Keeping up with the Riches: January 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

These pictures are taken from our backyard. We have some of the most beautiful sunsets here in Arizona which is really nice, especially since the land around here is not the prettiest I have seen. We have been enjoying some amazing weather here too. It is crazy to hear about the bitter cold temperatures and snow in some of the other states because it feels like spring here right now. It has been in the 70's for the last 3 weeks or so. I mentioned before that it stinks it could not have been this nice when my family was visiting here for Christmas. Jacob and I have been going to the park and taking walks each day because I know it will not last forever. The very uncomfortable heat will be here before we know it and then we will be the ones trapped indoors. I cant believe that in just over 4 months we will have lived here in Chandler, Arizona for a whole year! Through personal experience and also by talking to others we have learned that there is 6 to 7 months of wonderful weather here, and 5 months of unbearable heat. I guess that's not too bad when you consider we never have to drive through ice or snow!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Christmas in Arizona

Christmas this year was very different from other years. Since Brad and I recently moved to Arizona and my dad has a timeshare, it was decided that everyone would come to us to celebrate Christmas. I think everyone was hoping for much warmer weather here in Arizona, but for some reason the week that they were here it never got warmer than 64 degrees. Of course the week after they left it was in the 70's for two weeks straight!! Anyways, my family stayed in a condo just a few miles away and we had a great time visiting, playing card games, guitar hero, and other games and eating lots and lots of good food. After this Christmas I have definitely gained a whole new appreciation for everything that my mother, aunts, and grandma's have done year after year to make family time during the holidays a food-filled time. It is A LOT of work! Even though I had tons of help from my sisters and mom, I felt like I spent half of the time they were visiting in the kitchen! It was an eye opener and I will never slack off again when my mom is slaving in the kitchen for those of us that are visiting. Aside from that it was a really fun time and I just love my family to death! I cannot get enough of them and it hurts every time I have to say goodbye. I would do anything to live within a couple hours from them. We all have such a close bond and it just feels good to be with them. Even though any time is a good time with my family, I do sort of regret the fact that Brad and I did not know the Phoenix area better because it felt like we did not do enough interesting or really fun things while they were here. I know that they were not worried about that and we all still had a good time, but I think from now on I will stick with going to Kansas for Christmas. There is just no place like home (my old home) for the holidays!

Loving the Family Time

This is my purple Christmas tree! A couple years ago, the Christmas right after I had Jacob, my mother in-law was in town helping out. As a gift to me she bought us a Christmas tree and all the decorations for it. She knew that purple has always been one of my favorite colors and I have to say it makes a Christmas tree look beautiful!

One of the things my sisters and I love to do when we are all together is give each other back rubs. As you can see here, Jacob is enjoying it as well!
I love this picture and the one that follows. They were just too cute to leave out. I'm so glad that even though Jacob does not get to see his aunts, uncles and grandparents very much that there is still a closeness and bond that he feels when he is with them.

Manger Scene at the Temple

Christmas Lights at Mesa Temple

My Beautiful family!
There were many, many lights at the Mesa temple. Also, for the few weeks before Christmas there was a different special musical program each night.

Jacob loving his aunts, Jenna and Stacey.

Christmas Eve at Rawhide Wild West Town

While my family was visiting we knew we had to go see or do something unique and so after a little asking around and surfing on the internet we discovered this interesting event. Its an old west town set up just a few miles away from where we live. We heard that there would be lights, shows and Santa Clause and it was free parking and admission so we thought we would check it out. It was a fun time and an excuse to get out of the house!
Santa Clause arrived on a carriage.
The gunmen, cowboys, or whatever you want to call them put on a little show and there was a really tall Christmas tree of lights there.

Present Time!

Stocking goodies! That's a happy little boy!
Tearing away at his first present.
Yea! Just what I wanted!
Opening another present.
What is this??

Friday, January 2, 2009

Wow! Its been Five Years! Happy Anniversary Honey! I Love You!

Today I just wanted to let all my friends and family know how much I LOVE my hubby! He is my hero, my best friend, and the best eternal partner I could have ever hoped for. He is my rock to lean on and my big teddy bear! He has made my life so wonderful by being the best father to our son and also by being the most hard working, patient, kind and loving man I know! He has always done everything he could to make my life easier and more fun. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend these last 5 years with him! And when I think about our next 5 years together I feel soooo excited and lucky to have him to share them with. Thank you Brad for always loving me so unconditionally. Thank you for working so incredibly hard to provide for our family. And thank you for always being so forgiving of my many faults and weaknesses. You are my ONE and ONLY and I truly don't know what I would do without you!