We started off the brand spankin' new year by having a mini-Willes Family Reunion. Troy's sister, Anna, and her family and Troy's Brother, Grant, and his family, all traveled to our humble home on December 31, 2009, from California for a week of good times and happy chaos. And yes, all those people stayed at our house. Willes Manor may be small but it is mighty!
For Christmas Katie, Emma and Claire were signed up for a the Zoppe Family Circus school, which ran from Dec 27-Dec 30, from 10a-2pm. They learned how to juggle, walk on tightropes, work the chinese yo-yo (AKA The Diablo), hang from trapeze and swing and spin on hanging ropes. They had a BLAST! On the last day of class they performed in a mini-show for parents. The Willes Girls had their own act where the build a human pyramid! The next day, New Year's Eve Day, we had bought tickets for all the visitors plus Grammy/Grampa Z, Bob Z, and Sarah Z (18 in all) and we went to the Zoppe Family Circus. The girls had a part in the pre-show and the cute circus ring leaders hyped them up. They were definitely teacher's pets. The circus was a good, ol' fashioned circus. Hanging from ceilings, clowns, storytelling, dog acts, tightrope, juggling, balancing, etc. It was a GREAT evening. We all went to Carl's Jr afterwards where all the kids terrified their parents by trying to recreate the acts of skill on the Playland....
Katie, Emma & Claire doing their big finale in the Circus School show.
Katie was really good at the Diablo and had everyone in the audience clapping for her during the pre-show. 
The benches were a tad uncomfortable but the Circus was delightful. All the kids, grown-up and adolescent, had a great time. 
That week we also hit a place called "Jumpstreet." You can see why, although I looked everywhere and couldn't find Johnny Depp ANYWHERE! I think Troy and Grant had as much, if not more fun, then the little kids!
On Sunday night we had all the Willes' and all the Zachresons over for dinner and The Wonderful World of Willes, where family members performed an act of their choosing. The Arizona Willes' performed their amazing Ward Christmas Party act. Troy dressed up as the Christmas tree that the girls were rockin' around. Zach provided the beat box to my electric guitar accompaniment. Yeah, we rock....
Lots of time was spent at the park and luckily we had LOTS of sunshine and boy cousins to play with for Zach.
Grammy Willes couldn't make it to the Mini-Family Reunion but did make it up on Jan 12. Just in time to help out with Katie's Big 12th Birthday Party. Great Gramma Reva Willes also flew in from Texas for the party and to hang out. Katie had handed out about 50 invitations and between kids and parents who came to hang out we had about 55 people jumping around our backyard. It was awesome. We had a candy bar, cake, pizza, soda, professional cake by Grammy W, games (Blindfolded Musical Chairs and Pictionary), and a groovy photo op. We strung lights and when the sun went down we ended the party with a fun dance (no slow songs....hey, they're only 12!). Everyone had a grand time!
The kid attendees at the big bash. 
Just before people started to arrive Gramma clicked this photo of the food stations. The Candy Bar, set up on the far right under the window was a confirmed success! We had about 20 bowls of different kinds of candy and the kids got to fill their own cellophane bags with whatever they wanted. Yummy! Katie requested that the kids bring blankets for the Maricopa County Animal Shelter instead of presents. She and her aunt Tana delivered them last week. She's now the darling of the shelter volunteers.
Katie had wanted a Groovy party theme: peace symbols; flowers; etc. My how everything comes back into style! All the kids got to have a pic taken and we handed these out as Thank you cards.
Doing the Cha-Cha Slide. If you don't know what that is ask your kid or google it. I'm ahead of you. I not only knew what it was but had it downloaded on my computer already!
Katie's awesome, tie-dyed, three-layer birthday cake. (Thanks, Grammy Willes!)
Our kitchen was finally completed back on December 23 and we threw it into action quickly with Christmas morning brunch for the Zachresons and as food central for all the Willes' the following week. It's awesome! For more pictures and details check out http://www.rwilles.blogspot.com/ .
The last two Saturdays of January the neighbor kids got together and made some cash. The first Saturday they raided the left over soda from Katie's party (the weekend before) and sold it with water and lemonade. They made 23 BUCKS! The next week they used they're cash and bought milk and donuts and sold them. They made $43! They are going to branch out to chili dogs next Saturday. Look for them on the cover of Time Magazine as Entrepeneurs of the Year for 2010. I think I'm going to start charging them rent. The funny thing is they are all business about it and had it all thought out: profit sharing; captial investments; advertising; etc. They even made Emma the manager, since it had been her idea. Her office is behind them on the front porch. She even has a nametag!
Neighbor Kids Productions, PC (pretty cool)
Emma, manager.
Zach also started preschool this January leaving Rachel with nearly 5 hours a weeks without any kids at home! HAPPY DAY! On January 28, Rachel went with the kids to the fire station for a field trip. Zach was more than a little excited. When they opened the side of the truck where they keep the axe, shovels, etc. they asked if anyone knew what was in this part of the truck. "TOOLS!" yelled Zach. Tool, big trucks and loud noises = Zach Heaven.
They got to go inside the cab and he was ....STOKED!To wrap up the month Rachel organized and hosted an ice cream social for about 200 kids and parents at the Stake Center for the Articles of Faith Reception. Any child who memorized and passed off all 13 Articles of Faith got to come and be honored. They received a certificate but most importantly they got to build their own ice cream sundae! What fun! Both Emma and Katie got to come and receive recognition. Way to go, girls! This is Katie's last visit to the reception as she turned 12 and moved up to Young Women. Wow.
And that's our January, people. You can see why it's taken me til February to post anything! We hope all is well in your worlds! Thanks for reading!
And that's our January, people. You can see why it's taken me til February to post anything! We hope all is well in your worlds! Thanks for reading!
