Merry Christmas (Arizona Style)

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This is my all time favourite quote for the holiday season!~ That Grinch figured out something most people never do. This year we chose to spend our holidays away from the usual flutter of the holidays that were used to. Instead we invited our families to join us in our new Arizona home and our gift to each other was to spend time together. From golf,christmas tree builiding, paper chain making,cookie making, swimming, reading, card games, hikes, mexican meals, puzzles, twister and much more. Our kids never did the Santa visit or usual letters this year...so we weren't sure if the big guy would find us. He did and left a useful stocking full of fun summer things; flip flips, pools sticks, goggles, and fun games. The most fun was the kleenex box full of $1 bills; boxing day sales here we come!~He also forgot his underwear at the bottom of our pool after his swim.(and left the pool cover off~Daddy will be sending him the heating bill!~) So we figure Santa would have been headed to Canada Commando Style!~

We're breaking tradition and starting some pretty amazing new ones!~

 Our baby Cousin Cameron had his first trip to visit us in Arizona. We got lots of baby snuggles and giggles from him. xo


Below is Christmas eve...

Christmas eve was a great day at home...with a swim and picnic lunch in the sunshine. Then cookies and Charades!~ Even a walk around our neighbourhood to check out the christmas lights...the consensus  is they look "tacky" without the snow. Here is Grady posing at the neighbours display...We are thrilled Uncle, Brent and Brittany got to spend the holidays with us.

 We had a amazing brunch and then a swim in the pool!
We are heading over to our Arizona cousins house for a lovely potluck with family, new friends and more...our house is smelling lovely with our ribs simmering the oven and the double stuff potatoes!~ Mmmmm...can't wait to enjoy our meal together.
I hope this finds you all surrounded by loved ones and a heart full of love!~as is my heart!

Here is a quick picture of my trio on our new rock at the front of our Holiday house....never a dull or empty moment with them in our lives.
Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It is magnificent and beautiful. Sending our blessings from afar. Happy Birthday Jesus!~
Wishing you all a Happy New Year 
xo Tammy, Kent, Makenna, Carrigan and Grady

ps: we will be back to work on the 10th of January~