December Weather in Arkansas

It's hard to not love the weather here. This family certainly enjoys it too as they are out in the neighborhood for walks many times a week.

Chef Ellie

Santa J delivered this darling little kitchen to the Slanger house. Mack knew this gift was for his sister but he helped make sure it was all set up for her.

Ellie donned her chef's hat and began her cooking tasks.

Oops, I pinched my finger on the oven door....but who cares,
I have work to do......

The hat seems to be giving me problems.

I'm sure there will be lots of good meals come from this kitchen.

A COOKIE IDEA

I saw this idea and thought it was so cute especially if you have some little ones to help you put them together. It sure doesn't need any instructions.

A Walk Through the Local Nursery

Each Christmas we like to take a walk through one of the local Nurseries in town to capture some of the beautiful plants. Vic complains there is nothing to take pictures of right now so it's a good way for him to snap a few shots.

Redirected

I was redirected to LR after I left Tucson because of a sick family....I'm glad I could come to help out. Carrie is much better and the runny noses are all that is left of whatever it was the two little ones had. Rob's voice is coming back and now C and I have sore throats. I'm thinking Kleenex stock might be a good thing to buy.

A couple shots of the two little ones having a bedtime snack. C is always trying to think of healthy things to feed the kids and tonight Tapioca Pudding was a big hit.

Things I like about Arizona

I enjoyed the citrus that grows all over the place - like this grapefruit tree right off the patio of my sister's home.

I love the strange looking things that live in the dessert here.

But most of all I come to see my mother that lives in the dessert. She would say she isn't as good as she used to be, but neither am I.

Birthday Month

Today Sweet Little Ellie is one. Can hardly believe that was one year already since we visited them in the hospital in Little Rock. Last week Mack had his 3rd birthday so we say Happy Birthday to both of our little Sweethearts. The last day of the month, Halloween no less, Rob has one too.

Last Lake Pics

The day before we left the lake we saw this beautiful scene from our deck.

Monday we took a ride through Itasca State Park and Vic got some beautiful trees at their peak. They kept saying we would have a colorful autumn and whoever "they" are were certainly right!!!

Before we wrapped the Hobie for her long winter's nap, we took one last ride on the lake. We couldn't believe there were 2 deer standing on the lawn of a lake house just looking at us as we passed by.

The last evening we were there we took one more walk through our park and admired the beautiful reflection of the sky. What a great summer we had -- it is one we will never forget.

YIKES!

Below is the headline in the GF Herald this am. I am not ready for this!!! It is early, even for ND. Actually, it is 32 degrees here so I really don't think it will be a hard freeze. We should have some wonderful weather ahead of us to enjoy the prime fall leaf season in Northern Minnesota. They tell us it will be the best we've seen in years.

Temperatures will drop into the mid- and upper 20s in many areas through sunrise this morning, and light winds are not helping, the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks says. A freeze warning is in effect until 8 a.m.

A Great Day in LR

It's our last day here and a beautiful one it was!!   We decided it was a perfect picnic day so we found a play area

and enjoyed some lunch.  

Papa enjoyed a quiet moment with Ellie.  Believe me, this is rare - we ran for the camera when we saw her like this.  

Tomorrow morning we head back up north.  We had to get a few more shots of these kiddos.   

Over the bridge and through the neighborhood

It was a beautiful evening tonight.  Thankfully, the heat is over and we had a wonderful day.  

It was fun to put the kids in the wagon and head over the bridge and through the neighborhood.

And back toward home again.

Elle is going to be walking before long.  

Mack is good at puzzles.