Let's Take a Break

After all our adventures, we decided it was time to enjoy a nice day at home. We painted Grandma's porch (and ourselves) with sidewalk paint:

We forced Grandma to carry us around all day: 

And we enjoyed Grandpa Russell's new fire pit!

No little kids at home = sandbox is converted to something more useful.

Grandpa Scott shares some wisdom with Seth: 

More wisdom for Catherine: 

Three cousins enjoying the fire (yes, this was the best shot): 

Aaron's not so sure about this smoke thing: 

Catherine gets some marshmallow-roasting help from Aunt Kenna: 

This might be my favorite picture of Seth ever: 

Roasting marshmallows is serious business

Can't even stop eating her smore for a picture: 

Arizona in November is definitely something I could get used to!

Desert Museum

Kenna came out to Tucson early so Adleigh could have some quality time with her favorite cousins. 

Big-headed cousins

Grandpa Russell gets no breaks when the grandkids arrive

Naturally, we had to take the kids to the Desert Museum.

Traditional kids on the javalina picture:

Kids who preferred a soft stroller over a metal javalina:

(yes, Aaron is totally in his jammies.

Can't even remember why).

Catherine LOVES getting her hair done so it doesn't blow in her face all day...

Checking out the reptiles and insects

They had a guide in the reptile room with a snake the kids could touch.

Seth would have nothing to do with it until Catherine did it without dying:

Favorite part (for me, too): picking out rocks/minerals to take home outside the cave:

Aaron was just happy to throw the rocks around:

Another favorite: digging for fossils with a dull piece of metal!

Aaron is not impressed with the goggles:

Digging for fossils is fun for the entire family:

Who needs a stroller when Mom can carry you the entire time?

"Pick me up! I'm adorable!"

Watching the fat prairie dogs:

This cougar spent the entire time pacing by the window, trying to figure out how to eat Adleigh:

Standing on a turtle (statue) to avoid the sun.

That's right--in Arizona you still avoid the sun in November:

The kids managed to both have a great time and wear themselves out.

Way to go, Grandma Cathy!

Pumpkin Chuckin (Round Two)

After a few days with Scott & Mary, we headed to Tucson to see my family. And, as it turns out, my parents had a rotten pumpkin sitting in the fridge just waiting for us to help dispose of it. The kids were more than happy to oblige:

Waiting to pitch the pumpkin into the wash: 

Ready, set...GO! 

Sunshine princess

Sparring with a saguaro

Phoenix Zoo

On Veterans Day, we decided to go to the Phoenix Zoo. So did the rest of Phoenix. 

Once we managed to find a parking spot, we were lucky to find someone who happened to have two tickets that she didn't need. We were even more grateful when we found out exactly how much the zoo charges for entrance. I thought I'd died and gone to Disneyland...

The stroller babies

Three cousins on the carousel

He was actually very excited

Someone else refused to get on and watched through the fence instead

Checking out the fish and turtles

Aaron's just here for the food

Happy zoo boy

Milking a water cow

Looking at a fascinating wall.

Mary & I had to bail early in order to put the babies down for naps, but I think the older ones enjoyed their day! 

Arizona Trip

Paying for four people to fly to Arizona is expensive. We figured if we were going to pay out that much money, we might as well make it a big long trip. Benefit of homeschooling: we can totally leave the state for almost a month without Seth failing first grade. And November is the PERFECT time to leave Maryland and enjoy some Arizona sunshine.

Now it's not just my family in Arizona: we also have the Bears and the Aaron & Ashley Bloods. The Bears were kind enough to let us crash at their house for a few days after we arrived. Our kids loved playing with their cousins (even though it was too cold to enjoy their new pool). We even hit up this amazing local park (complete with total shade coverage):

Seth always enjoys being the oldest kid on the playground

Aaron loves playing with Daddy

And Catherine is happy as long as she can see me

Benjamin and Aaron fight/play with cars together. 

Punkin Chuckin

This has become a favorite post-Halloween tradition. Catherine actually asked to go throw her pumpkin in the woods about fifteen seconds after I finished carving it. I convinced her to hold out until after Halloween.

Jon has some sweet skills after all these years

Showing Seth where it landed

Keeping the baby warm

Princesses wear heels even when throwing pumpkins

Love this picture of my baby.

It helps me remember that he is adorable, even when I want to sell him.