This year, Landon had to work Christmas, so my family came here to visit! It was my first time hosting Christmas. Those of you who know us well, know how obsessed Landon and I are with Christmas so it was exhilarating to get ready for the holiday knowing we'd be celebrating it in our home. Unfortunately, my mom and sister didn't get in until noon Christmas Eve and my dad and brother flew in noon Christmas Day due to weather and plane troubles. It was a sad week as we waited for the call that they were actually boarding a plane, but at least by 1:00 on Christmas we were all together. And from then on it was a beautiful week.
- We took the free ride on the new light rail to the Arizona Science Center and let the boys explore. Even Aaron and my dad liked the sensory experience video involving natural disasters!
Trenton loved riding the "train"
Playing with the hands-on exhibits at the museum- We drove to parts of Arizona I've never been to reach the Wildlife World Zoo. It's smaller than the Phoenix Zoo and over an hour away, but more exotic and the animals are closer.
Trenton was not thrilled with the giant giraffe tongue coming at him! Plus, they just opened a new aquarium with penguins which is the real reason we chose it over the usual zoo =) Trenton and Sawyer loved the aquarium the best for sure - we got to see so much wildlife, including sharks, eels, penguins, seahorses, a sea turtle the size of a large dog, plus pet stingrays and hold starfish.
- Then, since it was a success when my sister visited, we went to BounceU preschool bounce again. Mimi and Pops got their workout climbing the giant slide and chasing Trenton on the bouncy toys!
- While Landon and I were on our anniversary date, Mimi, Pops, Cait and Eno (named By Trenton) took the boys to Freestone for a train ride.
Here's a random shot of Eno teaching Sawyer the joys of an ipod!
We had such a wonderful time with my family - it was like a vacation without leaving home!Then, shortly after, we got another surprise vacation! Martin Luther King Jr weekend the youth group went to Williams for Winter Camp and spontaneously on Saturday I packed up the boys and drove up there to meet them. It was only supposed to be a three hour drive up the 17 and west on the 40. Somehow yahoo maps took me OFF the 17 to the 69 and 89, through Jerome, Clarkdale, and Sedona with all their traffic and stoplights, and THEN to the 40. Plus I drove 15 mph through the Prescott National Forest winding in tight loops through the trees! So six hours later I arrived at the camp. Whew. The boys did amazing!! In a six hour span, they got out of their carseats once yet there were no meltdowns. I have the best boys =) Here is the camp covered in snow; it was beautiful!
One of my rare moments with Landon NOT surrounded by junior highers =)
The boys loved it there. They got to play in the snow, hang out with all of the cool older kids, and have a sleepover with mom in the dorm bunkbeds. Plus, Trenton even joined in some of the rec games. Here he is hitting his dad with nylons full of flour.
He had this evil giggle as he chased after his many victims! He also quickly learned to make and throw snowballs . . . 
... while Sawyer just learned they were edible =)
It was a wonderful weekend and definitely better than staying home without dad.
1 comment:
This is the coolest part about Landon being a pastor...you still get to go to camp!!! I love camp! The boys are getting so big. Doing all kinds of big kid stuff! Have another one so there is still a baby! Love you and miss you all.
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