December 15th –

So our tree decides that it is fall in the middle of December. There is just enough to rake up and make it fun.

December 16th –

We had a birthday party to go to for Trevor’s friend Brolin. There was an enormous bounce house and a piñata and lots of fun.

Brendan had a great time until a larger kid tried to pick him up from behind by hugging around his waist. When the kid lifted up, he pulled Brendan’s g-tube right out. Poor Brendan brought it to me in tears and then we had to put in a new one at the party.

December 17th – SNOW DAY!

We love to play in snow (not live in snow!) so we head north to find it!

It was cold and windy on the Mogollon Rim, but it was very pretty!

Snowball fight!

I am not sure if fresh snow was ever falling or if the wind gusts just occasionally blew it down from the trees. It was still fun to see the flakes and try to catch them.

We made a nice fire to stay warm.

At elevation, Brendan wears out quickly

The boys are getting too big to fit in the jeep. The weight and the cold must have been too much, the battery finally just gave up and won’t charge anymore. The boys got to do some small laps around in the snow and it died.

Trevor likes to tend the fire.

Bill just likes to be in the fresh air

Big car, little car

Donut log

Hotdog time!

The donut log made a perfect hot spot to sizzle up a hotdog in no time

Giant marshmallows coming out perfect

They also make great marshmallow lava in the fire pit

We did not stay the night, but it was a great escape for the day! A good time was had by all.

December 9th –

We checked out a place in town called Liberty Wildlife. It is a local organization that focuses on wildlife rehabilitation. They take in up to 20 native animals a day with injuries or baby animals that have been abandoned. They try to get them fixed up and returned to the wild.

We went because I heard that they had a lot of owls. One of the volunteers took an owl out to let us see it up close! I also love her owl shirt.

They thought this great horned owl was a male because it was so small. The females are usually much bigger. They named it Darwin.

Darwin surprised them all by laying an egg! It was a female.

She is really beautiful.

The volunteers put on a little show to educate about the different types of native birds. It was silly.

Brendan got to talk to another great horned owl.

The owl talked back!

The volunteers are so friendly to the kids. This one let the boys pet a bearded dragon that was a surrendered pet.

“Like a kid in a candy store!” We stopped by Sweeties on the way home to pick up some decorating candy. The boys were totally nuts with excitement about all of the candy bins.

A big package came for the boys. What could it be?!

Brendan helps get the big box to the backyard.

Assembly was pretty easy!

They love it!! There are only eight swings on the playground at school and they are a hot commodity. Brendan often is frustrated when he can’t get a turn. Or he gets a swing and kids take advantage of how sweet he is and they convince him to give it up. Now he has his very own!

With it getting colder, Brendan asked for some owl gloves. It is really hard to find owl things that are not super girly and glittery. So I made him some owls!

December 11th –
After melting the mold for the chocolate house accidentally, I had to order a new one. This is the third year of chocolate house building, but the first time trying the new kit. Let assembly begin!

They got to decorate with all of the candy that they had picked out, including sour apple flavor green army men gummies.

Colored licorice shoestrings

Apparently the army needs to defend Santa’s workshop from people trying to see their Christmas presents early.

It was a masterpiece!

The boys had to get new snow boots for this winter, their feet are getting too big! They love these boots so much, they wear them all day – even with their pajamas.

Trevor had a pretty bad cold after the California trip. He was just getting a saline mist treatment to help his cough.

We decided to set up our tree since we were just hanging around home.

You wouldn’t know they were both not well. They prove they can dance with snow boots and fevers.

We did get in a trip to the aquarium again. Trevor must speak “Sea Lion”.

Brendan says he didn’t know sharks like to cuddle.

There is a new dinosaur themed amusement park thing coming to the Odysea pavilion. We will have to check it out when it is open. In the meantime, the boys make cute baby dinosaurs.