AZ FUN 2011!

We LOVE spending time with our families in Arizona. We spent four nights with Aunt Shanda & Lacey, one night in Thatcher, three nights with the Brenchley cousins & three nights with Nana & Papa.

Freestone Park & swimming with Stevens cousins:

We had burger night with the Lopeman cousins:

We spent less than 24 hours in Thatcher, but jammed packed it with a lot fun:

The kids had fun riding in the back of papa's new ranger. They even got stuck on the dirt hill & papa pulled them out with his big red truck, but "it was so awesome!" according to Kate.

Papa's new horse, Gus.

Sage LOVES horses, she gets giddy when she comes close to one!

This toy horse has been a favorite by all the kids for over 30 + years. My papa bought this horse for my sister Shanda (since she's the first grandchild) It's been fun to have a picture of all of the kids on it too!

The Phoenix Children's Museum & two a day swimming with the Curtis cousins:

The museum was great, three floors of hands on FUN!

Wish we were still there...

Her New Ears!

We told Kate she could get her ears pierced the month before Kindergarten (since her mom did). We moved it up a few months so she could have earrings for Aunt Lacey's wedding (every flower girl needs earrings).

She picked out a beautiful pair of rainbow flowers & was extremely nervous, but really wanted earrings!

Cleaning her ears & still nervous...

Waiting patiently & trying to be brave with marker dots on her ears...

Anticipating the pain...

Shedding some tears...

And a few more after the back part of the earring gun was dangling from her ear ...

Aunt Shanda trying to console her.

The man piercing her left ear got the plastic piece of the earring gun stuck to the back of her earring. It was just hanging/ tugging on her ear for over 10 minutes. He was in a panic which caused him not to be as gentle as most. That is why men should have nothing to do with earrings! Our poor Katers.

Loving her new ears!

***On the way home, she said, "I'm sorry I wasn't very brave." We told her that she was very brave and that it wasn't her fault, it was the mans fault. The other ear turned out with no problems.***

Nana Camp 2011

Nana has been doing "Nana Camp" every summer for the past NINE years. We were excited that Nana Camp was held during our vacation to Arizona. Eleven of the sixteen grand kids were able to attend some part of it throughout the day.

It's a full day of matching clothes, crafts, field trips, eating, swimming, Popsicles, cousins & FUN!

Chandler painting his snake... Slither

Chan & Grace made a paper mache pig, it turned out so cute & they were very proud of it.

Sage watching the kids from the high chair

After lunch, they went to the Chocolate Factory for a tour, samples & their very own chocolate creation.


Grace & Kate admiring the chocolate pretzels move down the line...

Kate making a chocolate pizza

Will & Alex made a pizza too

Brookie & Grace made a chocolate tie for their dad.

As well as Catherine & Elizabeth

The boy cousins as goofy as ever!

After the factory, the kids put on their suits to cool off.

The end of the day... Chan with Slither

Kate with her paper mache fish & painted picture frame.

Thank you NANA, we had a blast!