Ender and his little Toadie

She's her own woman, spunky, opinionated, fearless (save big machines), but Ender is older, wiser and he knows it.  Its dawned on him to tap into the resources of his little sister to get things done.

"Cora, chase those pigeons!"
"Cora, pinch daddy"
"Cora, say you want to watch TV"
"Cora, say you're done with lunch and you want a treat"
"Cora, follow me"
"Get Gunther!"

At first, it seemed Ender was getting a little uncomfortable in the shadow of Cora and differentiating himself between that weird, loud urchin invading his once 'only child life".  But now, Cora has become more of an extension of Ender's will and dictatorship.  He is comfortable in his own skin and will use whatever means necessary to push some boundaries.  She is a weapon, mouth piece, and his little toadie. 

And they adore each other. until they don't. 

On the Rim

I vow never ever again will go in the snow without donning a fur onsie.  I mean it.

The road to Payson weaves and wends through some of the most beautiful landscape.  Glad the I- 17 couldn't cut it straight.  Seen enough of that road it seems.
Zander abandoned his very excited kids in the car to record Gunther's first experience in snow.  Typical.

I would have loved to play with the lighting of this beautiful scene in camera, but my fingers were stiff and fragile as icicles.   The snow was like the fallen breath of an ice queen, nothing was allowed to form from it.  So we just kicked it around for Gunther's amusement.  I threw so much snow in his face, all over his body, he loved it.  It was very cathartic.  He wansn't annoyed or in full blown toddler rage.  Tough of nails, that boy.

Junipine - December and a lot said about Cora's hair

Zander told me that Ender got a little hung up while listening to a story.  Apparently, he wasn't too concerned. Zander must weave some thrilling tales. Thats how focused of an audience Ender is. 

A series of zander selfies to follow.  He discovered it this trip.  There are more, way more.... with Gunther.

haha oh come on zander, really.

cora's mama finally was let on to the existence of leave in conditioner. That stuff is amazing! We found multiple dreadlocks in her hair.  Huh, I was under the illusion that people with curly hair were blessedly exempt from needing to use hair products.  One of the reasons I wanted lovely locks so bad. Though, zander complained that it brushed her "look" out.  Her look is feral I guess.
Then I witnessed another curly hair secret.  On Monday nights Cora gets a spa treatment from Grandma.  Well, she emerged squeaky clean (if only for a brief moment) and with combed through, slick blond hair.  Her curly haired aunts were not amused.. so they attacked that mop by some sort of sprucing with simply their fingers and in no time her head was covered in a dizzy pattern of spirals and coils.  So its just a two step process 1)leave in conditioner with comb through 2) and then fluff
Her bedtime routine is becoming quite la di da, what with her creams, lotions and essential oils applications in front of a roaring fire. haha

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