AZ Grand Staycation ~ Labor Day Weekend

Lots of our friends have done at staycation at the AZ Grand in Tempe and loved it so when I saw a Groupon for it I thought we could try it out.  It was a little crazy because we were selling our van that same weekend, but it all worked out and it was fun to go somewhere different but not too far from home.

That evening we treated the kids (and ourselves) to dinner out at Rustler's Roost.  It was so fun!

They had this bull hanging out in front of the restaurant.

They had a slide in the restaurant that the kids loved!

After dinner we were surprised with some cans of cotton candy!

And for every adult a kid ate for free so it turned out to be an awesome deal and fun night!

The next morning we drove home and dropped Mae off at G&G Jones so that we could go back to the resort and run around with the kids at the pool.  They had a wave pool, lazy river, and a couple of water slides.  It was fun and the sun was shining the whole time!

Boat ~ Lake ~ Memories

If you ask Tyler and I about our favorite childhood memories it will most definitely involve a boat and the lake.  Then you ask us how we met and it will include a boat and then lake.  So it only seems right that our kids love boating and the lake.  I could be having the worst week and then take me to the lake on a Saturday morning and it's like all the bad is washed away.  Might sound crazy but the lake will do that do you.  So we were more than excited when Grandpa Jeff decided to buy a boat in AZ.  I seriously had butterflies in my stomach when I saw the boat parked in front of our house.  We are so excited for our kids to create wonderful memories!  Let the fun begin!

The kiddos taking a swim at Sahuaro Lake

Ella being the flag girl

The kids LOVE tubing so we bought 2 so that more could be out in the water at once. :-)

Cooper picked up surfing quickly - he even got to where he could let go of the rope.

Mae is the perfect boat baby.  Just watches the kids, drinks a bottle, or sleeps. :-)

Matthew and the kids came with us on this trip and there was an injured fish swimming along the surface that Matthew caught!  The kids thought it was awesome!

Summer Monsoon Rain, Homemade Pizzas and MORE!

So what does monsoon rain, homemade pizzas, cool sunglasses, saxophones, and army men have in common?  Nothing except they are all totally awesome and fun! :-)

These help narrate a little about our summer...

 Clara, Dad, and Mae enjoying watching the summer monsoon rain.

 I'm always amazed what Cooper will create from his imagination.

Clara sporting her cool glasses while she eats lunch sitting in Mae's Bumbo

Cooper decided he wanted to join 5th grade band and play the saxophone.  He wasn't allowed to quit piano but he's been really good about practicing both.  We bought the saxophone off craigslist during the summer and he was giving it a try.

We love to make homemade pizzas.  They might not look very pretty but they are always delicious!

Mae ~ 5 months and smiling

Our sweet Mae is getting so big so fast.  At 5 months is loves to sit by herself and smile and laugh.  We really couldn't ask for an easier baby.  So is so patient as she gets carted around from here to there as the 5th child.  I'm so grateful she's a part of our family.

New Cousins!

This has been the year of babies!  And we are so excited to have some new cousins...4 to be exact!

The first to be born was Mr. Finn son of Sean and Jaimie.

We was over 10 lbs. of cuteness!

#2 is Mr. Everett son of Matthew and Julia

He was on the opposite side of the scale from Finn weighing in the 6 lbs.

 

#3 is Mr. Maxwell son of Cody and Caitlin

He has the cutest full head of dark hair!

The girls are loving all their new baby cousins!  There is always a baby to hold!

And last but not least #4 baby is Mr. Waylon son of Wes and Kelsea

He is a super cute with his big alert eyes.

We love our new cousins and nephews!

Mae will love playing with all her buddies! :-)

Tyler's Birthday!!! Happy 33!!!

For Tyler's Birthday I surprised him and took him away for a weekend getaway.

His birthday was on a Friday so he took the day off of work and we went golfing ~ it was my first time golfing on a real golf course and it was super fun!

Then we came home and changed and went to lunch and an early movie.

Then we headed to the Scottsdale Hyatt Regency to spend the night and next day poolside.

It was a gorgeous weekend and I'm so grateful that my parents were in town and offered to watch the kiddos.

Fully relaxed with book in hand.

We celebrated again with Tyler's family. Mama Kim made a yummy dessert!

Then we celebrated again with my family!

So fun having so much family around!  Julia made Tyler a yummy lemon cake.

Woohoo - gun ammo!

Ole'!

Good ol' Chuck Berry vinyl!

Clara's cousin loves to play with her.  It's so cute to watch them together.

(shout-out to Julia for drawing on our chalkboard for me!)

One year older and wiser too!  Happy Birthday Tyler!

WE LOVE YOU!!!