The Great Shootout

Wendy, Norah and I snuck away from the big city to enjoy one of the most popular western towns in history: Tombstone, AZ. The home of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the shootout at the OK Corral. 

 The town is very much a tourist town (which the lady in Bisbee made sure to tell us they were different). You could ride a horse and carriage through town, or walk the row of saloons/ shops. 

We were a tad late in the day so we didn't get to watch a reenactment of the OK Corral. However seeing it is pretty cool also. 

 Norah is lookin for any yeller bellied vermit who wants to shoot it out. 

Quite possibly the most bizarre street musician in AZ. Playing jaw bone of a cow. 

 He was super friendly and Norah actually was quite entranced. 

Tombstone was a beautiful place that has used it's fame from the 92' movie to keep itself going. We really enjoyed our short day trip to this western style town. 

Day two in the desert

Brian's sister, Sarah and her boyfriend Andy, flew in from Miami Friday night to spend the weekend with us too. It was fun to see both of them and on Saturday we headed to Sabino Canyon.

We rode a little trolley up into the canyon, along a creek, then got off and walked down. It was a fun ride! And perfect weather, not too hot, but warm enough for short sleeves.

Our group! Aran, Matt, Wendy, Norah, Sarah, Andy and Brian.

It's beautiful in its own way...Not quite in the lush green, with huge trees, Oregon way, but in the dry, I'm a desert with cacti everywhere way...

The guide kept saying this is the "biggest beach in Arizona" Well, Norah enjoyed it for a few minutes.

These cacti are by far my favorite thing in this desert. The Saguaro Cactus. Takes 50 years to get its first arm, lives to about 150 years. In between, becomes a home for many different animals and birds. This one was particularly cool looking. Oh and when they get this big, they can weigh about 10 tons! Wow!

Travelling to Tuscon

Grandma and Grandpa treated us to a trip to Tuscon, Arizona for a few days. They have a little home there that they like to visit in the winter time, take some time away from Juneau and the cold/wet to be dry and warmer. So, we joined them for a weekend. Lucky for us we did get some nice weather, it can be chilly in Tuscon in the winter, but it got up in the 70's during our time there.

Norah enjoyed the garden/yard area. Wearing Grandma Aran's hat and playing in the rocks with a garden shovel.

Saturday we headed into the desert to the High Desert Museum. It was an awesome place with tons of plants (cactus) and animals, so it felt like a zoo too!

A Joshua Tree, for those who have heard about them, but never seen them. 

There was a cute little otter swimming around that Norah just loved!

Strange creature, not one we see often. A Coati.

Bobcate

Ground squirrel. Fat and pudgy. 

A vulture!

The drive back to Tuscon, see all the Saguaro cacti? They are awesome! More about them later.

Sunset in the desert.

A Start to 2016

SNOW. Not very much, literally just a dusting on the ground. and it was cold. REALLY cold. But fun. Norah didn't seem to concerned.

First visitors of 2016! The Nash family from Juneau. Long time friend, Dave and Karla and their two kids came for a nice visit over the New Year. 

Here is Caleb showing off his nice smile. 

Noah and Norah. Bathtime! Those two names are way too similar! 

Brian is working on a wall outside along our front driveway. It is looking so much better than before!! Norah got out and helped him for a few minutes. She needs to work on her shoveling skills.

Baby shower time! Troy and Trisha Welstad are great friends who are having a baby in about a month! We had a lovely party for them and their coming child, William.

Wendy, Trisha and Elia. And little Will in her belly.

December Traditions

The month of December FLEW by! I can't believe its over in 15 more hours. Then on to 2016. Well, here is a bit of what happened in December 2015.

Grandma Karen came to visit and bought Norah her first Nativity set. And of course, she loved it!

A yearly tradition with my friends, Sarah and Darla. Cookie decorating. Each year it gets a little more full with kids. So fun! Here is Calvin, Brian and Norah.

Gabe decorating his cookie

And here is Wedley decorating his!

Can you just see the mischief they will be getting in someday? Only one week apart in age, I hope these two have some fun.

Sarah, Darla and I...and our cookies!

NEXT tradition: Our second year of gingerbread houses and sushi. And this year we added another genre of food: German Raclette

Brian and Jeremiah being silly.

Starting the houses! Loads of candy and marshmellows and other decorating items! Everyone is hard at work.

Becky expanded hers a little, she built an addition. .

Gwyn, Miah, Monty and Isaac.

Sushi and raclette time!

Thanks for coming everyone! I forgot to take pictures of the houses after they were finished. Whoops. So, here is my house right before I put it outside for the birds and squirrels to eat.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!