots of fresh activities to do, and it's way before the Christmas rush.  We can go shopping and go on outings without any crowds and we aren't sick of any of it yet.  Plus, it's like one of the lightest travel weeks of the year - no one is in the airports and she can usually get a decent price on a flight.

We think we just might get the best end of the deal.  Of course, we really miss being able to see our missing family members on Christmas day, etc.  But, this little pre-Christmas excursion just might be better.  We get Grandma all to ourselves - don't have to share her with a single other soul.  She's not busy doing anything - cooking, or cleaning, or entertaining.  She's not tired or stressed.  We just get to play with her for 4 straight days doing all the Christmas stuff we like to do and none of it we don't.

We finish decorating and enjoy our hand-me-down Christmas decorations from Great Grandma Primmer.

This ice skating rink is at least as old as I am.  Hattie loves it.

We make gingerbread houses.

is there sugar in it?  then YES!

cheating a little - we did this just before Grandma came, but it goes with the gingerbread house theme

inside the life-size gingerbread house at the Galloping Grace Christmas Corral

We go on outings (this year we went to the Albuquerque BioPark River of Lights.  Last year it was the Nutcracker.  The year before it was the tree-lighting in Concord Square...)

I don't know - I think Temple Square has some serious competition.  Sure, they twist lights onto every single twig of every tree and bush, but I bet you won't find a giraffe or a zebra or an elephant or a flying horse.
ABQ BioPark is the best!

We go shopping.  This year it was Old Town Albuquerque instead of Historic Concord Square.  Both are hundreds of years old, but the history is just a little different.  So is the weather!  I love this old church against the clear blue sky.

We even open a couple presents, because it's always more fun to open presents with the person who gave it to you.

Ok, we usually have to take Grandma to the ward party too.  I don't know how she always comes when we have our ward party, but she's been to more than her share.

Grace telling Santa one thing that was NOT on her list...Hattie trying to decide if she'll really sit on his lap.

She did it!  4 years old, and her first time sitting on Santa's lap!

A great start to the Christmas season.  We love you Mo-Deb!

#30

It's the last day of November.  Why do we all stop being so thankful and shift straight to greedy in one day's time?  It's interesting that Thanksgiving comes one month before Christmas.  Now, the leftover turkey isn't even cold in the fridge before we're all out trying to score black Friday deals on Thursday night!  I can neither confirm or deny if I was shopping for myself on black Friday...  but, I will say that forcing myself to count my blessings every night has made the days seem a little nicer - at least at the end of the day anyway.

So, my last one.  Well, I've got 2 for today.

1- I am so thankful for our beautiful fresh REAL Christmas tree!  We got it tonight and it smells so good.  I also want to give another plug for Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.  We got the tree from their Christmas Corral.  I'm so thankful for the Wade family too and all the really hard work that they do so that they can run the ranch.  If you're interested in getting your tree from them click here.

2- I am thankful that I'm picking up my mom from the airport in an hour!  Since traveling at Thanksgiving or Christmas is pretty hard to do (especially when we lived in Boston), she started the tradition a few years ago of coming to see us the week after Thanksgiving and starting the Christmas season with us.  I am super thankful for my mom.  I would have to write a multi-volume series to list all of the reasons why.

See you later November.  Bring on Christmas!

#26, #27, #28, maybe #29

Just got back from a really great Thanksgiving weekend at Jane and Richard's house in Denver.  We had a great time visiting with them, David's parents, Aunt Christine, and cousins Evan and Janie.  I am so thankful that the girls have been able to have lots of cousin time this year (well more than most other years.)  I am very thankful that the 4 of them got along really well all weekend long and played their hearts out together.

the kiddie table

could NOT get a good picture of these 4.  little stinkers!

I am thankful for the fun night that we got to spend at the swank Marriott in Boulder (David's traveling job does have a few great perks, including lots of Marriott points.)  We had a delicious Indian dinner, a fun night away (well almost away - Harriet did insist on coming) and then a good splash in the pool and hot tub the next morning in the gorgeous Colorado mountains.

Today I am very thankful that we got home to New Mexico safely and are back with our doggies.  We are so thankful for our wonderful friends who let them stay for the weekend too.

I bet David would also post that he is pretty thankful for that last second block by the Utes to win the game yesterday.  We are thankful to be on the giving end of the Utah/BYU teasing for the rest of the year and not the receiving end.