January 27, 2008 - Today is Aunt Jodie's 41st birthday! You always said good things came in small packages - I must add that you are just like wine.... better with time! We hope your birthday is half as wonderful as you are! You are a terrific daughter, the world's BEST Sister, a fabulous Wife, and Incredible Mom, a superb Aunt but most of all an AWESOME FRIEND! We love you very, very, very, very, very Much! We wish we could be there to celebrate your birthday with you, please have some cake for us and know we are wishing you a wonderful birthday and an incredible year! Here's to many, many, many more Birthday!
Love always, Mom, Dad, Jill, Rob, Josh, Brad, and Emmalee
When she finally got up on the door she looked at me as if she was asking "Is this okay? am I allowed to be up here... but I just really want to help you Mommy."
She then decided to pull the bottom drawer out and remove the pitcher for me.
I ended up putting the pitcher back in because it still needed to be washed. She is so much fun, always wanting to help!! Until next time!
Emmalee has become quite the little helper! Emmalee likes to help me do or undo anything and everything. I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies and Emmalee could not stop watching them bake in the oven. Here are some pictures of my little helper. 
She is a great help with putting dishes in the dishwasher, sorting the laundry, folding the laundry and helping Mommy and Daddy put the clothes away. More installments to come!
Love always, Jill and Emmalee
Radio Disney hosts a Noonyear at the Phoenix Zoo - they bring in 15 tons of snow for the kids to play in. Hunter and Sarah invited Emmalee and I to join them. I went into work and we were extremely slow so I took the day off. So at Noon on December 31, 2007 we toasted Noon Year with apple juice. 
We ran into Aunt Amy, Bryant, Coby, Jen, Jen's sister and Jen's two daughters! It was a beautiful day and we all had a wonderful time. I was not sure what Emmalee was going to think of the snow but she seemed to really enjoy it. Unlike her mother who cried the first time she felt snow!!! We walked around the zoo and we saw the monkeys and just enjoyed our day! My camera died shortly after we got there so I only have pictures of Emmalee and Hunter in the snow. I will try and share pictures from around the zoo later.!
Okay, I know I left some things off..... Emmalee received a wagon from Her Grandma Rosemary and Grandpa Al. She loved climbing in and out of the wagon and she was even more excited when her Big Brother Bradley (BBB) decided to take her for a ride outside. She loves to go for a ride when ever she has a chance.
Let me start in the begining.... Papa Jim and Nana use to have a 1978 Fiat convertible that was bright yellow.... Jodie and I both learned to drive stick on this vehicle. When Jodie got her drivers licence she drove the Fiat. In October 1984 Jodie and the Fiat were in a terrible accident and the Fiat was totalled. Luckily, Jodie and her two friends walked away from the accident with some bruises and cuts, Jodie broke her right arm. Jodie also had a yellow shirt on, since that day Jodie will not wear Yellow and she said she would never drive another Yellow car. Papa Jim has always wanted another Fiat and we have always had our ear out for another one.
In late September Papa Jim's cousin Sue came home from Minnesota and when she stopped by Papa Jim and Nana's house she asked Papa Jim if he was still interested in having a Fiat. Sue's cousin on the other side of the family had a 1971 Fiat and she was possibly interested in saleing it. Papa Jim said "Yes, how much do they want for it?" The next day Nana called Sue and told her not to discuss the Fiat with Papa Jim because she wanted to suprise Papa Jim with it......Nana, Sue and her cousin made arrangements for Nana to purchase the Fiat. Now, how was Nana going to get the Fiat here from Greeley, Colorado???? This is where Rob and I come it. I was able to take Thursday off and Rob and I got up early and drove 14 1/2 hours to Greeley, Colorado and loaded the Fiat onto a car hauler and then drove 2 1/2 hours towards home. The weather forcast was for Snow, Snow and more Snow so we decided to get down off the mountain as quick as possible. We then drove another 14 - 15 hours home. We hit a lot of rain and fog during the last 6 hours of the trip and I will admit to being rather nervous and very thankful Rob was driving!!!! The Fiat had 4 flat tires so Rob and I decided it was best to take it off the car hauler and place it in our backyard.
Nana decided it would be best to give the car to Papa Jim early to make sure he was suprised!!!! So, on Saturday, December 8 Rob asked Papa Jim to come to our house so Rob could help Papa Jim change the brake light in Papa Jim's car. Once Papa Jim was over there Nana took him into the back yard and told him that it was December 25th, 2007 - Merry Christmas.... Papa Jim was very much Suprised!!!! She even made him cry.!!!! Rob and I had told him that we were going to Salt Lake City, Utah to pick up a piece of equipment for Rob's friend Chuck... Papa Jim could not understand why Chuck would have us go and get a piece of equipment when there were companies that shipped. I know Papa Jim was very Happy and very Suprised!!!! Now, Papa Jim has a project and I know he is excited about it because he has already started cleaning out his garage. So, next time you talk to Papa Jim ask him when you get to ride in his new Fiat!!!
Love always, Jill and family
Okay I know it is now January but it has been really busy! We had a very nice Christmas. Josh, Brad and Emmalee woke up to find that Santa Claus came to visit. We called Papa Jim and Nana and they came around the corner! Diane always provides Christmas Morning breakfast "Sticky Buns" We opened presents while the "Sticky Buns" cooked.
Josh received a digital video camera and all of the accessories, he was pretty happy since that was all he had asked for!
Bradley received a Play Station Portable, some games for it and some movies to watch on it. He also received some things for the WII. He seemed pretty happy with all the things he got.
Look Daddy, I got a ring! Emmalee got a ride on zebra, some large legos, books, clothes and more toys! She was not a "typical" toddler, she wanted the toys that were in the box and didn't really want anything to do with the boxes. 
Rob and I received a new dishwasher... in Black so the next things we will replace is our refriderator, but not anytime soon. It was a wonderful Christmas. We had a wonderful day. Josh and Brad went to their Mom's house around 11:00 and spent the rest of Christmas day with her. Emmalee was really tired after all of the morning events so we all took a nap. We had Ham at Papa Jim and Nana's. We hope everyone had a great Christmas and hopefully Santa brought you everything you asked for.
Love always, Jill, Rob, Joshua, Bradley, Emmalee, Papa Jim and Nana
Friday, December 14th Emmalee was able to meet Mrs. Claus (she met Santa last year). She was not sure if she wanted to go to either of them but Mrs. Claus won! Emmalee just sat and stared at Santa and as they listened to the Mommies and Daddies and the other kids talk to them Emmalee just sat and watched and listened as if she was supposed to be there. Santa and Mrs. Claus come to visit a very nice house about 5 miles from here, there is a very nice house that is always beautifully decorated and Santa and Mrs Claus come to visit and allow pictures for a food or toy donation. The donations are then given to an orphange. Hunter came prepared.....
Hunter had already written a letter to Santa telling him everything he wanted for Christmas. Hunter gave the letter to Santa and then Santa asked him to put it in the mail box. Hunter appeared to enjoy his visit with Santa.
Our friends Jana and Skylar came to see Santa and Mrs. Claus with us and Skylar actually hugged them both. This is the first year she has gotten close! She received a scroll with some crayons so she could write a letter to Santa to tell him what she wants for Christmas. 
It was a wonderful night! Sarah and Hunter - again, Thank you for letting us tag along!
On Wednesday, December 12th Sarah, Hunter, Jana, Skylar, Sue, Sheri, Emmalee and I did our annual trip to the Phoenix Zoo for Zoolights! It had rained all weekend and all day Monday and Tuesday so we were a little nervous about the weather. It was a wonderful night, there was a chill in the air but it was not as cold as it had been. We walked the zoo and looked at all of the lighted displays. There were zebra's, flamingo's, lots of penquins, frogs, butterflys, and even trees that danced to music. I took Emmalee out of her stroller near the trees to see what she would do, she danced with the music and then decided it was her turn to walk.... walk..... and walk. 
The time flew and before we knew it, it was time to get the three youngsters home, bathed and in bed (to their respective homes of course). 
I beleive Sarah, Hunter and I have been for the last 5 years and Emmalee for the last two. I think we hooked Jana, Skylar, Su and Sheri!! Thanks for joining us and Sarah and Hunter thanks for another wonderful year.
Sarah and Hunter invited Nana Phyllis, Emmalee and I to join them in Chandler for the light parade and Tumbleweed Tree Lighting. The weather here has been very wet and cold so we were not sure if we were going to go. 
We made it down to Chandler (just about a mile south of my old house.) 
We enjoyed the Parade and then watched the 51st lighting of the Tumbleweed tree!!! 
It was really cool to actually see the tree light up since we have never seen it live in all the years we have lived in Arizona. To some I am sure we have some strange traditions, but we have to do something since we don't have any tall pine trees in the Phoenix Metro area. Enjoy the Pictures! Sarah and Hunter thank you again for inviting us!!!!
Today we decided to go meet Santa Cow. The Chick-Fil-A restaurant in town had an unexpected visitor. He is Santa Cow and he came to town to take pictures with the kids. Emmalee was not sure what to think... she would not sit on his lap and she would not get close to him unless I was holding her. We got close to have our picture taken and Emmalee decided she wanted to kiss Santa Cow right on the nose! 
She did it a couple of times. 
Hunter and Sarah told us about Santa Cow so we met them and had lunch with them. Nana Phyllis joined in on the fun. 
Hunter really wanted a picture with Santa Cow and Nana Phyllis. 
Here are some of the pictures. I was asked to sign a release to allow the picture of Emmalee to be used in publications... If it is I will share!
On Wednesday, November 28th I was given 2 tickets to go see the Phoenix Suns take on the Houston Rockets. Rob and I attended the game and had a great time. It was a good game but the Suns Lost 94 - 100. It was neat to see Yao Ming who is 7 feet 6 inches tall.
The half time show was an exhibition game by the Banner Wheelchair Suns and the Banner Wheelchair Mercury. 
I know several of the players who were there! It was great to seem them play!
