We had a great last few weeks in Arizona before we headed up to Washington then onto Japan. It's always a bittersweet time of year...it's hard saying goodbye to our home, our family and friends there...yet we love being with Brian and being apart of the baseball season! With the kids not being in school yet, we have to take advantage of being able to pick up and go while we still can!!
I was very lucky that my parents were able to come down and spend that last month in AZ with me. Since they are both retired now, I convinced them to come on down, get out of the Washington rain, and spend some time with the grandkids and I...it didn't take much to convince them! We made sure to take advantage of the warm Arizona sunshine while we could, and spent most of our time outdoors playing!! It was so fun having them with me, and I really appreciated the extra hands around the house...wether it was helping with the kids, doing chores around the house (they are the best handymen around...laundry, dishes, cleaning, organizing, decorating the kid's rooms, you name it, they did it!), babysitting while I ran errands or met friends for lunch, they were there...and with the kids having both of their surgeries while Brian was gone, it was nice having both sets of grandparents in town for help and support!!
We also had a great visit from my Aunt Barb and Uncle Don. They came down from Washington for a week to visit us and we had such a fun time! We golfed, shopped some really cool furniture and home decor stores in Mesa, they got to go to a spring training game, and we enjoyed some good dinners and margaritas together!! Austin became quite attached to Uncle Don and followed him around everywhere he went! He was always yelling "Uncle Don!" for him to come play with him, it was pretty darn cute! It's always wonderful having family come and visit!!
We basically spent the last few days in AZ saying goodbye (which is never fun or easy!!) and closing up the house. I got in as many of my last stroller strides classes as I could and even got to take Austin to a really fun birthday party for one of his girlfriends, Addison, at Disney on Ice!! It was a great last few weeks in Arizona...we are already looking forward to getting back home in the fall!!!
Here's a ton of pictures from our last few weeks at home...
Brookie and her Pop-Pop!
Check out Brookie's gut hanging out...I wonder when it's time to start talking sit-ups?!
Yah you heard me, I was talkin' about that gut of yours alright!
Hunter wondering why on earth Brooke is without pants.
Austin being Austin...our happy and silly little guy!
Austin is quite the helper, he loves making sure Brooke is being entertained!
This girl loves her baths.
Aren't those the two cutest bums?!
Reading book number 175,648 with Pop-Pop...these two couldn't get enough of story time with him :)
Always entertaining to watch these two horse around!
Austin's favorite chore: feeding Hunter! I don't think Hunter would be fed half the time if it weren't for Austin!
Being goofy and stealing grandma's shoes!
My Unlce Don, Aunt Barb, Mom and Dad!
Enjoying a beautiful night out on the patio!
The kids with Uncle Don and Pop-Pop...we couldn't get the kids to sit still :)
Brooke is always stealing from Austin!
Uncle Don, Aunt Barb, my Mom and Dad enjoying their time in Arizona!
Whenever one kid has a toy, the other one wants it!
Brooke politely shoving Austin out of the car...
Aha, it's all mine!
Brooke's bad ass face.
Pool time with Grandma!
(We actually never made it in though, the water was freezing...we were all to big of weenies to get in!)
Always up to something these two!
Austin moved into a big boy bed before we left, Brooke thought this was the coolest!
Brooke started walking too!
And climbing up onto everything!
Brian picked these out...he said she could have some frills as long as they were camo.
Austin loves helping out in the kitchen!
Brookie loves her Papa...
...and her Grandma!!!
Snuck in a little night out with our friends!
I love how these two always want to be with each other :)
Like I said...they loved story time with Pop-Pop!
Brooke makes the best "determined/I'm going to beat you up" faces.
Love this kid.
Always excited when food is around!
Getting into trouble and looking cute...what a pair!
We are really going to miss afternoons like these with our good friends...
Wonder what these two are going to be up to the next time they see each other?! Brookie and Ethan saying goodbye.
Love these 3.
Austin asks for "Lo-Lo & K-K" everyday.
Brookie playing with her brother's cars on her great grandpa's table!
Austin and Brooke with Papa and Grandma!
Playing on Grandma and Papa's piano is their favorite thing to do!
Austin loves his Grandma...or "Draa-ma" as he says :)
Austin and his buddy Owen at Addison's birthday party! They were quite impressed with their light up necklace party favors for the Disney on Ice show we were about to go to!
Austin couldn't take his eyes off the Disney on Ice show, it was a lot of fun!
Grandma put a lot of time into making Brooke some beautiful letters for her wall, they turned out gorgeous!
Now maybe she will learn to spell her name while she is in her crib!
The kids are sure going to miss playing in their playroom! My parents helped me hang a cable to hang their pictures and art work up on, Austin loves it!
Goodbye Arizona...see you in the fall!
