Wild West, Part 3: Tempe

Our week in Arizona was one of relaxation and much needed air conditioning. We survived the heat and had a fun time letting Grandma Cheri entertain us while most of the grown ups worked during the day. She bought this cool water toy just for her favorite boys. 

We got to play with second cousins Adam and Amelia one night. They are the CUTEST. Seriously, just look at their cheeks.

Grandma loves her boys so much that she downloads a whole folder of kid games for them on her phone every time we're together. 

One morning we ate at a place called Matt's Big Breakfast. If you can't tell by the look of this bacon, the food was BIG and delicious. Worth the wait. 

Afterward we went to the Phoenix Children's Museum. I can't believe I had never been here before. This place is amazing! It's a kid wonderland! They can paint giant sculptures, make loud music, race cars, run through a noodle forest, build tracks, run a grocery store, climb a huge jungle gym maze, dress up, and kick and hit things all over the place. Seriously, a child proof wonderland! I need this museum in my basement.

I had to have pictures of this pencil and silverware art. So cool.

Here we are at Bahamas Buck's shave ice. It's delicious, refreshing, and most importantly, FROZEN. (In case I haven't mentioned being pregnant and sick enough lately, it really sucks to be HOT when you're also pregnant and sick.)

Another surprise from Grandma:  giant Ninja Turtle coloring books. She knows what they like. 

Matt and Andrew and I took the boys to Peter Piper Pizza one day and let them run wild with a zillion tokens. They loved every minute. Chuck E Cheese made some special childhood memories for me, so it was fun to see my kids enjoy the same kind of place.

In case you can't see the score up there, Matt's little brother is demolishing him at basketball. (You're welcome, Andrew.) But let's not forget that I beat BOTH of them right after this. That's important.

We visited my Grandma Mae at her new apartment in Phoenix. Josh and Jude stayed busy writing and cutting notes at her table.

She was really happy to have visitors, so I went back again the next night by myself.  I hate for her to be lonely. She's 97, and there's only one person older than her in the whole building. She says she can't really relate to the young seventy- and eighty-somethings anymore. Since then, she moved to another facility in So Cal close to my Aunt Lu, so I think she's happier. We just won't get to see her as much.

  On our way to the airport, we stopped by Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Kevin's apartment to see their set up and say gooodbye. They'll be parents of twins next time we see them!!

And Uncle Andrew will be days away from having a little wifey of his own!!

I didn't get any pictures of Grandpa Murray this trip, but he was definitely there, and the boys loved climbing all over him and pretending they didn't want to be tickled.

By the time we finally got off the airplane and into a rental car to drive home from Detroit, these kids were so beat. I think they liked having Mom and Dad to themselves again because they were extra cute the next few days.

Such an excellent trip. I know we're lucky to be able to spend long chunks of time like this with family, but it will just never be enough!!