2016 Hayes Annual Ski Vacation

We left our house with a few sick kids. Natalie felt terrible the whole way and threw up 3 times. We had to re-arrange the carseat situation so that Natalie had a better view out the front window and all had to get a little closer and try to get along.

I took this photo right after taking the one above, approximately 45 minutes into the 8+ hour drive. Gus was sitting right between my legs with car seats on either side.

Finally they stopped crying/screaming/arguing long enough for both of them to fall asleep.

The rest of these photos are very much out of order, but it would require a significant effort to put them in order.

Another day at home to play...

Fun times in the bath with Auntie! The bathtub wall even looked like Auntie's license plate!

First day... discovering the magic of icicles!

Inside the snow fort/cave with all the girls.

 

Making a snow girl, Ms. Claus.

The Hayes Family, 2016.

 

The drive home was so much better.

  

And then, blinding snow fog in Arizona... atop the Mogollon Rim.

 

Christmas 2016

Unfortunately, the kids were both pretty under the weather just in time for Christmas. They both went to bed early and slept in later than usual on Christmas morning.

Natalie made a plate of cookies and Hershey Kisses for Santa.

As he does every year, Daddy read The Night Before Christmas pop-up book before bed.

 Natalie asked Santa for a white board (wipe board) and markers for Christmas...

 And Eloise asked Santa for a cell phone...

Santa brought Daddy some new Hot Wheels cars...

And Gus was a good boy last year so Santa brought him some bones.

 

And there are no photos of Mommy.

Christmas with the Poore family

This year we hosted a pre-Christmas Happy Hour and chili with the Poore family, all of whom happened to be spending the holidays in Arizona for a change. It was so wonderful to see everyone... even if only for a few hours.

December 2016, in review

The girls got new Christmas jammies from Grandma Becky and they both adored them.

Natalie had to prepare a Public Speaking assignment about her Family Traditions. She chose to write about our family ski trip tradition.

The weather was perfect for lots of trips to all sorts of new parks everyday after school.

Eloise's first pair of jeans. They lasted less than an hour. I think they'll be her last pair for a while.

Budding bookworms...

Our neighbors didn't let us down.

Fun with Santa hats...

Fun making Christmas cards for our teachers!