Fort Huachuca

After Christmas, the kids and I went back to Arizona with Adam for a little over a week. Arizona was great! The people there were so friendly! It would be a great place to live if they had grass. While we were there, Adam was either working on his independent study class or in class so, the kids and I went to the park on base at least twice, if not more, everyday. While at the park I always ended up talking to the other parents there and it really opened my eyes to military life. The army is not just a job for these people. It really has an effect on every facet of their lives. It made me appreciate their service to our country even more and grateful that Adam is only National Guard.

While there Elaina became a sunbeam and Austin went to nursery! The nursery had 29 kids, all in one classroom!!! It was amazing! So, I think they were relieved to hear we were only visiting.

Then the kids and I flew home. It was Austin's first plane ride and Elaina's 6th or 7th. I was so nervous they would be bad, but we had a window seat and the kids just stared out the window the whole time. They were perfect!

Above is the building Adam lives in. It's not as bad inside. Below, with my new Range Rover parked in front, is where we stayed while we were visiting.

It's really small in the picture, but that blimp thing in the cloud is actually really big and hovers over Sierra Vista at all times radaring for drug trafficking.Elaina her first day in Sunbeams and Austin in nursery.

Lastly, the kids at the park. It was a really cute park.

Thank goodness for little children who leave us reminders of what the Christmas season is really about. I found this set up of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus being surrounded by the kid's animals today on the table.

The other day I was watching Austin play with a manger scene. He really gushes over the Baby Jesus and gives him lots of kisses. Austin kisses every picture of Jesus that he comes into contact with, he always has. While watching him this time with Baby Jesus it dawned on me, when Austin was really young we would show him pictures of Jesus so he would recognize him, but the love (ie. Kisses) Austin has for Jesus is something he came up with on his own. Austin only kisses pictures of family and Jesus. I really believe Austin knows exactly who Jesus is and it’s not because I taught him but instead because he remembers. I believe little children are still very close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus. I am so grateful for my little ones.

Visiting Cousins

The day after Christmas we went to Aaron and Joylyn's for dinner and games. The kids had so much fun together. Austin LOVED baby Thayne. He kept trying to hug and kiss him. It was a lot of fun.

Christmas

This was a really weird Christmas. Every year since I can remember I have gotten up on Christmas at 3 am sharp and all the presents are open by 6 am. This year, my internal clock once again woke me up right at 3 but this time I decided I would let everyone sleep in. We had church at 9:30 am and the kids slept in way too late for us to open presents before then. So, we really just got to see that Santa did get the kids change of address form. Santa brought Elaina a new princess bike and then we got the trike out for Austin to prevent any fighting. Grandpa Twitchell had tithing work to do after church so we had to then wait on him to open the presents. We didn't start opening presents until like 1 in the afternoon. It was so weird to have the sun up!

This year Austin was all about cars and the only thing Elaina asked for was a elephant pillow pet, but she was really excited about the bike.

After presents we got to skype Avram from Brazil. It was great seeing him!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve finally made it!

Live Nativity Scene

Tonight we were able to go see a live set up of Bethlehem and see a reenactment of the Baby Jesus story and it was really nice. They had the angel that visits the Shepherds and he was like 30 feet off the ground. Elaina was so amazed by him. The highlight of the evening for Elaina was Baby Jesus. When they were reenacting the manger scene we watched, but because of the crowd we couldn’t see very well. When it was over we took the kids over to see the live camel they had there and mean while Elaina was just throwing a fit because she wanted to see Baby Jesus. She didn’t even care about the camel a couple of feet in front of her. She had her priorities straight.

Where there's water, you'll find my kids.

Utah Trip / Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, the kids, Grandma Twitchell, Autumn and I drove out to Utah. We went to see Alicia and her Adam because they were moving soon to Tennessee. As an added bonus, my Adam made the drive from Fort Huachuca to see us. It was a full week of visiting family, Thanksgiving and see the Temple Square lights. It was a lot fun and the time with Adam went to quick, as usual. Austin was Adam's little shadow the whole week. He's missed his daddy.