Arizona Continued...

The last post cut off, so I re-posted the pictures again... I hope this shows up?!

Ryan and I on our date! We went to Jalapeno Inferno for dinner after our Friday afternoon massages -- a treat from Nana! It was so nice to have some time off with each other!

Stevie Joe in his new goggles!

Nana and the boys playing hide and seek.
They thought this was the funniest thing ever!!  Nana would count and they would run to one of five places (under the table, under the umbrella, behind the couch or behind a cactus-- all obvious places!) and they really thought they were tricking Nana every time!  This game went on for a long time, Nana was a good sport! :)

 

Here is John with his licorice that Papa John bought him! We all shared it and boy was it a good treat!
Thanks Papa John!

Ryan and I hiked Pinnacle Peak one of the mornings.  It was so beautiful! 
We are only 1/2 way to the top here.

At the highest point! Loved our hike- it was nice to get out, get fresh air, talk and do some hiking.

The Boys, in their AZ uniforms- Swimsuits! 

Smile!  Morning swim in the pool!

SJ going potty-  and water spilled on the ground next to the potty...

Swimming break! 
Nana made the boys popcorn to snack on so they would take a break from the sun. 
Popcorn always does the trick!  Butter and salt- yummy!

We had lots of fun in the pool- it was great to have so much family time to swim and laugh together.

Dad and John in the little pool!

Nana and SJ just about to go for a swim!

Dad on the baby duck floaty and SJ swimming.

Nana and Papa swimming too!! 
So much fun to spot airplanes from the pool, especially since there wasn't a could in the sky.

SJ was Captain Goggles!

Nana and SJ in the little pool.

Pool time!!  We loved all our time in the pool!

And now for John's golf lesson with Papa and Daddy! 

Troon North Course, Scottsdale AZ.

And that my friends is the beginning of John's golfing career!  I was actually tearing up watching this.  John has asked, dreamt, and pleaded to be able to go golfing with Papa and Daddy- this was a big deal for John (and me too!)  :)

We had so much fun with all the cousins!!
We went swimming at LT and had a big pizza dinner, the kids collected golf balls and played in the sand box.
(Katie is missing from the cousin picture...) 

Phoenix Zoo!!  One of our favorite things to do in AZ.  Nana came with to the zoo too!
Notice Ryan's necklace- John made that for Ryan that morning, so Ryan wore it all day, so sweet!!

John and daddy <3

Nana treated the boys to the carousel. John enjoyed waving to Nana every time we went around!

Dad and SJ on the rhino-  Thanks Nana!  The boys thought it was so fun!

Stevie Joe, mom and dad at the Phoenix Zoo. 18 months

John, mom and dad at the Phoenix Zoo.  3 years.

John in the Nome Home at the Zoo.

Nana and her Grandsons!

After the Zoo, we dropped Daddy off at the airport because he had to get back home and work! Bummer!!  Daddy was such a great sport too--because, I had him take home most of the luggage so I wouldn't have to bring it with me when I was with the kids alone he brought it home and even carried on the Mickey Mouse suitcase.  What a daddy!!!

Watching Milo and Otis with Nana and Papa

John playing in the sandbox Nana made for him and Stephen!

Wouldn't be a trip to AZ with out a trip to Urgent Care!  I thought SJ had an ear infection, but the Dr. said, "It isn't bad enough to treat, and going on an air plane tomorrow is no excuse either.  If it is worse, come back tomorrow and I will decide if it should be treated with antibiotics."  Umm, we are not on the same page Dr!

John all snuggled in on the plane home!

Stephen all snuggled in on the plane home!

Some of my other favorite parts:  (that I didn't have pictures from...)
I went for a girls afternoon out!  I met Chrissy and Abby at the mall for an afternoon of lunch, chatting and salsa dress shopping!  It was so much fun to be silly and girly- every mom needs to have time to be a girl again!  Thanks Chrissy for the girl talk and laughs!  And thanks Nana and Papa for watching the little guys!

Nana took the boys and I to a trampoline park one of the nights.  We had SO much fun!  I would almost say that Jana and I had more fun then the boys!  We were jumping, doing mazes, and slides.  So. Much. Fun.!! On the way home we stopped to get the boys a snack of teddy grahams, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.  They chowed down and fell asleep before we got home.  Success!!

As always, Arizona was a blast!!!! We love our trips down there to see Nana, Papa and all the cuzzies! Thanks again Nana and Papa for being amazing hosts to us always! 

Spring Break in Arizona!

I am going to try to catch up on the blog...so these posts are old, but still important! :)

Just days after we moved to our new home, Ryan, the boys and I headed to AZ for a little vacation to visit Nana and Papa!  It was a bit hectic to say the least to move and vacation all with in one week, but it was fun- so that's what counts!
Since it has been a while since we went- I will tell the vacation story by pictures....

The morning of our flight I had a big to-do list.  I got *most* of it done!  We went to pick up John from school a couple hours early.  All of his classmates waved him good-bye and we so excited that he got to go on a airplane! We then drove to meet my mom at Lloyd's so I could drop off my car which needed an oil change and a new drive axle.  it was a quick shuffle- we moved the boys car seats to my moms car, luggage and stroller.  I dropped the keys off and we were off to the airport-- in a bit of a rush, none the less.  My mom dropped us off quickly as she was headed to a meeting and we needed to get through security and on that plane! :)  As we were checking our luggage I realized that I didn't have my phone.  Then I realized Ryan didn't have his either!  Now, neither of us needed our phones, however, I was going to be flying home with the boys alone on a night time flight... I needed mine! 
So, I looked for a pay phone, entered in my CC # dialed out and NOTHING.  I tried this 5 times (each time charging me, but no connection!)  So, I looked for a mom or someone who wasn't in a hurry that would let me use her phone.  I found a softball coach.  She let me call my mom who told me she didn't have my phone either!  We left them WAY back at Lloyds!  So, Ryan helped me get the boys through security while my mom left her meeting and drove to Lloyd's to get our phones and back to the airport.  Ryan went back out and waited for my mom.  They connected, got the phones and he made it through security just in time to board with us! 

The pictures are getting all mixed up... and it isn't letting me arrange them...so, here is a picture mess?

John enjoying the cookie my mom brought for him! It was as big as his head-- and then he went to sleep! :)

Stephen falling asleep on the plane

Such a big boy on the plane- with his Mickey luggage!

Still tired and just wanting to snuggle with his Pup.

The gear!





Nana and John taking Sabo for a walk.




Ryan on his way to golf with Steve



The boys waiting to Swim! The weather was beautiful!