Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! May your day be blessed!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

Have I ever mentioned I love living here in the Phoenix area? December ... and clear blue skies, lush green grass, and warm temps. The grass is doing so unexectedly well that Jonathan had to actually mow the lawn today. Last year, we didn't need to mow the lawn all winter.



We set out luminarias again this year. You can take the girl out of New Mexico, but you can't take New Mexico out of the girl. I simply MUST put out luminarias at Christmas!

My sister stopped by tonight with tamales for dinner - yum!

Zoo Monday - December 20, 2010

Jonathan had to work again today, so today was "Zoo Monday." There is a playground just inside to the zoo entrance, and if given the opportunity, Christian would have spent our entire zoo visit going down the slide (over and over again).

We got to see some birds and kangaroos before he started losing interest and just wanted to be carried around. He's much too big these days for me to carry him around like that, so we didn't get to see much of the zoo at all.

But that is oikay ... we went to the zoo to have fun. And he sure did have fun on the slide!

A Wonderful, Delightful, Happy Surprise!

If your husband unexpectedly asks what he can do to help out around the house, and then suggests, himself, that he clean the bathroom ... be suspicious.

If your husband reminds you to keep things picked up one morning, when normally he doesn't care ... be suspicious.

If your husband sends you an e-mail early in the day and tells you he'll be in meetings for the rest of the day, and unavailable ... be suspicious.

On Friday night, Christian's school had "Parent's Night Out." So Jonathan and I planned on dinner together at the nice restaurant in our community.

For my birthday on Thursday, Jonathan sent me this Birthday Gram. I thought the use of my high school logo was a bit odd. And wasn't sure why he included the image of two girls hugging each other.

Jonathan came home late Friday afternoon. I knew he had come inside ... and I was busy with Christian, who had just woken up and was in desperate need of a diaper change. The doorbell rang, and I went to answer it - surpirsed by two things 1) Jonathan didn't get the door himself and 2) Bella didn't bark.

I opened the door, and before me was my best friend since first grade, Valerie. I hadn't seen her in a year and half or so ... and I was just floored.

Turns out, she and Jonathan had been planning her arrival for weeks. WEEKS!

But her arrival wasn't the only surprise. The plan was for us go to the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale for a spa day, dinner, overnight stay and movie in the room. It was like a dream come true!

Valerie and I had such a blast! We went shopping, ate a lot of sushi, got all caught up on eachother's lives ... and laughed and laughed. And we watched "Inception" in the hotel room.

Valerie also came bearing gifts: red chile (YES!!!), beautiful jewelry and socks for me, and a kite and a Kimochi for Christian.

It was an absolutely perfect weekend ... and the best birthday EVER! Many, many thanks to Jonathan and Valerie for this very special treat!

Los Luceros De Arizona