The Shinabery Family

Ah.....winter is over and the last few days have been sunny & warm! The longer we live here the colder the winters seem to be. We got a lot of snow this winter which made it feel like a long winter. It's nice in that we get to enjoy winter and if we need some heat we jump in the car and head down to Phoenix. Phoenix is an hour away and never dissappoints!

Mom & Dad arrived just in time for Christmas! Thank goodness because I don't think I would have ever been able to make all the Christmas candy and get it out to our neighbors and friends. She was a huge help! We had quite a bit of candy left over and I'm very greatful that Dad was here to eat it!!!! I think he must have eaten 30 Martha Washington Balls!

So as always, life is good. The kids are growing up way too fast but it's all so much fun. Zac is becoming a little tape recorder and repeats a lot of words! Our favorite lately is "awesome"! Anything he thinks is really cool he will yell "Awesome"!!!! Too cute! I am sad to say that Zac has entered into the life of time outs! Poor kiddo. He's been cursed with stubborness & temperment!

Sidney loves to draw, cut & paste! I think she plays with her art bin every day. Avery is loving gymnastics and is currently working on her cartwheel & handstand. I'm quite impressed with both!!! The last few days the girls & I try meditation while Zac naps. The girls think it's cool that we light candles and sit on our yoga mats. I think it's cool that they can actually stay quiet for a couple of minutes. I'll confess that I was shooting for 30 secs the first go at it. They are doing quite well!

Grandma & Grampa Shinabery got the girls barbie scooters!!!!!

Christmas Eve we went to evening service at the Heights Church! They had trolley ride to & from the parking lot, hay rides that took you past the donkey & wise men until finally reaching baby Jesus with his parents in the manager. The kids loved it! There was a tent with hot chocolate, candy & fresh kettle corn! Merry Christmas! We had so much fun!

Trolley Ride

Dad Christmas morning riding the kids' horse!

Happy New Years!!! Chris & I went out with friends and had a blast.

Zoo lights at

Phoenix Zoo

Feeding the ducks

Hiking at Watson Lake

So if you haven't heard, Chris & I ran the Arizona Del Sol Ragnar Race. This is a race that involves each team of 12 people running from Prescott, AZ to Tempte, AZ totalling 202 miles. We started at 6am friday morning and ended 3:35pm Saturday. Chris & I had a blast with our friends on our team. When do you get the chance to run on dirt roads in the middle of the desert? We had a blast and both agree that we will do it again next year!!!!

Our team name "Got Sol"

Our team getting ready to run thru the night!

My friend Karen & I at 5am getting ready to run!

Our entire team

Chris & I at the end of our race!

Wow! It's been a long time. I apologize mostly to Grandma & Granny because I know they love the pics! Life is busy here as it should be with 3 kids. I love it. Staying home full time now has been a change but things are falling into place. I still attempt a schedule everyday.....I'm not sure why I love to do that but it rarely bothers me now when we follow none of it. So the toilets didn't get cleaned at 3pm or at all, big bummer!

Sidney and Avery are getting so big. One of my favorite things now is to listen to them sing. Lately they act like they are having a sing off. One will start a song and then the other will sing different song louder. It's so funny. I think they are finally trying to figure out some boundaries with each other. They are becoming such little tape recorders (mainly of me) which of course is so hilarious (to me). It's mostly little comments to themselves like "ya gotta be kidding me" or "Seriously". They say both of these phrases a lot out of frustration with Zac. He'll mess up something they are playing with and I'll hear "ya gotta be kidding me, Kid!" I do say this a lot as I feel that my kids excel in the area of abnormal activities.

Zac is still the most loving child I've ever encountered. This of course is nothing but pure joy to me. He likes to dance with me in the livingroom with his face pressed to mine as we sing songs together, dance and laugh. For a 15 month old he is an over achiever in the hugs department!!! He is a very much in your face I love you type of guy. Well, enough for now. Enjoy the pictures....we miss you all!

Halloween!

Harvesting our basil plants before the cold gets here!

We went to our girlfriend Maggie's "fairy" birthday party! so fun!!! Happy 2nd birthday Maggie!

Zac hanging out with a couple friendly fairies Dalia & Alise.

Zac's birthday present from Grandma & Grampa! He loves this and he loves when his sisters push him around in it.

Sid turns 4

Our friend & neighbor Don came over to have birthday cake. He & his wife, Kathy, also got a present for Zac Zac!

Sidney being a princess!

Mom hanging out with the kids reading one of the "Twilight Series" books! Nothing beats a good vampire read!!!! Nov 20th New Moon! Just incase anyone missed that news flash!! As Granny would say in her numerous text to me "awooooo"! I think she loves the wolves better than the vampires!!! If you don't know what I'm talking about.....highly recommend the books!

typical scene in our house!

pumpkin patch!

reading the map at the zoo!

we were waiting for the big bear to get fed so Granny had the girls making faces at the animals!!

Here is a good portion of the girls birthday presents! I was hoping that getting them some actual princess outfits would minimize the number of clothes they come downstairs wearing trying to look like a princess. Unfortunately, they still like the layered look. They still come down with shorts, a couple shirts on under 2 dresses and maybe a jacket, but now they also have on princess shoes and a tiara!

Had a great three day visit from Julie!!!

And another great visit from Amy!!! Yes, we still eat breakfast naked some days!!!

Zac lost a paw trick or treating. The kids had a blast going from house to house. After about 10 houses, Zac decided he wanted to walk up to the door with all the rest of the kids. He walked up to the house, took some candy and then often tried to walk into their homes. He only made it into a few livingrooms before we'd run up and grab him!!!