autumn leaves in January

many people think we only have one season in Arizona (or rather the Phoenix area), but we have four just like every other place.  our seasons are just spaced out a little differently here.  it's true that our longest season is summer.  and i'll go ahead and characterize summer as temps 85 and above.  typically this warm season lasts from about mid (or early) April to mid (or late) October.  next comes the season best referred to as winter. a cooling off that thankfully tends to occur during the holiday season.  cool temps stretch into January and February when we surprise many visitors with freezing temperatures. Spring is usually the six-eight weeks between freezes and Summer generally occurring in March/April.  

so what about Fall?  well our Autumn is usually a few days in January when the leaves fall!  here are my children revelling in their 24 hours of Autumn.  

the FLU reared it's ugly head in our house again this month.  along with strep, a stomach bug, and double ear infections.  someone in our family has been sick almost every week since Thanksgiving!!!!  we are looking forward to those warmer temps that Arizona has in store for us!

if you give Colin a cookie

we are in the midst of our very own FLU epidemic.  i'm not sure we've (collectively, as a family; nor individually) changed out of our jammies in at least a week).  i can't remember ever feeling this sick!  

some dear friends brought us dinner (litterally leaving it on the porch as to not get infected) and for dessert, a family favorite, Oreos!  

i tried out my new camera for these pics and LOVE!  now time to go back to bed!

my Chritmas presents (thanks Jason)

i have been wanting a Bosch for a very long time now (at least 6 years) and have always stopped short of buying one due to my lack of baking and the large price tag.  but this has been a big year for me and the oven.  i have embraced baking muffins, cookies and other snacks as a way to cut back on processed foods.  my increased baking made for an increased mess and Jason was always commenting that there had to be a less messy way to mix.  I took the opportunity to tell him my theories on stand mixers and educate him on our need for a Bosch. and look what Santa brought me:  (Jason would die if i didn't point out that this was not my only present and he merely wrapped it and put it under the tree due to the timing of the purchase)  

 this little number has revolutionized my muffin and cookie skills, and the ease and convenience factors has led me to take up bread baking as well.  i now bake wheat bread a couple times a month, so we've replaced yet another source of processed foods!  hip hip hooray!  don't even get me started on the blender attachment.  needless to say, our smoothie making time has shrunk by half!

a note on my real Christmas gifts as they have not arrived I do not have photos.  Jason presented me with a coupon to upgrade my photography quiver.  I ordered 2 (count 'em 2) new Nikon dSLRs an off camera flash unit, new camera tote, SD cards, jump drives and more.  Britain Earl Photography is off to a great 2013!!!  thank you hubby!