Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas!  We enjoyed a full day with our lovely kids and Roger.  Riles was thrilled to get an orange in his stocking, and we almost had to coax him to go beyond that .  Given that we were then out of oranges, he was momentarily disappointed, before being coaxed into submission via presents.    I will miss these days when he doesn't care about "things"!

 James made Riles an awesome fishing rod, all of wood.  Awesome. 

 

Our spectacular neighbours and Leila.  We gave them a piece of wood from Vernon last year, as Adrian is handy and was building a workshop bench.  They surprised us with a new coffee table that Adrian had built from the wood, to his own design, with only two screws.  Seriously.  Wow.  Thanks to you both so much.  Adrian for your talent, and Nicole for giving him the time.

 
Boxing morning we headed up to Vernon to visit with my brothers.  It was good to see Chris and Toby both doing well.  It did make Tye's absence more noticeable though.

 Can't decide which of the pictures below I like more, so here's all three.

"the look"

 Tobs has mastered the remote helicopter.  Not sure who was more excited, Riles or the three dogs desperately trying to attack it!

 Riles got to spend a fun day with his cousin Lyla, who was just a treat.  R was SO GOOD at not eating the gingerbread house decorations.  Lyla and Chris, not so much.

 Proud of their masterpiece

 Bit bigger than Mr. Potato head there, L...

Happy to see everyone, happy again to be home.

Back in Van

We're back and immediately all got sick.  But managed to catch a few photos on either side.

Sick Vons only wanted to be held.  Constantly.  Si giving his back a rest.

 Just me or is she growing up?

 Between dog food and bath chains, who needs toys?

 Last weekend we were finally on the up!  Riles and Amaya at the Christmas craft fair in our community center.  Riles loves the decorate-your-own-cookies action.

 Coll hosted a Xmas potluck, and we took this opportunity to dress Vons in a rediculous outfit.  Seriously. 

 They are only three weeks apart!  Jonah seems so much older.

 Kid swap

 Definitely at the jumpy age.

Sun-ny day, everything a-ok

A long overdue post of the past few weeks.  First, I was so proud of Simon for raising over $1000 for Mo-vember; I think he got much of the sympathy vote due to his disgusting 'stash.  Here's the pic on the morning of Dec 1, when he finally got to shave it.  Chilling with his little girl, who just adores her daddy.

 

Then we were off.  I was in Phoenix the first week of December@ intel training, so we decided to fly into Palm Springs to visit my nanny the weekend before.  We've been missing her.  Such a lovely time to see her, and enjoy the sun.

 Vons showing off her deliciousness. 

Enjoying a lovely nap together.

Si is just such an amazing dad.  He really "gets" it and just loves the simple family times together.  They must have spent hours in this climbing tree.

Vons loved having a new place to explore and seemed to have a particular fascination with this end table. 

But the best part?  Picking oranges.  Their community has so many trees, and Riles (we all!) are just so thrilled to walk around picking fruit.  I had many happy memories of my Baba picking with us.  (as well as feeding Tye olives, pretending they were grapes).

Riles particularly liked the lemons, which were low enough he could pick himself.

Riles was thrilled with the juicer and we made many gallons of juice.  I was amazed at how long he remained interested.
Proud boys

Just about half of them.

Trethewey ladies piping in on how he could do it more efficiently.  We're so funny!

Can I just say how much we love our little girl? 

And seriously, ever seen anything cuter?

Then we rented a car and drove to Phoenix. Training only started Tuesday so I took Monday off to explore.  My parents had a place (now sold) on the edge of town, near the Apache Trail, so we took a drive.  It was just lovely, and perfect time of the day. 

Roger joined us for two days, to help while I was at the hotel.

Near the superstition mountains.

My hair is in permanent disarray

High like kite.

When did he get so old?

While I was at training, Si took the kids to a railway themed park.  Seems like they both loved it!

Serious business, this train

Just kidding.

Look ma!  In jail!

Hang on, not funny anymore.  Get me out of here!

Riles liked the no train chasing sign.

LOVE

Below is a virtual change room promoting Intel analytics, where I was trying on a fedora and fur coat.  What do you think?  My style?

BTW, at intel there were just two females in the whole training (maybe 60 other men + the Intel guys), you know, the kind of thing where they start "good morning gentlemen".  Just to make us feel extra welcome.  Training went from 8am - 9:30pm.  One night, they brought in Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders to dance around during training and throw out Intel tshirts to the crowd (think pretty much all nerdy, overweight, white middle aged male engineers jumping up and down).  Seriously?   I think I could handle it after hours.  But to have time set aside while we have to be there to have them dance around and sign calendars irritated me.  It was freaking mandatory technical training.  What is this, 1950?  For some reason I'm irritated, then I get paranoid that I'm a bitter old hag that I'm irritated by a few scantily clad girls dancing around my class.

Your take?