This past June I went to visit my family in Chandler and Mesa, Arizona. My niece Madison had had back surgery in May for scoliosis, my sister Amanda (Madison's mom) was still recovering from a broken ankle that had required surgery, and my parents had bought a house across the street from her and were (of course!) fixing it up. My plan was to come and play and entertain my sister's kids while she worked during the day.
It is HARD to find things to do when the temperature outside averages 110! The first thing we did was go bowling! From the left: Jacob, Bekah, Madison, Hayden, Beau, and Marianne.
I really loved seeing my sister Amanda! She and my mom had taken in Bekah for two weeks while I was at girl's camp with Rus. Bekah had wanted to go to Amanda's early to spend time with Madison while she recovered from her surgery.
Another day trip we took was to Ikea. I love Ikea! The kids were not super impressed - truth be told they are a lazy bunch and would rather spend all day playing video games. As I am against wasting time with video games, I bribed them with an Ikea lunch...and I came up with an Ikea scavenger hunt in which the winner got a prize. It kept them busy for over an hour...and they put a couple miles on walking all over Ikea to find the things on their hunt.
Yes that is a real live tree Jacob purchased an is hugging.
We celebrated Father's day with my dad while we were there. Tyler, Gina and Layton came over too. Tyler always grows facial hair for Father's day...
Layton endured most of the attention given him by the adoring Marianne...
My dad really wanted cherry pie. So that's what we made him.
We headed out to the park at about 8pm...that's when the temperature drops closer to 100 degrees so it's not completely unbearable. Preston is holding Marianne. She LOVES her big boy cousins!
I love, adore, admire, respect, and honor my dad!
And he couldn't be as terrific as he is without my mother!
It was a beautiful night! The temple and the moon in the same shot!!
This picture was moments before the crew decided to lure ducks out of the water to try to put grass leashes on them...they were unsuccessful.
One thing we thought would work great in all that intense heat was a pizza solar oven. I think it would have worked if we hadn't tried something so ambitious. Thinner cookies would have been a good idea...
Another field trip we took was to the lego store at the mall. The kids were super excited to go to the store, and then super disappointed that everything was so expensive. Marianne liked trying on these tentacles at the aquarium gift shop across the mall.
Who wouldn't want to spend time with these awesome boys?!
That is a lego sculpture in the background! How awesome would it be to have that for your job?!
The kids and I took a day to go see the Hartmans. We saw Clay and Mary...
And Tom and Suzi's not so new baby Spencer - the chubbiest, happiest baby you've ever seen!
Tom and Suzi have a pool - a MUST in that crazy heat! Silvia brought her kids to swim with us while we were there.
We were also able to meet up with Silvia Hartman and her kids at a swimming pool. Did you know when it's 120 degrees you don't really need a towel? The water just sizzles off of you in a few minutes...
The last thing we did before heading home was a little tie-dye project. We all made fourth of July shirts. Here's Preston with his.
And Madison with hers
And all of them out on the line:
It was an excellent trip! I love spending time with my family!
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