Elf update

Leland wishes to tell you all that we've had a great couple weeks and will post more photos tomorrow! Happy New Year!

Resting

The whole family came down with a stomach bug yesterday. So we're taking it easy still today. Maybe we can work on getting into the holiday spirit tomorrow, as plans to get a tree this weekend didn't quite work.

Snowy Day

Look who showed up on our door step this morning!

The puff ball came in and gave a hug to her surprised cousin Leland.

Then she went out back and played with her Papa and big cousin James in the back yard. Neither James nor Nomi liked the sled very much, but we're all happy to see the snow.

Bigger, Better, Faster, MORE TRACKS!

Who knew that having lots and lots of train tracks is actually a benefit for the parents even more than the kids. Playing trains is really fun with all this track that Grammy sent! Last night we even left the super track out over night, primed and ready for first-thing-in-the-morning puffing trains.

Chocolate Lips

Mama don't get me! Don't get me!!

Cousins

Nomi was over this weekend. She fell alseep for her nap...


James fell asleep for his nap...

But Leland would have none of it. Can you see those grumpy tears glistening in his eyes? He did NOT want to be set down. Ah well, two out of three's not bad.

Wishlist

Well, people have been asking what we'd like for the holidays. We try to fend off this question with, "nothing, just come visit us..." etc. etc. This is true- we would really really love for any and all of our family and friends to visit us. But that is not always an option, and if I were asking someone what they'd like for the holidays, I'd much rather get a wishlist than a vague response myself, so (finally) I have put one together for our family, to give people ideas if they need them.

The following links will take you to "Wists" where I've listed some things we'd enjoy. Of course, I couldn't come up with much for Leland- he's got pretty much all he needs at the moment.

http://www.wists.com/lissybug/alissa
http://www.wists.com/lissybug/michael
http://www.wists.com/lissybug/james
http://www.wists.com/lissybug/leland

Other ideas:
Board/card games- What are your favorites?
Regional specialty food from your area
Family photos
Something handmade...

So Much to be thankful for...

We had Thanksgiving dinner down in Sedona at Mom & Mark's house. We had a great dinner, and afterwards we got to watch home videos from when my mom was a kid AND Erin gave a Poi performance. This means she whirls around flaming things at the end of chains. Wow- neat. And there's a (bumpy) video of her performance below if you'd like to take a look. Here are a few photos from yesterday-

Masterminds Jini & Mom Planning the table set up. Soon they'll need that whiskey in the foreground.

Dana (Alissa's Mom's cousin) & Scott

(Grossmutti & Erin (Alissa's cousin)

Joan with Nomi & Leland

Pictures and Jamesisms

Our friends dog Wiley thought Leland tasted good and Leland thought being tasted was very funny.

Jamie the photographer snapped a picture of Papa (James' comment about this photo is, "That's my really good Papa.")

On Mondays Jamie goes over to Grandma Georgia's House in the evening. They usually cook together. Or Georgia cooks and James eats as you can see below.

As far as Jamesisms- Well for one thing he's been describing thigs he likes as "very good" or "very cool". And when he's getting dressed if I show him something he doesn't want to wear (like a jacket) he'll tell me, "No Mama, that's not very cool."

When' he's excited about something lately he puts on a super excited voice- and for instance will tell us, "Come! come! 'nuggle on the bed! That will be really fun for MEEEEEE!"

Lastly he's been using the phrase, "That's what I'm talkin' about." (He's heard this from Michael). This is usually said at times when I've selected the correct item, such as a spoon he wants to use, and he'll appreciatively tell me, "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

If you party with Nana...

You might wind up asleep in your underpants under a pile of fabric! We went down to Sedona this weekend to wish my (Alissa's) mom a happy birthday. We made a dinner and I baked a carrot cake for dessert.

Mom and Her Mother

Mark and Zoe Alissa and James

Scott and Elizabeth

Joan (Scott's wife) had to work, and Michael was on a motorcycle trip with friends. They rode down to Bisbee. As Michael put it- they bit off more than they could chew. So he was a bit sore Sunday when he got home, but says Bisbee is neat and we need to go there and explore.

Halloween Album

Click the photo to go to our Halloween Album Online

Cousins in Costume

The Pumpkin, The Butterfly, And the James Boy

Zerbino Says Happy Halloween

Working on getting the other photos online.

Pumpkin Carving

We spent the evening of the 30th carving pumpkins- pumpkins we actaully grew in our garden. Please forgive me fooling around with Picasa's software to create this collage- I just downloaded the program and it has some fun features.

Nekid Baby

Just swimming along to my bathtub....

The Bruiser

James tried to get out of the van by himself and landed on his head. Not a fun call to get at work from Alissa. We spent about four and a half hours at the pediatrician and then the ER for a grand total of four stitches. James feels pretty good today and is telling everyone how he got hurt getting out of the bus and it was scary and that he is healing now.

Coffee and Snuggles

The best part of the morning, now that it is cold, is coffee by the wood stove. James is now a part of this and demands snuggles (just ask Alissa). So, here we are having coffee and snuggles.

The Aspens

The season has begun to change and our first indication of Autumn is the tinge of yellow appearing on the Peaks. Like all families tired of working on their house, we escaped to investigate. On Sunday afternoon we trekked up to the usual spot on FS794 and hiked around with the dogs. James was especially fond of climbing on the stumps and fallen trees and then jumping off again, and again, and again.... The color is just beginning and it was magnificent at sundown. On the way home, several elk and deer attempted to become hood ornaments. As the VW has no hood, this was inappropriate and we honked at them instead, much to Jame's delight.