Arizona

We took a family trip out to AZ to visit one of our favorite families... the Beer clan.  (What is a clan?  I think I can call them that since there are 6 of them, with 4 of them being very little!)

It's always great to catch up with friends, especially when it's in a place that's 50 degrees warmer than the place you left!  The trip was a good combination of fun, relaxing time at home, play time for the kids, and of course a project tackled by Brandy and I.  The project was supposed to be the girls bedroom but instead we went through all the kids clothes and put away winter and got out summer... b/c you know, it's summer-like in some parts of the nation.  But it turns out that I love to to through clothes and organize them (big surprise right?!).

So... a little recap of our agenda, just so I can remember all the fun we had... in case the camera didn't capture it.

Thursday night:  Arrive and have a late dinner with Adam & Renee after the kids are in bed (yes, this means we were eating dinner at like 11pm our time :)).  Adam is the pastor of Seth & Brandy's church and their good friends that we met the last time we went to AZ.  Stay up talking and go to bed too late and wake up too early with kids who are still on IN time.

Friday:  The hard-working dads work a short day while we stay home with the kiddos.  The adults get away for a hike and sushi in the evening while a very kind neighbor watches the kids.  Always love to get a hike in while we're out there, which gets harder the more kids you have.

Saturday:  Have a b-day party for Annaika at the playground and meet some more of Seth & Brandy's friends.  Beck got his greatly anticipated ride in the Ford F-150 and turned out to be a little bit of a bad driver. :)  The adults made homemade chicken curry after the kids went to bed in a nice and peaceful kitchen.

Sunday:  Church and then lunch at Joe's Farm Grill, one of our favorites out there.  The food's great and the setting is farm-ish with picnic tables outside to dine at.. perfect atmosphere for kids.  The adults got some time away again and went out for tacos at night.

Monday:  Pretty low-key day.  B and I started our clothes project and Chad relaxed before his flight home.  Took the kids on a bike ride along the canal to get frozen yogurt.

Tuesday:  Another day at home with the kids and Adam (their church's worship leader) came over for dinner... a Tuesday tradition they have.

Wednesday:  Women's bible study in the morning at church, then a trip to Ikea... my first time!  I was quite overdue and it was a good thing I had to pack and travel with what I bought, or I would've walked out with a cart-full.  B took some pics of the boys in the late afternoon for their 1-ish and 3-ish year pics and the kids played at the playground afterwards.

Thursday:  Took the kids to the Chandler airport for lunch at Hangar Cafe.  The airport has a bunch of small private planes that you can see take-off and land while you eat.  A stop at a candy shop on the way home where all the kids got to spend $1 on whatever they wanted officially made us "fun moms."  :)  After the babies were in bed for the night, Seth took care of the other 4 kiddos while B and I went out for dinner at Postinos, my favorite place to eat there and our tradition when I come.

Friday morning:  Fly home with the boys!  Sad to leave but ready to come home and see Chad again.  To repeat the flight to AZ, Beck slept a couple hours and Creighton stayed awake the whole time. :)  But he really was a good little guy and made friends with the people around him... no crying, just a little fussy here and there.

adults out on our hike... I believe the only adult only picture that was taken :)

the babies bonding over their bottles

ha!  Creighton had weird beady eyes in this pic and somehow when I tried to edit with red eye he ended up with dark circles around his eyes.  Made me lol... literally.

Annaika mastering the F150... I think G's a little sad it's not her turn...

Beck loving the truck, despite his poor driving skills... fast forward 15 years and this could be the picture of him leaving on a date.  oh no.

Norah is definitely a little worried.

Dinner at the kids table.  

Warning: mischievous kids.

I believe this would be a picture of what happens when the adults are trying to enjoy their food and the babies get whatever keeps them happy.  Seeley with a mouthful of burger & fries and Creighton munching on a hot dog bun.  Yum.

Bike ride to fro-yo!

Ah... playing in the sun.  Despite the warm sunny day I was somehow still too lazy to go outside to take this pic... hence the window glare.

Tramp time.

And trying to get one pic of all the kids before we left.  This is the "best one."  Hence the others that follow...

.... and small side note:  this trip took place the middle of February.  I'm behind and it's work's fault. :)