Rain in Az, who knew

So there is a nasty storm coming through from the West coast and is brining lots of snow to the high country and lots of rain for us. So I had no other choice, I had to bake. I love this rum cake recipe from Pioneer Woman and it was so much fun to make with that new candy apple red mixer! Tomorrow we may have to pull out jeans and a sweater, we even have a frost warning for tomorrow night.

I know my  composition is horrible but I wanted to get that lil' red beauty in the shot.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Christmas Dinner

I few pictures of our Christmas dinner for my sisters to see we were not all alone.

my  new Chicos size 1, yeah!

Our neighbors Tanis and Dave, don't Dave and J looked thrilled?

Carol set our table and did a lovely job.

A Christmas toast.

I had to show you the wonderful food. 

Any guess which plate is mine and which is J's?

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Christmas RV Style

Of course it's all about the Iz

Think maybe it's a little too big?

Best present, we let her have  the paper.

J broke the no big gift rules and boy am I glad he did!!

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Happy Birthday Jesus

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

IZZIE'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

TODAY OUR IZ IS ONE YEAR OLD! I can't believe it was just a little less than a year ago when we brought this sweet little girl home.

She has been such a blessing to me. She keeps me moving, keeps me laughing and though J would deny it he adores her too. This morning we sang Happy Birthday to her and she got a stylin' Martha Stewart sweater and a new toy.

\

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

AJ's

AJ's

Bakery

Cheese

Wine

Eat in and Sushi bar.

J wanted a close up of the bakery, it is his favorite part.

Yesterday J and I went shopping at one of our (my) favorite malls around here. It reminds me of a little Oakbrook. It has a Chico's, Coldwater Creek, J Jill,  Anthropologie, I could go on and on, but J's favorite store is AJ's. It is part grocery store, part restaurant, part bakery, part butcher and just plan neat. Just look at all this goodness....



Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Christmas

When we went to Scottsdale the other day we stopped in one of our favorite stores.

It's full of all the little trinkets you find across the border.

We picked up a few ornaments for the tree.

I love this little sombrero, I think I might go back and get one for each of my sisters. 

This little tin church was only $1!

I love my little tree, it holds all my special ornaments. I can't remember how long we have had the angel on top, my sister Louise made it for us years ago. I also have an angel ornament my niece Leah made for me when she was a little girl, she now has to kids of her own. And a little toothpick creation with his picture in it from my nephew Jeremy from 1st grade, he is now expecting his second child.  And of course Mama's Santa ornaments, everyone reminds me of her and her Santa tree.  It may not be as beautiful as some of the trees I see in blog land but I love this little tree and the memories it holds.

Are you getting excited for Christmas? I really miss having the kids around at Christmas, I have the sweetest nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews, gosh we are old aren't we.
Love to all.



Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Iz goes home to see her Mama

Everyone comes to greet her.

Iz decides she might want to visit from up here.

Izzie's Mama, she is four weeks pregnant.

Isn't that the sweetest picture.

I so wanted to take another one home, this is Lucy, Iz's breeder.

So adorable.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Better late than never...take 3

It seems really difficult for me to get to the blogging lately. I don't know why, the days just go so quickly.


First I want to show you a dirty, dirty dog. It has been only 5 days since I gave her a bath!

I know, unbelievable isn't it, that look like a white dog to you?

It was cloudy and drizzly today so we went to Scottsdale for the afternoon. We had lunch at one of out favorite places Frank and Lupes. I took some pictures when we first got there.

I really am having a good time, despite my face! See the pretty bracelets on my arm, Merry Christmas to me!!

J takes his menus seriously.

And again I forgot to take pictures of the meals before we started.

Aren't the horses pretty with the wreathes?

The food was soooo gooood. I like Scottsdale, good shopping, good food and it's neat when they are decorated for Christmas. I absolutely ate to much and will have to pay pentence the rest of the week, but it was so worth it. Tomorrow Iz is going to visit her Mom and two of her sisters. ( and yes she is getting a bath before we go, maybe two) I will take lots of pictures. I need some snow pictures from home, send me some. Love you all.








Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

Wheelin'

Yesterday J and I went on a semi serious wheelin' adventure. I am so glad we finally found a jeep I could ride in. Last year J came back with so many stories about the neat things he saw while out on the bike, so now I can see some of them for myself. We went into Hewitt canyon which was so beautiful, I do not know how anyone can see such things and not believe in God. Just awe inspiring. I know my pictures don't do justice to the beauty we saw but I am tried anyway. 

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt