A SNOW DAY!!

We traveled back to Minnesota for Christmas!! WE HAD SNOW!! It was the first time in many years, at least since Hayden has been around, that we have seen snow upon arrival. We flew in early, and I mean early Saturday morning, arriving at 4 am into my hometown. Fortunately, we beat a huge snow storm. The white stuff fell from the sky continually all day and blew into swirls and drifts all around town. Hayden would just stare out the window with a look a wonder outside. He was really excited to see snow again. He was not anxious to go out in it quite yet, but the curiousity grew and Monday was his day out!
Walking in snowpants and boots for the first time, the snow was past his knees, so about a foot and a half of the dust. He couldn't walk in it, but was to excited to not try. It was cold, I think about 4 degrees, but Hayden didn't mind. They tried to sled, but the snow was just to deep to get a good run. He stayed out for maybe a half hour before the cold became unbareable for this Arizona born boy. He had a blast, playing with his daddy and cousins though. Me, I stayed out for five minutes to take some pics and then headed in "to check on Maya sleeping...." :)

Maya's Baptism

A precious gift from heaven above will be welcomed into God's family with love.

The Baptism invitation Maya was baptized over our visit home to Minnesota for Christmas. We had Hayden baptized in Minnesota as well. I have a thing about doing this sacrement at my hometown church. My parents were married there, I was baptized, received first communion, confirmed and married in this church. It's has changed dramatically in recent years, with a full blown restoration, but it's still, my church.

St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia, Minnesota. Gorgeous.

Anyway, Maya looked absolutely gorgeous in white. She let out a scream while water was being pored over her head, but was an angel for the rest of the ceremony. The baptism was held in the new Baptismal room.

With my brother, Andy, Maya's (and Hayden's) Godfather. Father Paul van de Crommert. Buddy's sister, Christine, Maya's (and Hayden's) Godmother.

Christmas w/ Maya

I know she's not going to remember Christmas this year, or next for that matter, but there is something about a baby at Christmas that I absolutely love! I don't know what it is, she can't open her own gifts, she can't help decorate the tree, to her it'll be just an ordinary day. I guess I really don't have a lengthy speech here, I just love babies and Christmas.

Girlfriends

These four are going to possibly kill me for posting this (even though they all look fabulous), so if you don't hear from me for a few days, you'll know where to start looking! :)

DeAnn, Renate, Jami, Shannon, Me and only a few Martini's!

My friends and I went out for drinks and apps on Sunday night. It was a catch up, exchange gifts and chatty night. I am always excited to get together with each of these great gals either as a group or just a couple of us at a time.

I think it's so cool how I have gotten to meet each of these wonderful people. In high school and college, you're kind of thrown in with people. Classes, dorms, activities, etc. Not that I would ever take anything back, I hope you get where I am coming from!! Each of my friends here I have met through some interesting circumstances. Jami I met at work at my last job. She came in a couple months after I started and we instantly hit it off. Shannon got married at the place where Jami and I worked. She started to hang out with another one of our co-workers, whom we are friends with but has moved. We all started up a Bunco group, which has since died, but we still get together for Craft Night and nights such as these. Shannon and I enjoyed pregnancy together this summer and our babies were born 6 days apart. She of course looks fab and I am still a moose! Anyway, Renate came into the picture through the same friend of Jami, Shannon's and mine. She started up with our Bunco group two years ago and we all just really clicked. DeAnn was brought to us through Renate who have been longtime friends. Renate thought she would fit in well with our little clan and that she did.

All these gals are going to be around for a long time, so those of you checking in, you'll probably see these faces again!

They say you make your best girlfriends after college, when you've settled into your adult life. I agree and disagree. I have made wonderful friends here in AZ, but I would never give up my friends from High School or College. I am so lucky to have friends from Minnesota that I still stay in touch with. I see them, if we are able to hook up, when I venture back for a visit and communicate with e-mail and facebook. I would still love to see them every day, week or month rather than only once every couple years. I look back on the memories with them fondly and often and I could never forget a single one.

Throughout my 32 years, friends have only made my life better. Thanks!

Cheshire Grins

I am seriously cracking up because Maya is now making the exact face in the exact saucer that Hayden did at the same age of just about 4 months. It is so crazy how two different kids, although siblings, can make the same face along with the same noise. They do this mmmm sound with this face that simply cracks me up.
I cannot believe Hayden was once this little either! I pulled up the pic and got a little sad because you can never get those glorious baby times back. Ah, if they would stay babies for another year, I would be a happy Mama. Don't get me wrong, I am so a happy mama now, but the baby phase just slips by so fast..... They do so much in such a short period of time. I would love to be able to extend that.
So, here's my "Cheshire Cat Faced Babies". My mom came up with the name for the face. And if you know what it is, it's quite accurate.

My baby Hayden with his silly face....

And Miss Maya sporting the same grin...