Not a Traditional Tobler Christmas

Here's a wrap up of our Christmas...
Wednesday,the 23rd - 24th
A fun visit with the Pierce Family as they traveled back from Jason's Wedding.

A little caroling.

Thursday the 24th - Off to Arizona
Slow going over the Dam...6 hours later we arrive in Arizona.
Dinner with Rachel and her neighbors Loly & Missy.
Mass at St. Timothy's (my first Catholic Mass)
Finished the evening up a little Christmas dvd

...but we all kept falling asleep.

(the only little sign of Christmas amid the packed boxes)

Christmas Day
Sleep in!
Hike Camelback mountain with Loly & Missy.Since it was Christmas Day we figured we'd have the trail to ourselves...
Who goes hiking on Christmas Day?
...EVERYONE in Phoenix!


The views were beautiful..but most of the time this is what I was looking at.


We made it to the top!
Note the Christmas tree with decorations that some crazy person(s)
carried up the steep 1.25 miles of boulders to the top
That evening we hobbled to the movie "Invictus". Great movie!
Guess what?
...everyone in Phoenix goes to the movies on Christmas.

Saturday the 26th.
Clark arrives.Rachel had most of the house boxed up.
But we continued to box up, clean
...and pack the truck until we are all tired and cranky.

Finally (by now even the little Christmas tree is packed)
we opened our meager little pile of presents
...it revives our spirits.

Dinner at Pita Jungle (so good... a definite boost to weary bodies and minds).
A couple of Clark and Rachel's friends join us to say good bye.

Sunday, 27th. (yes, the ox was in the mire!)
Finished the last of the packing and cleaning.
Loaded the car.
Walked to church (it was more of a limp... even more sore and stiff from the hike).
Surprise, the McDonald family from Pasco was there for the blessing of Marianne's baby.
(Small world!) So fun to see them again.

Packed the last minute items and mopped our way out the door.
Where's the Cat? We looked everywhere (but where the cat really was)!
Finally...an hour later, we leave the cat in the care of Loly and Missy.
Karl and I will return in a couple weeks and get the cat.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas
and that you know where your cat is.
Love, Mom Tobler