Snow time!

Last weekend we ventured up to Flagstaff to visit Adam and Katelyn and play in the snow. There wasn't much snow at all but enough for us. We drove a couple of minutes from Adam's to Woody Mountain and played for just a little bit there....us AZ Mantle's can only handle so much cold. I have never been a big fan of snow and Travis doesn't seem like much of one either, but Ella had been dying to play in it this year....so instead of being cozy/lazy at Adam and Katelyn's all weekend, we got them ready and out the door twice - gotta make use of the winter coats and gloves :) It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend and even the snow part was fun (all 20 minutes of it :)

I don't know how people do it....bundling these kiddos up and getting them into the car was NOT FUN! I would take 115 degrees of burning hot seatbelts and sweaty children over this anyday!

She was excited!!!

Ella didn't want to take part in the family picture...

not when there was a snowball she could be making.

Uncle Adam taught Ella the art of making the perfect snowball....and then also throwing them at mommy and Katelyn.

She LOVED the snow.....but once her pants got wet, and she was a little bit cold, she was done...just like her mama.

He wasn't too sure of the snow....not being able to move in his clothes didn't help either :)

Uncle Adam and Jonah

I love Jonah's face in this pic.

A month's worth

It has been a while....since before Christmas....so I am just posting the last month all in one shot.

Enjoy!

Ella was thrilled to see all the presents from Santa and could hardly sit still for this picture.

Good morning! Merry Christmas!

Jonah was sooo excited to get a chair like his sister's.

After a while, he finally decided to open some presents.

On Dec. 29th we had quite the scare when Ella woke up and started into a Febrile seizure that lasted a really long time (about 35 minutes)...we brought her to Mercy Gilbert Hospital just around the corner and although the seizure was over by the time we got there and after a few hours she was acting just fine, the Drs decided to admit her for 24 hour observation. We are still awaiting tests to make sure that all is really ok and that these simply are Febrile Seizures (which she will grow out of).

"Hello, who is it?" During Ella's hospital stay she found it quite funny to use the board that kept her IV intact as a phone.

We were there for over 24 hours but she kept busy and never complained once.

Chocolate milk, a cozy bed, and some t.v....she loved it.





"How do they get this messy?"

"Our Beauty"

"Jonah's first haircut"

"before"

As soon as he heard the blowdryers, he wasn't too happy.

Looking a little frantic...luckily it was pretty quick.

He was beyond done :)

Our cutie "after"


"The Farm Party"

Sunday, Jan. 16th we celebrated our good friend, Alexis Stephenson's first birthday at Marley Farms. The kids got to pet all sorts of farm animals, go on a hayride, bounce and be among all sorts of strange creatures....kangaroos, bulls, macaws, camels, donkeys, zebra/mules and many more. With this gorgeous Arizona winter weather, it was a perfect day for an outdoor party.

Jonah was all about petting the goats...Ella, not to much.

Ella had a blast in the bouncy castle/slide.

"Jonah love"

Jonah LOVES to wear Ella's hoodies on his head like a cape...he will walk around for hours like this.