Christmas at Cheryl's House

After we opened all our presents at home we went over to Cheryl's house to do the same with the rest of my family. With Mike's help the three little girls, Mackenzie, Sophia and Arya delivered presents for everyone to open. They were so excited that we got all the presents opened in record time, just about an hour. It did make it hard to see what everyone recieved, but the girls were having too much fun to slow them down much.

We also had lunch over at Cheryl's and played with some of the new gifts. Arya of course had to have her new baby opened and she really liked the new stroller that Sophia got from Santa.

Spoiled, Who Me!

Yes, we went a little overboard on the presents. Arya is fun to buy for. Mommy bought her a bunch of new games and puzzles and books. Daddy bought her Geo Trax and more Geo Trax and yet some more Geo Trax. We'll get some pictures of their different layouts soon. Arya had a great time opening her gifts. She liked ripping off the paper and seeing what was inside. She would ooh and aah over the different gifts. Sometimes saying, "This is just what I wanted!" We had fun watching her in her excitement. She did get tired of opening about 2/3 of the way through her presents, but with a little encouragement we got her to open all of her gifts.

Mesa Southwest Museum

Arya, Mike and I went to the museum on Tuesday the 23rd. Arya has a love, hate relationship with the dinosaurs. She really wants to see them, but they scare her a little bit. We had to go back and see them a few times, but just for a couple of minutes at a time.

She like when we went out and panned for gold. She found a few little pieces with her daddy.

Then we went to look a the old Arizona Jail. I think we have the cutest prisoner ever! It is a nice little museum and Arya is looking forward to going back again.

Arya in the Box

We have gotten many shipments in the past couple of weeks. Some of them in big boxes. Arya thought the boxes were quite fun! One night after we unpacked the presents from a box from Aunt Colleen, Arya played in the box for over an hour. She played in it herself along with putting her babies in it. Why do we spend hundreds on Christmas presents for our kids when they play so well with a plain old brown box.

i-plan

Arya has coined her own new phrase, "i-plan." Whenever we are going to go somewhere or do something we'd asked her if that would be a good idea or we'd ask if it was a good plan. Arya then started saying, "That will be a good i-plan."

Snow Day

We went to Mother Nature's Farm on Saturday. They were having a snow day. They brought in some snow for the kids to play in and sled down a small hill. Arya liked the sledding until snow went down her shirt. She threw a couple of snowballs at her daddy, but then she was done with the cold stuff, not that I blame her. Although I don't mind the snow when it is 60 degrees outside.

Dance Class

Arya and Sophia had an observation day in their dance class this week. It was fun to watch what they do each week in class and they looked really cute. My mom and I made them new red and green Christmas tutus to wear.

Wildlife World Zoo

Arya and her Daddy went to the Wildlife World Zoo on the other side of town on Saturday. They had a great time. They went on the train ride, which goes through an animal area where they saw deer, zebras, ostriches and some other birds. They also got to feed a giraffe, Arya didn't like that it tried to lick her. They saw some lions and tigers pretty close up. The highlight of the trip was feeding the lorikeets. Arya was thrilled when the little birds landed on her arm and she got to feed them apple slices.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Arya has enjoyed getting things ready for Christmas. She has helped put ornaments on the tree, we still are not done and maybe won't be this year. Some is better than none, right?

She also has like to play with the new train she and her daddy bought. It has a bell, a whistle and music that she can control with a remote control.


Arya has also likes to help wrap presents. She is in charge of carrying them and putting them under the tree. She always has to know who they are for and who they are from.

Christmas Lights

Mike and Tim put the lights up on the house. It takes Tim's gigantic ladder to get to the second story. It is quite an ordeal, but they look really pretty. Arya helped Mike organize the lights on the driveway before the Hughes family came over to help hang them up.

Hair Bows

Arya likes to wear ribbons in her hair. This is a fact that makes me very happy, since I love to do her hair. Now that she actually has enough hair to put up in pony tails and clips. She usually tells me when she wants bows and if she wants one or two.

My mom and my sister and I were out at a craft boutique last weekend and someone was selling homemade hair bows. I thought Arya would love them. They were very cute, but not $10-$15 cute. For that I could make my own. I went home looked online and found out how to make hair bows. They are pretty east to make and Arya loves them!

Turkey Art Project

Just about everyday Sophia and Arya ask if we can do a project. I usually am up for something. Painting isn't an everyday project though. We do lots with stickers and gluing and coloring, but painting becomes a BIG project. Most days we do our projects after naps in the afternoon so Mackenzie is here and can participate. She likes to make things too. Mackenzie helped by tracing all the feathers to paint. Then we set up to paint.


Their turkeys turned out very cute!!!

Movie Time

Today, Arya and her daddy went to the movies. They went to Madagascar 2. We watched the first one last night, Arya likes this movie. We told her she would be going to the movies with her daddy in the morning. She has a great memory, as soon as she woke up she wanted her socks and shoes on so she could go to the movies. The movie didn't start for more than 2 hours after she woke up. She asked every few minutes if it was time to go. She got her candy ready as well as her movie cup and carried them around until they left.

She sat really well through the movie. Mike said he liked this one better than the first one. As they were walking down the stairs Arya said, "That was a GREAT movie!" Then as they were leaving they walked by a group of people waiting in line for the next show. Arya made them laugh by singing, "I like to move it, move it."

Arya and her daddy have such a fun time going to the movies.

My little pill bug!

Arya sometimes is just plain silly. Her tunnel was half open, so Arya decided to crawl inside it. She hid there for quite a while. Then she decided it would be more fun to stand up. She looked hilarious. She looked like a giant pill bug walking around. Mike and I had a good laugh, she played in her little tunnel for over 20 minutes.

Happy Halloween

Trick-or-Treating this year was so much fun! Arya couldn't have been more excited. She had been practicing saying trick-or treat and thank you for days, which she did at most of the houses we visited. She didn't walk, but she ran from house to house. She was thrilled that all these different people were giving her candy. Arya was dressed as a 50's girl and Sophia was Minnie Mouse. Mackenzie went with some of her friends, she was dressed as dancer. We went around the block, which was enough for the little girls. After we were done Arya and Sophia helped Grandma A. pass out candy. It was a fun night for all!

Lyra

We went to get a 3D ultrasound of Lyra. She had a big audience. Both Grandmas were there along with Mike, Marcia, Mackenzie, Sophia and Arya. The little girls were excited to get to see Lyra, but I don't think they really understood what they were seeing. The grandma's had a hard time too. Lyra wasn't too cooperative (I hope this isn't a hint of days to come) She had her hand over her face most of the time. We did get some good profile pictures of her.

Zoo

We went to the zoo today. We have been wanting to go for a long time, but it has just been too hot. It really wasn't all that cool, but we went anyway. Arya and Sophia loved to see the different animals Sophia wanted to see the giraffes and Arya wanted to see the monkeys. We got to see both. They also liked to see the goats, they had to go around and brush every single goat, twice! On our way out we took a ride on the Merry Go Round. Both girls took really good naps after our trip to the zoo.

Rock Star

Mike decided to get the new Guitar Hero. This one not only comes with a guitar, but drums and a microphone too. Arya has always liked to play the drums in the stores. Once we got them home, Mike set them up and Arya turned into a drummer. She even tested out the microphone. Not only does she play like a rock star, she has the attitude. Arya thinks the drums are hers. She doesn't want to share. She doesn't like it when anyone else plays her drums. We are going to have to get extra drum sticks since she will allow us to play with her.

Pizza

On Wednesday night I decided to make pizza for dinner. Arya now wants to help out with just about everything. She had to help me make out pizza. She did a nice job too. She helped me spread the pizza sauce, put on Mike's pepperoni, and sprinkle on the cheese. My little chef was

very proud of her pizza!

Painting Pumpkins

Arya loves to do art projects. She especially loves to paint. I don't always love the mess, but I do love the fun she has and her adorable

finished projects. Today we painted paper mache pumpkins. She is starting to take

such care with her work. It amazes me how big she is getting.

Swimming, Summer 2008

Arya loves to swim. She spent many evening swimming in our backyard pool. She would have like to have gone every night, but we probably went at least 3 times a week while it was hot out. She went from being able to glide a few feet under water to being able to swim, flip to her back and float then flip over and keep swimming most of the way across the pool. She also loved to jump off the side of the pool and dive and get things off the bottom of the pool.

Arya has been taking a dance class for the last couple of months. She loves to go. There are 5 little girls. Arya is learning how to follow her teacher's dirctions and how to wait her turn along with the many new dance moves she comes home with. She will do something new and say "my teacher said to do this." My mom and I saw these cute little tutu's on the internet and looked at how to make them. They are super easy and they look adorable. Here she is showing us some of her ballet moves.

Mother Nature's Farm

We went to the pumpkin patch On Sunday. We all had a wonderful time. There was a lot for Arya to see and do. She spent a while trying to pick out the perfect pumpkin. Even though they were all very, very small she didn't want to pick any of them up, she said they were too heavy.

We got to go for a little hay ride around the farm while we were there. Arya likes to go for rides. It is a good thing we'll be going to yet another farm in a couple of weeks and they have a hay ride too.

They had a hay bail maze that we got "lost" in. Arya kept on asking "How do we get out of here?" We did eventually make it out of there and she was very excited. She didn't want to do it again.

One of the reasons we went to the Pumpkin patch this day is because the Arizona Herpetological Society was there. They brought Tuesday, the alligator, which Arya would actually touch for a second. They also brought out a huge tortoise, some lizards and snakes we could see and touch.

At the Farm

We went to Moo Moo Palooza at Superstition Springs Farm. They have a yearly day of fun at their farm. We got to feed some goats and a turkey. We went on a hay ride, a favorite of everyone. We also got to pet a couple of baby cows. Arya was also excited because she got to walk like a big girl, I didn't bring the stroller, it's too hard to push in the loose dirt. Arya's favorite thing at the farm was looking at the cows. Sophia liked the chickens the best.