Jan, 2008: Avi's First Day of Gymnastics

I got Avi signed up for the Tumbling class that we had Mat do before he started school. Unfortunately there was only 1 other kid who signed up.  Avi got to go to several of the classes and was having more fun and opening up more each time, but they cancelled the class since there weren't enough people.  :(  She liked climbing on all the stuff and singing the songs at the end.

Jan 13, 2008: Mat's School Christmas Concert

The first time we went to go to Mat's Christmas Concert there was a big storm and it knocked the power at the community center out.  The lights, sound, and toilets were out of commission so they had to postpone the show.  Here are the pics we got from the concert/sing-along (many of them blurry with me trying to use the zoom from too far out):

Matrim is on the far right and the kindergardeners are up first to sing their song.  Mat learned the words to it really fast and would sing it around the house and on demand really well, right away.  It was called The Road to Gundagai... and was not a tune with children's lyrics.

Mat did great singing and made us proud!

Jan, 2008: Mannimals Playing With Toys and Around the House

Here are some of the pictures from playing with Christmas toys and being cute around the house:

Avi was nervous when she first got it, but now she likes riding her horse.

Santa had left the kids a note informing them that while he had brought most of the presents to Utah for us, there was one special one he had dropped off for us to open when we got back home!  :)  And Voila...There was a home Bouncer!  These kids must have been on the VERY Good list for Santa to spoil them so!

It is strong enough for Mat and Avi/or a few friends to jump around in there and seems to hold up fine.  Athena is even light enough for it, but I keep my fat ass out.  :)

Avi, rockin her new tye-dye dress and playing with one of her 4 babies and stroller.

Dancing and waiting for the Bouncer to be ready to play in.  They are just too cute!

Mat and his Koala he brought home for a school project about Australia.

Aviendha and her "I listen to Led Zeppelin with my Daddy" t-shirt and Dora backpack!

She will put on her backpack and tell you she's going to school.  Then she waves bye and and says "See ya!"  I'm not sure how I ended up with the cutest little girl in the world, but I did!!

Dad's Little Angel Sweetie!!

Haha. Avi is always taking Mat's or our clothes and wearing them around.

Here she has the Perfect Circle wristband I gave her and Matrims vest on.

Dec 30, 2007 - Jan 1, 2008: Heading to Phoenix to Party In the New Year Jory and Joey

Once again we are headed past the Grand Canyon without getting to stop (it's closed for the season).  But the drive was beautiful and we took what I think Joey said was the prettiest way to come (although we had to pass through Polygamy Militia towns at one point).  The weather was perfect for those looking to get out of the snow or used to hoodie weather and we were both.  The mountains and the sunsets are unbelievable down there.  Each night I watched the sky and was well pleased with the entire panorama of skyline as the sun went down.

Jory and Joey's new house!  I missed those guys SO much!!  It was such a fun time to get to bring in the new year there in AZ with them.  As always, the energy and spirit around them was great and what good friendships are made of.  We got our own room and bathroom and if you don't mind small dogs it was far superior to any hotel stay and much cheaper (I bought Jory beer then drank half of it, lol)!

Avi is crashed out after all the excitement of getting to see Aunt Joey, Uncle Jory and the dogs.

Obtaining pierced-nipple evidence?  :)

It seems to me like Athena and Joey always manage to get a picture of each other taking a picture.  :)

And then we usually end up with one (lol, or more) of Joey being lewd to the camera.  ;)

Haha!  And here's the "or more".

The kids after we put them to sleep for the night.

While Jory and Joey were at work during the day, we adventured around Phoenix.  We went to a cool place to play games, mini golf, speedway, etc. to start the afternoon.  After we finished up there we went out to eat and then to some shops (lol... btw Phoenix has at least one good sexy shop...wink, wink...nudge, nudge...know what I mean? Say no more, say no more...). Then we all went out to eat at a great little place that served Turkish cuisine.  We got to check out a book full of cool pictures from around Turkey while we waited for our food.  The food and service was excellent and after finishing up we headed back to have a fun New Years Eve with Jory/Joey.

What the hell is to the right of the stove and microwave?  It looks to me like some sort of bong that is suspended in the air by a smoke balloon rising above it...  :)

These last several are sunset type pics from the drive home on New Years Day.  We had to leave on the Holiday unfortunately so we could get Athena back to work on time on Jan, 2.

I think I will have to make it a point to visit Jory and Joey every winter.  The weather was perfect and it was a great time all around!

Dec 29, 2007: Last Night in Utah and Packing Out

We all had one last fun night visiting and staying up late before it was time to head for home.  It was awesome to get to hang and talk to Nick all evening (after watching some UFC)!  And of course throughout this last day/night I hear some variation at some point of: "There's no way you will fit all that stuff in the car!"  And of course I just smile and wonder at their doubt before proceeding to get it all packed in (even if it's a tight fit).  :)

And everyone and everything is loaded and in place to head to Phoenix and see Jory and Joey for New Years!!