Our trip to Arizona

I know everyone is done with Christmas and on to the New Year...but since I use my blog for my journal I am going to recap a few of our moment in Arizona!
But before doing so I want to give the BIGGEST Thanks Ever to Grandma Carol and Grandpa Ray!
We stayed with them for the entire time!
They are not use to small wee ones around all the time and yet you would never know...
They showed us complete love and patience the entire time!
These are memories the kids will treasure forever!
These are memories we will treasure forever!
I also need to add...that we spent over half of the visit sick!
Yes, 6 nights were filled with throwing up children and myself!
No fun!
But somehow they still made our visit an absolute BLAST!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!

Our flight with 5!

We are a road trip family!
So this is our first time to fly with all 5 kids!
And they all did great!
We could have had a serious problem...if 3 small ones decided to scream!
But NOPE...we made it!

A few rides to keep the small ones occupied while waiting for check in!

Camelback

When we lived in Az we used to love to hike Camelback!
So we decided that we would hike it at least 3 times while we were there.
We did not get to reach that goal due to the illnesses that we had!
But we did attempt to go up as a family
Yup all 7 of us!
Mark and the three little ones turned around at the half way point!

Chelsea did not complain one time!
This is a very tough mountain to climb
And notice her "bling bling" on her shoes.
She cracks me up...even when we are hiking she is accessorizing!

Since I was raised my whole life in Az, it never dawned on me that Chelsea had never seen a Big Cactus!
She was in complete awe!

They reached the top and found out that there was a Christmas tree up there!
If we had known we would have brought an ornament to put on it!

There was also a jolly shrub!

Yes, I made it to the top
it was not quite as easy as 8 years ago!

You can't climb Camelback without the falling pictures
only problem is that Brooke actually started to fall!

more!!!

and more!!!

Beautiful!

They had a Blast!

Christmas Eve Dinner Pary!

Nobody would ever have known that right before the party started (and the entire day), there was 5 little grandkids playing, drawing, eating, and frankly making messes!
Grandma Carol never even acted frazzelled!
I was a little....just because I knew everything she had to get done!
But she kept assuring me that everything was fine!
And sure enough it was!
She threw another fantastic Party!
THANK YOU!!!!!

Mark and Brady are just resting up for the big evening!

My sweet helpers! As they get there last minute snacks...right before the Big Dinner!

That is table two...
I didn't end up with a picture of table on!

And here is Grandma Carol and Grandpa Ray!
Oh how we love you!
And miss you!

Every year each family takes a family picture!
This is us

Doug, Chris and Todd

Dean, Jan and Deanna

Mindy, Lance, London, and Jack

Josh and Jade with #1 on it's way!

Kyle and Carla and the entire crew
(except dear Jacob, who is serving a mission in Japan)
what a beautiful family!

Hot Cocoa!

There is absolutely nothing that warms a child up more than hot chocolate,
especially when served by none other than their Grandma Carol!

After taking the kids to the Zoo Lights they came home and warmed up!

They all got to pick their own flavor of the gourmet cocoa mixes and then of course fill the rest of the cup with whipping cream!

It's not too hot...It's just right!

Christmas Day Reunion!

It was so fun to see everyone who lives in AZ on Christmas Day!
My kids miss their cousins...and they loved to play with each and everyone of them!

Some of the cousins left before we were able to do the childrens show!
But as usually all the kids joined in and had a blast!

I am not sure why I feel the need to post this picture..
maybe because he is surrounded with girls and not yet super tough...
maybe because wrestling is a part of all my brothers lives and it seems like every get together will have one quick friendly spat of wrestling....or boxing of sorts.
or maybe simply because he is so adorable!

This was the "Sunshine" of my Christmas Day!
This is actually Sunshine, daughter to Don and Fawn.
She is so sweet and I love how she loves to learn how everything works.
I captured pictures of her figuring out this bag, a cup, a purse...and so on!

Grandparents Rock!

Grandpa Wilson taught Brooke how to do a backbend walkover the last time we were home
(over 3 years ago)
Chelsea has waited patiently for Grandpa to teach her.
He is so patient with these kids!

When asked what the kids wanted to do in Arizona with Grandma Sarah and Grandpa Wilson...they gave 2 answers
1. Art lesson with Grandpa Wilson
2. Sewing with Grandma Sarah

Grandma taught them how to window paint
They all got to participate in making this snowman!

Then on another day, Grandpa got out his art books and the kids all drew for awhile!

Except Annika who set up a train!

Then he taught them how to paint.
This is Chelsea's bird!

They displayed them on the mantel
This is Brooke's

They made skirts with Grandma!

Each one having their own individual time!

I really need to get a sewing machine

Here is the finished skirt.
Brooke made her skirt and finished Chelsea's (Chelsea got sick)
4 scarfs
a purse
2 blankets for their American Girl dolls
and 4 braclets

The only thing better than a jumping picture is the emotion behind it!

Nothing beats the park

Lucky Kiera gets to be the lead of the park post! Of course she was the first one to the park. But this picture is so cute ....completely displaying the love that she gives each and every one of her 5 girls!
We planned a park date for the "Conover" clan to reunite...hopeing to get cousins there too!
Chelsea woke up sick and so I called to let them know I was not able to go...
Kiera came and picked Brooke up and headed to the park.

I am so glad that I couldn't stand not being there...as soon as Mark came home from the auction I headed over with Luke and Annika for some serious park fun!

There's Heather, Kevin, and Saylor!

This was the highlight for the older cousins
(older being anyone over 5)
They loved it and it gave hours of pure energy fun!

"IT" is Ammon's sling shot!!!
Jeff would shoot tennis balls to the kids and they would catch them.
We are definatley buying this...
If you want to find fitness activities for your kids and they wont even know..

this is the toy for you!
LOVE IT!
BUYING IT!
(It is actually intended to play fetch with a dog)

There is nothing that is more binding for cousins than a tire swing!
I captured at least 20 of the dearest pictures ever!

Darling Caianna!

All worn out from hours of fetch and what could be keeping them occupied...
a man running hill repeats.
I was at the park playing with the kids and I noticed everyone just staring..
when I got over there I realized they were just too tired to realize that it was not that interesting!

Brooke dancing a jig, because
1. she gets to ride home with the very COOL Aunt Kristina
2. She is going to spend one on one time with Grandma Sarah and sew her heart out!

Oh...but one last raw raw of the tennis launching fun..
Uncle Kevin is the launcher!

Were do my kids get there dancing from?

Too Cute!
Alexa, Brooke, Ammon, and Lacie

Savanah, Don, and Sunshine!