Claire, age 5

This year has been an exciting one for Claire. Here are some highlights:

• was in ballet and tap and is currently in gymnastics
• started Kindergarten in August and tolerates school
• still loves dressing up, playing house and singing all the time
• turned 5 in October with a hula girl birthday party
• learned how to ride a 2-wheel bike
• loves going to bed at night and sleeping in

Ain't she a beauty?!

A couple of weeks ago, Claire wanted to

dress herself and put on make-up.

This is not an unusual request.

Normally, she dons a princess dress-up

or ballet outfit, but this day was extra special.

On paper, it all should coordinate,

yet something is not quite right.

The navy blue sunflower shirt and navy blue
sunflower socks match (true)

The denim skirt does go with navy blue (true)

The green and white polka dot leggings
(hidden by the skirt) do coordinate with the
green around the sunflower (true)

And the sparkle silver eyeshadow does match

the sparkle silver shoes (true)

Where did it go wrong? For Claire, nowhere.

This is the ultimate in four year old fashion.

She is a trend-setting diva amongst her peers.

And yes, she has a mom who took her out for

a day of errands dressed like a beauty queen.

Child abuse or ultimate child love?

I guess it depends on how old you are.

Mr. Duke E. Pants

I have had several inquiries as to the whereabouts of

Mr. Duke E. Pants. Mr. Pants is still kicking.

At 10 1/2, he still loves his walks, playing at the park,

chasing the kids around, barking at the UPS man,

tennis balls and napping. I have stopped "coloring"

the gray hair around his mouth with a sharpie

because it just takes too much time now so he is

looking a little older, but still acts like a puppy.

He joins me on a couple of runs during the week and

has decided the roadrunner that scurries across our

back fence is worse than any cat. I snapped this photo

a few days ago. Duke still lives a better life than most

people and enjoys the creature comforts of being an

indoor dog to a family that loves him.

Thirteen Years

Garrett and I just celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary this week.

We cannot possibly be that old, which means that we got married at a barely legal age.

Let the good times roll....

Christmas is coming...

We pulled into our neighborhood Sunday night, the last

day of November, and it looked like a tribute to

Christmas Vacation. Every house was lit with twinkle

lights, inflatable Santas and electric reindeer drinking

out of the riverscapes so popular here in Arizona

landscaping. Our kids' eyes lit up as we drove through

our Magical Winter Wonderland to our home. As we

turned the corner to our house, Collin's face fell into

disappointment as he noticed our completely dark house,

with not so much as an outdoor light on.

"Aren't we celebrating Christmas this year?"he asked us.

Though we had just returned from being in California

for over a week for Thanksgiving and a family wedding

AND it was still (technically) November, I did not have

the heart to tell him I had no plans of putting our

Christmas decorations up until the next week-end.

I found myself Monday morning waving good-bye to

Garrett as he left for Washington D.C. and getting the

boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations out of the

attic and highest shelves of the garage.

The things we do for love....