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!

God? Where is He, Mom?

Even though I am so far behind on this blog and I have tons of catching up to do... this post couldn't wait.

This morning I was driving the boys to John's OT appointment.  They were both chatting and I was mentally going through my 'to-do' list of things I needed to get done today.  One very special question quickly caught my attention. 
Who is God?  Where is He, Mom?  I just want to see Him!
Ahh, if only Ryan could have been there.  That moment will forever hold a very special place in my heart.  The first time John self-inquired about God.  Of all the things we have done wrong in his little life, Ryan and I must be doing something right!
Before I could answer him, the questions just kept coming and so did his frustration.  He didn't like my answer that God is everywhere; I told him He is in his heart, helping him make good choices, I told him He is in Heaven, all around us in the air and He is at church.  
There was silence for a moment - it was really neat to watch him as his little brain wheels were cranking.  Then, he said, "Mom, can you get me a kite?"  I said, "Why a kite John?"  He explained that if he had a kite, he could fly it high, up to Heaven and he would hold on to it so tight so he could climb up the kite and see God. 
I love this very special moment for John at 3 1/2.  John is a child that needs to take everything apart, see how it works, everything to him is physical and there is not much left to his imagination. 

Tonight as we were coloring some homework he had, I asked John to tell daddy about our conversation in the car today.  He right away perked up and said, "GOD!  Do you know Him Daddy?!"  It was a special teaching and learning moment for all of us.  We talked about how God is always here to help us make good choices.  Right away John said, "He leaves when I make bad ones?"  We got to explain that He is always with you, he never leaves. 
We have a special bedtime prayer tonight, it had so much more meaning for John, and Ryan and I too. 
Ryan and I are going to sleep well tonight, I am just tickled pink!

Moving Weekend!

Friday, March 23rd. Closing scheduled for 12 noon. Both trucks packed.

Before we went to the closing, we drove one of the trucks to the house, dropped it off and drove back to Jana and Steve's to pick up the other one and drive that one to the closing.  That way, after we closed we could go right over to the new house!! :D

I followed behind Ryan as he drove the trucks, just to make sure he got everywhere safely. :)

As we were on our way to the closing, our agent called and said there was a problem with the seller's side and they had just emailed her and told her that they wouldn't be able to close until April 6!  Oh Boy!!  She said, not to worry (too much) and that she was doing everything she could to make sure the closing went through.  So, we ending up having time to drive both trucks out to Woodbury, stop and get the boys lunch to eat during the closing and luckily, Sue called us back and said, "Get over here! I have the paperwork, let's get this signed before they changed their minds!"  She was kidding of course, but we for sure hustled over there!



Ryan, the one man moving service!  He rocks at moving.
 So excited to be at our new house!!!!

I really wish I had gotten a picture of us at closing, but I didn't. :(  I twas very uneventful.  Our Agent had everything ready and waiting for us.  She played with John and Stephen while Ryan and I excitedly signed pages and pages of documents.  We finished up and pretty much ran out the doors! HAHA

When we got to the house it was a crazy day! The sellers were going to replace a window and do some other repair work to some of the other windows- so there was a window man here and a repair man here when we drove up.  Then ten minutes later, our "locksmith" pulled up to re-key our house.  (That is a whole separate blog for that mess.... stay tuned!)
We had 3 workers here, the kids, and a huge house that needed a ton of stuff moved into it! :)  Ryan unloaded the trucks for the most part - I'm telling you, he is a one man moving crew! I watched the boys, tried to get some cleaning done, assessed the childproofing that needed to be done, dealt with the guys working on our house, etc.  We realized at about 4pm that we had no water.  The city had shut it off since the house was vacant so long. No water does not go well with cleaning, kids and moving.  I tried calling everyone and anyone that I thought could help, no takers!  Then, Ryan made one simple 2 minute call and he had a man from the city over at our house in 20 minutes! We had water then, but still no hot water and only one of out toilets worked.  That's when we started to realize we had a plumbing mess on our hands.



John was on his VERY best behavior while we were moving!! He was just as or maybe even a little smidgen more excited to move then us!  He set up a station so play at.  He did stickers, crayons and opened what ever he could get his hands on to play with. 

 

This is where SJ played most of the time.
Right on the garage floor- he found a bunch of old toys we had packed away.

The boys had a lot of fun playing in the truck.  Yes, I know- dangerous! But, it was the safest place for them to be... And, don't you like the cushion at the bottom of the ramp? haha



Here is Ryan Turtling the King size mattress into the house. 
Why I wasn't helping?  Every time I would help, the boys would both run in different directions.  They are fast and then we would be chasing them and getting no moving done.  As long as I was "watching" the kids, they were both really good.  : /

 The window men finished up pretty quickly however, the "locksmith" was at our house until after 6pm... I paid him and then took the boys to get dinner.  We went to Chipolte and got food for them and lots of food for Ryan! :)  My parents met us at the house after they got off work.  Yay! Help!! They helped get things put into places, start cleaning out the kitchen and got our beds set up.  While my parents and I did that, Ryan met his buddy, Luke at his parents house to get the last load.  There were a few things he needed help moving- dressers, elliptical and some odds and ends.  They got back here late, maybe around 9ish.  (Poor Luke had just helped his sister move the 2 days before and then came to help us move... or, should I say poor Kristin?!  She was home alone 3 nights in a row with the kids!  Thanks to you both!!!)
Around 10pm, we were all filthy, tired and the house was no where near "safe" for then kids, we had no hot water for them to take a bath, no appliances to make food on/store in and they were tired!  My parents offered to take them to their house for a bath, food and to sleep there.  Before my mom could finish her sentence, John was running to their car- At least he yelled, "Bye mom!!" as he ran? The boys slept over there with no problems.  Ryan and I worked on stuff here until about 1am and then ran over to Lifetime for a hot shower. 

Late night, but we got everything put away that and our cars in the garage! YAY!!

We woke up sore, tired (it was maybe 5:30am) and hungry- but so excited to have a house! :)  My mom was pretty sick, so we quickly dropped the Uhaul truck off on University and got the boys. 
On Saturday, we mostly child proofed, we only got a little of the unpacking done.... 
Oh wait!! AND We got our appliances!!!!!

Good-Bye OLD appliances!



The Men from Sears got to our house at about 9am.  I was so excited to see them pull up! :D

The boys ate doughnuts and oranges as I dealt with the appliances and while Ryan replaced some of the boards on the deck.  That way the boys would then be able to play outside and it would be safe.

Maybe the washer and the hood for over the stove?

New Fridge! :D  I <3 it! 

It was too big to fit through the doorways, so they had to take it apart!



Back together and ready to go!

Afternoon snacks on the deck! :)



We returned the Penske truck at about 4pm on Saturday.
The boys napped in our truck while we drove the moving truck to Eagan to return it and then we went back to J&S's house to pack more stuff up and bring another load to the house.

The plumber was at our house all day!! We needed a new kitchen faucet, the hose hook-ups to the exterior of the house needed work because when you turned on the water in the house, they would shoot water about 30 feet out of them! LOL, He ran gas lines for the stove and dryer, fixed 2 of the bathroom faucets on the second floor, and the master bath shower faucet.  He started on the main floor bath, but we had gone waaayy over our plumbing budget, so he left at about 7:15pm ...7.5 hours later.... woof!

We needed to get a new kitchen faucet, so I ran over to Home Depot for the 12th time that day and I looked at all of the demo models and I picked the only one that wasn't broken! HA  It made for an easy choice!! Right away, I thought, Hmmm, how often do things at our house break? Often! So I picked the one that stood up to being a demo. ;D

The first load of wash finishing!!! <3

John helping!!!  He had so much fun helping us put things away! :)

More help from the self-proclaimed "Big-boy"

While we were all working on un-packing, SJ was working on being a goof! He was so silly, mostly he was so excited to play in the empty boxes.

Ryan was so good about letting the kids help with every project. 
And, yes everything took 4 times as long... ;)

Can we say 2 happy boys?! 
They were fresh out of the tub, lotioned, and ready to jump in their beds on there first night at HOME!

We had a bonfire Saturday and Sunday night! It was fun to burn the old deck boards.

On Sunday, my mom came over in the late afternoon and helped us get the bedrooms all put together.  She folded about 20 loads of laundry (not kidding!) and we got everything put away and my mom went home then to do her own laundry and ironing.  :(

This was Ryan after our long weekend..... He was "watching" the boys while I ran to Target to get some groceries...
: / Poor guy, he was WIPED OUT!

One last picture... this one is my favorite!  It is John vaccuming out the cabintes in the kitchen on Friday night....