(43-158) HAPPY New Year 2011

Welcome to "The Bumpy Ride" 2011.  I hope that you all had as wonderful a New Year's eve as my family and I did.  We spent a perfect evening with Mari and her family...  Good friends, Good food, GOOD TIMES!!!  And now, I'm writing my first blog of the new year, as I sit in my car, 40 miles or so south of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Although it typically doesn't snow in Phoenix, Luis and several of my friends, reported seeing snow flurries on Thursday; as Northern Arizona got pounded with about two feet of snow.  We usually try to take the kids up north to play in the snow at least once per winter; so this New Year's day seemed like a terrific opportunity to do so. We waited till after noon to begin our drive up north; which turned out to be a really good thing to do because it had warmed up quite a bit.  It wasn't long before we started to see snow; and just past Sedona, people were pulling over on the side of the road to take pictures and let their kids play.  We drove a little further north, before doing the same.

To be honest, snow wasn't high on my list of ways that I wanted to spend my day; but my family's enthusiasm was contagious.  The joyous expressions on their faces as they crunched their way through the snow tracks that Luis had made for them, was priceless; and we just couldn't take enough pictures.

It wasn't nearly as cold as it had been in Phoenix the past couple of nights, so I didn't even put my coat on.  The snow glistened as if someone had poured glitter over it; and my kids were beaming. 

After icicle hunting and horsing around, I got back in the car to warm up and start writing my blog.  I was hard at work; but I lifted my head out of my notebook, and I felt a smile spread across my face as I noticed Luis building a snow ramp, so the kids could use their sled.  Is he the BEST dad or what?

Nicky and Lyndzi made arsenals of snow balls and Kelsie ate the snow, Luis built his ramp up higher and I HAPPILY took it all in.  I remembered my winters in New York; hours of sledding and rosy red cheeks; and I couldn't help but think to myself "life is good!"  With that thought in mind, I couldn't let an opportunity to play with my family pass; and I got out of the car so that I could take my turn on the sled.  I told Luis that I was going to go down on my stomach, and he said "well, you're the pro," and with that, I took off down our little slope, giggling all the way.

The kids took a few more turns on the sled and decided that they were ready for hot chocolate; so we piled back into our car in pursuit of a warm, sweet treat.

Even though it's not what I thought I wanted to do; it turned out to be an amazing day with my family and a wonderful way to start our new year.  I wish you all unexpected pleasures as well.

Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING