Christmas in Globe

I got the pics out of order, but we spent Christmas with TJ's family. We had fun playing Wii, eating, visiting the firehouse and doing all of our Christmas traditions.

The little boys trying out their Hulk hands.

Looking at what Santa brought.

Ready to do the ornament exchange.

All the kids in their matching jammies.

Visiting the firehouse with the kids. They loved the big trucks.

Tyring to get a descent picture of the kids in their Sunday clothes....it didn't happen.

The Rubalcava Family

Christmas Time in Snowflake

After staying in Gilbert and seeing Grandma we headed to Snowflake. The kids had tons of fun following grandpa around and checking off the chores on his list. We also went to a bid Webb family party where they had a family band. We didn't have instruments for the kids so my dad made them instruments out of tin cans, cups of beans and wood sticks. They played their instruments like they had one of the real ones my cousins were playing. It was adorable to see. We had a good time visiting and spending time there.

Topher was tired out from all of the festivities.

Jumping on the jumpoline

Wheelbarrow rides

Working in the wood pile

Getting ready to play in the band

Timmy happily playing

My mom and dad with my little family

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Just the girls went to my Grandma's house while we were in AZ. We had such a good time. While we were there I had to stop by and see the first house TJ and I lived in. It looked just as rough as it was when we lived in it.

Grandma and the girls

We visited the Rival Rock at EAC. My dad's name is on it.

Me, Lyss, and Cass in front of the Gila Valley Temple

So pretty!

Christmas Time in the Valley

We spent the first part of our trip in Gilbert with Drew and Cassie. We had tons of fun. We went to see temple lights, hit Dairy Queen, ate pizza with all my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews (except for Joele, Jason, and Lyssa), watched Avatar, and ran tons of Christmas errands. It was fun to visit and catch up.

Uncle Kam and Bud with some of the littel boys.

Maura and Jada...always wanting to be twins.

Christmas lights at the AZ temple.

???

I bought Topher a potty seat thinking that we might be ready to start potty training....when I gave it to him I started having second thoughts....

Snow!

Topher before he got hit with a snowball....

Topher after he got hit with a snowball.


Throwing snow

Maura comforting Topher

The kids and their snowman...they were proud!

We had our first big snow last week and the kids were so excited. After a half day of school they got all of their snow gear on and went outside. They were determined to build a snowman so after 2 hours, they did it! Topher and I went out when it was finished and we had a big snowball fight for another hour. After 3 hrs. out in the snow, we all came off and had a big cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. It was so fun for me to get outside with the kids and be silly and laugh hard.

Thanksgiving

My friend Camille and I decided to run the 114th Annual Buffalo Turkey Trot (an 8K race (5 miles)). I was hesitant to do it at first because I've never been a good runner. Even when I was young and in shape it was hard for me to run, but she talked me into it anyway. We started training the first of November and before we knew it was Thanksgiving Day. I was so nervous the night before that I kept waking up every hour scared that my alarm wasn't going to go off. We got there just as the rush of runners started. We learned that was going to be 12,000 runners that day (a Buffalo record)! There were so many people it took us a while to actually get to the starting line, but once we were able to get a little elbow room, we were off! I started out with a big 'ol side ache, but eventually it subsided and I was good to go. We had a good chat, and enjoyed the view and conversation. At one point in the run we were on a little hill and as far as I could see in front of me were runners and as I looked back all I could see in back of me were runners. I know I sound like a first time racer, but I totally enjoyed the whole experience. It was nothing like I've ever done. As we got closer to the finish line we decided to go for the gusto and book it to the end. I got big goose bumps as I crossed the finish line and felt so proud of myself for doing it. I never thought in a million years that I would be able to run 5 miles without stopping and have energy to spare. I was thankful that day for a friend who encouraged me to reach beyond my limits, and for a healthy body that my Heavenly Father gave me to run that race. I will never forget it and I will never forget the feeling of working so hard toward a goal and completing it.

Maura the Native American.

I got to help in Maura's class when they had their Thanksgiving party. The kids were all dressed up like Native Americans because they learned about the first Thanksgiving. We got to play all kinds of fun games and the kids sang some songs. It was so cute!