Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Hike

Every year we hike Camelback Mountain around Christmas time.  Every year someone hauls up a Christmas tree up at the top.  This year I made an ornament.  Here are some pictures.  Enjoy!

Christmas Eve Eve

great food + lots of laughter + a Christmas message + family & friends = BLISS

fruit, chile rice, spinach artichoke dip with bread and chips, hummus platter, dad's amazing beans

 claire's lemonade

 elliot and ray making plantains 

 lucy

 anabelle and sammy

 whitney and lucy

 mom, lucy, and elliot

whitney and elliot's homemade churros

a gift from the heart

As a teacher I get several gifts before the Winter Break.  Things like lotions, gift cards, books, ornaments, etc.  The students really like watching me open their gifts and I try to make them feel as special as possible.  For example if they gave me a scented candle I would have the kids smell it and comment of how nice it smells.  

This year my students did something I've never had happen before.  

They secretly signed it, passed it around, 

and left it on my desk!  

I'm the luckiest teacher ever!

my FRAME tree

This has been in my files for a very long time.

Today I created this:

Enjoy!

Update

Her are some pictures of what I've been up to.  I'll post the other when I get a chance.  Today Dad and I spent the afternoon in downtown Tempe at the Tempe Art Festival.  It was so much fun!  There were tons of people.  Dad and I shared a Tornado Fry (pictured).

 Beautiful Arizona sunset!

A new Farmer's Market on Warner and McClintock.  Saturday mornings!

Here are a few pictures of Thanksgiving.  After our meal we had a Nerf gun battle in the backyard!  Highly recommended!

I had a great Thanksgiving Break!  More pictures to come!