Christmas 2010, Part 3

Grandma took Ella and Quinn (and I) to their first play, A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail by Valley Youth Theater. It was a really cute musical with all child actors from the valley. Ella picked up on the story line pretty quickly as we had just finished reading the real Winnie the Pooh book before we went to Phoenix. They adapted the story of Eeyore's lost tail from a birthday party to a Christmas celebration. Both of the girls clapped for all the songs, Quinn even saying "yeeeeaaaaahhhhh.".


Ella took her program around to all the characters after the show to get their autographs and photos.


Then in the car ride home she had approximately 1 million questions about who the actors were, why did they do that, how did that work, etc.


Tigger was very bouncy, but she was not satisfied that he jumped on his feet. Tigers bounce on their tails!

Christmas 2010, Part 2

What would a trip to Arizona in December be without a trip to the Phoenix Zoo? The cool (for Phx) morning made for some great animal viewing. We heard the male lion roar, and both were pacing around their enclosure. I don't think I've ever, in 32 years of going there, seen them do anything but sunbathe.



Ella and the tiger, actually within eyesight.


Zoo was the best non-paid babysitter I've ever had. She was so patient and sweet with the girls all week, playing endless games with Ella, and helping Quinn with whatever she couldn't quite do on her own. Here there are looking at the otters.


And of course, the carousel. Highlight of the trip for Quinn, as she now calls carousels "upanddownyion"s. She randomly says this at least a few times a week even still.


Ella really, really wanted to ride the dragon. She remembered it from two years ago before we even got to the zoo, asking if she could ride it. Sadly, it was out of commission that day because it "needed oil.". Kind of lame if you ask me. She was bummed. Thankfully she was willing to ride the leopard instead.

Christmas 2010, Part 1

Christmas this year was a busy one, with 13 people living under one (thankfully decently large) roof. It was awesome to have all the Jeffries offspring together for a whole week. The cousins got in some major bonding time. The littlest of them quickly became the star of the show, what with her smiles and laughs and lack of naps there was plenty of time to soak up the Katie B.


She even tolerated the enthusiastic snuggling...


And hugging. Lots of hugging. Quinn of course just called her Baby. A real live doll!


A "nap" on Christmas morning. Let me just say that this little girl is lucky to have a more patient mother than Ella and Quinn.


All the cousins. See what I mean? Whose star is shining brightest? One happy baby. We miss you Katie!