To the Desert and Back

On a walk to the park near my aunt's house

The kids and I near the Cactus at my aunt & uncle's house.

 We had our February break from school this past week and, thanks to my wonderful husband who funded the trip by staying and working, and to my wonderful mother who took a week off of her life to fly down and help me drive the kids there and back, we were able to have a fun trip to Arizona.

I have two dear friends that I grew up with who live down there (with kids similar in ages to my own), an Aunt & Uncle (+2 cousins), as well as another cousin and her husband who just started law school down there.  So, I figured it was enough reasons to venture on out to the desert! 

And, a fabulous bonus was that we got to stay at another dear friend's house on the way down and back because it was the halfway point.  We had so much fun spending time with Jenika & her family and meeting her darling little girl.  Everyone was so hospitable to us and it was such a fun trip.  (Jenika, I can't believe we didn't take pictures of all of us in our Sunday best, or the kids running around in the pirate costumes, etc., etc. My camera battery was dead on the way back, but I didn't even get a phone picture. GRRR)

Despite beliefs expressed by my children that they would not survive the car trip (because they were DONE sitting in car seats!) we did, indeed, survive and the driving on the way back was actually much improved from the way there.  Each of them had meltdowns and were traveling terrors at certain points because of lack of schedule and sleep deprivation while we were visiting friends but it was still worth it to me!

The trio together again

 Breanne, Jessica and I were able to go swimming, have a “sleepover,” and go out to lunch with our kids in tow and, despite the lack of sleep, it was so fun to visit with those amazing women and see our kids interacting and getting to know each other.  

The kids playing at Kate's Birthday Party

Jess, Cait & Brea's kids waiting to go in the pool

 My Aunt & Uncle were so good to host us for several days.   My uncle even left the leaf pile he had raked so the kids could play in it, and proceeded to rake it up two additional times for them throughout the week just so they could make a mess of it again.

The kids picking grapefruit & oranges with my Aunt from trees in their backyard

 

The kids playing in the leaves

 We met my cousin and her three kids at the Phoenix zoo and neither of us would have survived if we didn't have the super Aunts there to assist us!  When I would ask Lilly if she wanted Nana or Mom to help her with something she would say "I just want that other girl to help me!" meaning my sweet Aunt Kim.  My mom treated us to the train ride and icees at the zoo (which my kids wouldn't have been privileged to have on my budget!) and being allowed to play on the playgrounds while I took various kids to the potty (instead of dragging everyone along like usual).

The Train ride at the zoo

 

 

 

 

 

Jared enjoyed some peaceful time at home reading, was able to listen through all of church, started a backyard project and ate some take-out!  I think it was probably a nice break for him, all in all.  Lilly was really nervous about not having Jared on the trip with us since she is such a Daddy’s girl.  She even had several nightmares the night before we left and was very anxious leading up to the trip, but she survived with only a daily “I want Daddy” meltdown. 

We were able to make it to Breanne’s 30^th surprise birthday party, Jessica’s daughter’s birthday party, dinner with my cousins at my aunt’s & uncle’s house, and spend some time with Jenika and her family in the aftermath of Emery’s birthday.  We are thankful for the wonderful friends and family we have and that we made it back safe and sound.  We were able to keep my mom for an additional day before she flew back home and it was such a treat to have her here.  Now, it’s Monday and we dived head first into normal life already!