Go Super Dad!

Matt successfully ran his first 1/2 marathon on January 18th and he did great, running at a pace of 8 min, 22 seconds per mile. The kids and I were tired just watching the runners. It's very inspirational watching people achieve these amazing goals.

A January morning in Tempe, AZ.
Race time temperatures were in the 50s.

Almost at the finish line!
This is where the kids and I stood to cheer the runners on.

A couple of proud kids with their dad.

Way to go, Matt!

 

100th day of school.

The kids celebrated their 100th day of school on January 14th. The Kindergartners had the opportunity to dress up like they were 100 years old. Cassidy enjoyed wearing glasses, a shawl, a necklace, and using a cane for the day.  She also had some gray spray in her hair. Super fun!

Grandma Cassie.

Walking like an old lady. She gets around pretty well for being 100 years old! 

 

Cassidy with her "100 Days Smarter" crown.

Sweet glasses, Lincoln! 

juggle bubbles (as seen on tv!)

The kids received Juggle Bubbles from their Uncle Dave for Christmas. We spent some time outside last week testing them out. The kids had a blast!

Our bubble blower. 

Look! With these magical gloves, Cassidy can hold a bubble without it popping. 

Lincoln squishing his bubble. Magical!

Big bro and little sis passing a bubble back and forth.

the holidays 2014.

We are so grateful that we were able to fly to Michigan to celebrate Christmas and to ring in the New Year with our families and friends this year. When we arrived, we enjoyed temperatures in the low 50s -- not what we were expecting.  A few days in, however, we felt the more frigid winter temps.

One disappointing thing about our trip: no snow for the entire two weeks that we were there!

Santa Cassie. 

Lincoln & Cassidy showing off their new Disney Infinity game from Santa. 

This is the kind of excitement that brings tears to a mother's eyes. Cassie was so excited to get the Elsa doll that she had asked Santa for. I'm so glad the big guy came through for her!

A couple of princesses. 

One of the best things about being in Michigan is when the Mitchell/Gough cousins are able to get together. Here they are below:

Riley, Lincoln, Sam

Nicole, Alli, Zoe, Cassidy

Boys will be boys.

Here, we are taking our annual family picture.
At this point, I was setting the camera up on the tripod. I've inadvertently deleted a whole series of "good" family pictures. I think my parents have them on their computer, though. For now, a candid is what I have to post. 

 

Yia Yia, Pops, Linc & Cass ready to head to church on Christmas Eve.

After church at Granny's house with Uncle Dave on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas Day at Grandma's house. 

Tumbleweed Tree.

Chandler, AZ has a unique Christmas tree lighting tradition that began in 1957 -- a tumbleweed tree. Apparently Chandler is the only city in the southwestern United States that has such a tree. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend the parade of lights and tree lighting ceremony in early December. 

Nearly 1,000 tumbling tumbleweeds are collected each year to make the tree. They are sprayed with white paint, dusted with glitter, and are adorned with Christmas lights. 

A pic of the tree during the day.
Unfortunately, our vantage point during the actual tree lighting ceremony was terrible so I didn't get a nighttime pic. 

Before the tree was illuminated, there was a parade of lights which entailed local dance groups, girl scout/boys scout troops, local service people, etc. The parade ended with Santa's arrival on a Chandler fire engine.

It's fun to see palm trees decorated for Christmas. 

Santa Lincoln dancing in the street.

Matt holding Cassie up so she could see folks parade by.

Gotta take in the lit cacti that we see here in the desert.
We have actually seen Christmas lights on real cacti in front yards in our neighborhood. Love it. 

Another Christmasy cactus float.

We continued to get in the mood for Christmas by making cookies.

The kids tried something new this year -- Nutter Butters made to look like Santa! 

The finished tray of Santas.

Awwww.

Gifts have been chosen for other children in need, cookies have been given to neighbors, letters to Santa have been written, and Charlie (our Elf on the Shelf) has been found all around the house. Cassidy especially enjoys talking to him and asks him to say certain things to Santa when he sees him each night at the North Pole.  

The kids visiting Santa to ensure that their wishes were heard. 

We are ready for Christmas and are thrilled that we'll get to spend it with our family and friends in Michigan!

now we are six.

I find myself saying the same thing as each of my kids celebrate their birthdays each year -- I can't believe you're .  And it's true. I really can't believe how quickly time is moving. 

One of my favorite bloggers/authors, Gretchen Rubin, summed up the feeling perfectly when she said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” That is parenting in a nutshell.

It's been six years since Cassidy Lois graced us with her presence. We started her birthday celebration in November when Granny was here visiting. The celebration continued on her actual birthday (12/15). She enjoyed celebrating with Rice Krispy Treats at school. She opened some gifts via Skype/Facetime, allowing us to feel closer to our families than we actually are (technology can be a great thing). She said she'll miss being five, but I think she'll quickly get used to being six. 

Pink frosting on a mint ice cream cupcake for the birthday girl. 

Showing off some birthday gifts in front of the Christmas tree.

More gifts! 

Hulk Mad!
Lincoln got these Hulk fists for her. 

Captain America protecting himself against the Hulk.
I know these toys will result in tears as someone gets hurt, but they sure are cute. 

EasyBake Oven! 

The kids made their first batch of chocolate chip cookies with the EasyBake Oven.
Next up: Pretzels. 

 
Cassidy continues to be extremely sensitive, very curious (she has to touch everything), and quite imaginative. She can still be slow to warm up to those she doesn't know, but at home she is LOUD. 
Kindergarten has, I think, helped her come out of her shell, which is great. 

She still loves her little blankie. 
She does not love when Little Blankie seemingly writes messages to dad on her whiteboard. 
She idolizes her brother.
She is lovely. 
Happy Birthday, Doodles.  

Orange juice, anyone?

We have a lovely citrus tree on the side of our house. When we first moved in, we thought it was a lime tree, then we thought it was a lemon tree. We finally have mature fruit on it and have discovered that it's actually an ORANGE tree! How lovely.

I bought a small manual juicer and can make tiny glasses of fresh-squeezed OJ. I'm going to need something more sophisticated to make a full jug of juice, however.

Our orange tree!

The kids harvesting oranges.