Ten days in Peoria

Mark and I flew to Peoria on December 28th to help bring in the New Year with our children and grandchildren.  We had such a great time!  The weather was cold but it didn't bother us as Drew, Kayley and Ryan kept us warm and laughing.  The kids did not lack for Santa gifts so we spent a lot of time playing with all their new presents.  They had a second Christmas when we arrived and more presents to open.  Matt arrived the following Thursday so they had a another gift opening!  He got them an x-box and Drew is in love with the bowling game and very good at it!  

Drew turns 6 (I cannot believe this) on January 15th so we also had an early birthday party with him before we left on January 7th.  Usually we plan to be there for his birthday but decided to go earlier this year and watch him during his holiday vacation from kindergarten. We bowled twice during our stay.  (I mentioned Drew loves to bowl!)  We also went to Micky's Pizza twice, another favorite of the kids.  Since pizza is one of our favorite foods it didn't bother us in the least.  :-)

It was very difficult to say good-bye but at least I had warm weather waiting for me.  Ha!  It has been very cool and they are talking three consecutive nights of hard freezing and urging to cover everything, including the water pipes.  I don't have enough blankets to cover everything so I am assuming we will lose some of our landscaping.  I won't even bother to go look for frost cloths because they are always sold out at the mere mention of a frost, much like the run on TP and beer before an Iowa snowstorm.  Maybe it is milk instead of beer?  I can't remember.  :-)

It sounds as if the flu bug is gaining a hold throughout most of the country.  I have been fighting a sinus infection since I returned to AZ and have been fairly miserable.  I cannot recall the last time I was sick so this is not sitting well with me!  I pray that our kids and grandchildren are spared from the flu.  Sounds like it lasts 2-3 weeks.  Wow.

Sister Sharon is flying to the valley on Saturday for a week.  She will be spending her days helping her daughter Lisa pack as she prepares to move from Mesa to New Mexico.  She will spend the evenings with us so we are looking forward to her visit.  She says she is bringing gloves and ear muffs to do some hiking.  Good idea, sis!  It will be cold!

Naturally I have some videos and pics from our time in Peoria:

 

Ryan with his new activity table

Merry Christmas!

Three happy  kids on Christmas morning

Someone LOVES getting his bath

Kayley with her new dollhouse and pink car from Grandpa and Grandma

Drew loves playing with Ryan

Grandpa entertains Ryan while we bowl

Kayley with her very favorite Bitty Baby, aka Julia

Kayley and a distracted Ryan

Brothers

I am happy

I'm still in a good mood!

Happy Birthday Drew!  (Long story about the cake decorations!)

Drew reads to an attentive Ryan

Drew decided to get really fancy for his birthday dinner at Micky's