The first part of December was spent just going to Dr. appointments, sitting around healing, and getting ready for our 3 week vacation to Arizona.
The girls made their annual gingerbread creations. This year they did trains:
And they got to get candy canes from Santa as he came around with the local fire department:
12/1 - 12/6 Facebook Posts:
12/10 Facebook post:
So excited for Bella! She's currently headed toward the city to perform in front of the United Nations!! Once in a lifetime opportunity! She's been sick - so we weren't sure she'd be able to make it - but she was doing well enough this morning to send her. I can't wait to get the pictures!
Woohoo - thanks to live streaming from the UN website I was able to watch and videotape the performance! Plus I stole this picture from a friend who's daughter was standing next to Bella (thanks David Windmueller) She's the one in the black sweater:
The night before we left - at 7PM - I got a call from the Dr. Here's the Facebook Post I made the next day 12/15:
Soooo...got a call from my oncologist last night. Remember how there was only a 5% chance I would need chemo and they were running one more test just to be sure?? Well....it came back positive. Sooo...looks like chemo is back on the table. SERIOUSLY annoyed....I have things to do, places to go, classes to finish - and if I can't break a serious sweat soon all of my muscles are going to deflate into nothingness....oh well - life's full of All kinds of opportunities to learn patience..
With that lovely news we hopped on a plane and started a blissful 3 weeks away from all the Drs. and madness.
Everyone was SO happy to be there! It had been 3 years since we visited last. The girls were in heaven with all of their cousins around! Josh was pretty happy to have Jon to hang out with too:
12/16 Facebook Post
🎵🎶Reunited and it feels so good🎶🎵 These guys are sitting on the couch watching ridiculous TV and giggling like little girls. SOOO funny!! It's nice when your best friend also happens to be your brother. Wish we lived closer!!
I started to get a sinus infection and was worried about trying to get to a dr. out of state. I called the insurance company and they told me about this new program they participate in that allows you to make a dr. visit through facetime. Here's my Facebook post from 12/17
Last night I went to the Dr. - ON. MY. PHONE!! Coolest thing ever!! There is an app. Called Live Health Online that my insurance participates in. It's only $49 copay before deductible (free for me since nice I've met my deductible) I've got a sinus infection and she was able to diagnose me and send a prescription to a local pharmacy all over video conferencing on my iPhone. Soooo awesome!!!! - especially since I'm traveling right now. But I think I'm going to use it from now on even when I'm not traveling. That way I don't have to sit in my Dr.'s office for 3 freaking hours (not kidding - that's how long it takes each time!) I freaking LOVE technology!!!!
We had lots of fun just hanging out and spending time with the family. We also spent the time enjoying the great outdoors in the numerous parks and hiking in the nearby mountains.
Facebook post 12/18
Driving a golf cart around the gorgeous resort community of Verrado where my in-laws live - wearing shorts and sandals - the sun so bright I gotta wear shades = HEAVEN!!! Soooo in love with Arizona!!! The girls are begging me every 5 seconds to move back here. They're loving all the time with their cousins. One can dream....*sigh*
It's 38 degrees at home - meanwhile in AZ ...my kiddos are swimming
12/20
Running around the park playing ball and riding scooters (again...in shorts and sandals) the sun shining, a light breeze blowing - I could SO get see to this!!!
12/30
Having soooo much fun with cousins!!! (even though it's colder than normal here for this time of year - still better than NY!
AZ: where even the unisex bathroom at Jiffy Lube is large, decorated in an appealing manor, and CLEAN!!!! #1 thing I miss about the west...I'll never take decent public bathrooms for granted ever again!!
The girls got to go to school with their cousins one day - and they loved it! The teacher even had gifts to give them along with the rest of the class. They got books and smelly pencils.
We also did a lot of "house hunting" - really just dreaming about what it would be like if we moved there. We went around to a lot of model homes and the number one thing I coveted: LARGE closets!!!
Facebook post 12/19
Touring some model homes and dreaming of how life could be (the mortgage on these places are less than our rent for our tiny house in NY) these closets make me want to cry...their square footage is bigger than our guest room
Several full family get togethers were hosted by either Jaimee and Jon or Becca and Ryan. The first one was at Becca and Ryan's house. They put on a full family home evening complete with dinner, spiritual lesson, and caroling of neighbors.
The girls had fun even though CC turned to me and said, "This is really weird." She's never been caroling before. Josh and Jon made it fun by being "over enthusiastic" singers. Check out the look on Jon's face:
I was dying laughing!
I have to say - we did sound pretty good together!
The next get together started out with just Jon and Jaimee's family, our family, and Mom and Dad Smith. First, Jaimee slaved away all day preparing a feast for us:
Then it was time to open the traditional Christmas Eve pajamas and family gifts:
Followed by dinner - which we got to enjoy around the fire pit. I LOVE Christmas in AZ!!!
Then we had our spiritual program where everyone had to tell a story, sing, read a scripture, etc. Bella and Josh got up and told a story and CC and I sang a song.
Then it was time to open the family gifts. We bought a puzzle, and Jon and Jaimee bought a Karaoke machine. The kiddos LOVED it!
After awhile the grownups took over the Karaoke machine...
And the kiddos started working on the puzzle.
Later on that night Becca and Ryan's family dropped by for more fun.
I can't remember the last time I saw Josh loosen up this much. Being around his family is good for him.
Then we got the kiddos in bed, finished wrapping presents, stuffed stockings, and passed out!
The kiddos woke up bright and early the next day!
We got the girls the BEST present EVER - Kindle Fires. They were glued to them all day, which meant we got to take naps!
The kiddos played with their new toys and the karaoke machine while the guys took over the puzzle - they were obsessed!
Later that night we all got together as a family for the annual nativity followed by the white elephant gift exchange.
When we got there, Ben and Marina gave me, not only the wig we ordered, but another one free as a gift. So sweet! Now I'll be styling after I lose my hair! The top wig makes me look exactly like Kimberly! Crazy!
The girls got to be angels for the nativity.
The kiddos had their own gift exchange:
Followed by the wild and crazy adult gift exchange. We had to bring one good gift and one gag gift. Here are the best ones of the night: Manties, a large ladies brazier, and a Rexkwando outfit:
Becca wanted to get in on the action:
This was followed by more karaoke...this obsession is new. Karaoke was NOT a thing when we were her last. Funny how times change:
A couple days after this we all got together for family pictures. ALMOST everyone was there. We were missing Adam and Debbie and their daughter Alexis and sons Ethan and Dallin. But their daughter, Elizabeth, was there - so at least we got one!
The next day I decided on a radical hair cut. I figured that since I was going to lose it anyway - I might as well be daring! This is the lok I was going for:
Facebook post 12/31
Don't freak out - but I cut my hair....Short...VERY Short...a little TOO short... But it's all going to fall out in a month or so - so I figured now was a good time to try something daring...maybe I should die it purple - or blue next...
When I first showed up - everyone wasn't sure -
but then I started playing with it and decided a "fohawk" was the best look. Now everyone LOVES it!
We still had over a week to go, so we decided to take a trip down south to the Tuscon area and visit Kartchner Caverns and an old mining town called Bisbee where they still give tours of the mine. It ended up being a multi family trip. Becca and Ryan's family and Mom and Dad Smith were able to come too. Ryan was SO nice and ended up using his travel points to purchase the hotel rooms for all of us! Awesome!!
First stop: Amazing Mexican food at at a local restaurant named Santiago. Seriously, SO GOOD! I've REALLY missed the Mexican food living back east. Apparently I'm a SUPER animated listener....Here Josh got my reaction on camera to tease me about...
Here I am telling him to stop!
Then we walked around the town for a little while before we had to get to our mine tour. It's the cutest little town. Very artsy.
The girls were NOT impressed with this advertisement...
Then we drove the short distance to the Queen Mine for our tour:
We got all our mining gear on...
Then took seats on a little train that takes you into the belly of the mine.
Toward the end of the tour - CC had a meltdown. She was hungry and tired - and it was time to go to the hotel. So we did.
The next day we woke up bright and early to make our 8:45 tour of Kartchner Caverns.
They wouldn't let us take pictures inside - so here is one I stole off the Internet:
I wouldn't say it was the most impressive cave (partly because we weren't able to get really close to a lot of the formations) but it was definitely the most pristine and well cared for cave. It looked almost untouched. Stunning!
We took some time to check out the visitor's center and pick up a few souvenirs.
And checked out the landscape outside. The desert definitely holds a beauty of its own!
About half way home, we decided to stop by a special kind of petting zoo - the kind I've never been to for sure. But it was AWESOME!!! And cheap too! Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. For $7 you get a huge cup of food, a bird seed stick, duck food, and bird nectar.
We had so much fun! ALL of us!! (Even if I did have a bird poop in my hair...)
Johnny with his duckbill feeding the ducks...classic!
This bird LOVED Bella's hair. It sat there forever licking it...weird...but cool. She thought it was AWESOME!! Meanwhile - CC was TERRIFIED of the birds and ran out of the cage almost as soon as she got in! She HATES things landing on her!
We were good and worn out and ready to get back to Phoenix. We spent the next couple of days just hanging out and bemoaning the fact that we had to go back to the dreary and cold weather of New York. So sad. It was an amazing trip and we are SOOOO glad we got the chance to go. The girls are already missing all of the family and can't wait to go back again.
