Phoenix

It has only taken me three weeks since we got home, but I am FINALLY posting pictures from our Phoenix trip! Enjoy! :)

At the beginning of March, we were lucky enough to be able to take a trip with Papa Wayne and Grandma Jane out to Phoenix to visit with Nama and Ga and catch some spring training games. It was a fantastic trip - a wonderful chance to spend time with family and a great escape from winter here in Illinois.

MONDAY

Our trip to Phoenix started on Monday, March 2. Brandon and Evan went to school in the morning, took a nap, and then we headed with Papa Wayne and Grandma Jane to the airport. After some dinner and a short delay, we were on our way.

Zack got to experience his first airplane ride, and I can honestly say that I hope all of his airplane rides go as smoothly. He fell asleep as we were taxiing before takeoff, and he slept all the way through the flight, waking up right after we landed. It was fabulous. Here is a picture from the end of the flight. (I am holding a burp cloth over his ear because the flight attendant insisted on screaming into the PA system as she was making announcements about our landing. Grrrr.....)


Once we landed, we got our bags and car and headed off to Surprise, where we rented a house for the length of our stay. (I realized that we didn't take any pictures of the house - you can read about it here.) When we got there, everything was great except that there was no pack-and-play for Zack as promised, which was a bigger problem because it was around 11pm. We made due with what we had, shoving a bed into a corner and using blankets and pillows to make it safe for Zack. Anyway, we quickly got settled in and went to bed.

TUESDAY

On Tuesday, the seven of us had breakfast at the house and then headed over to visit with Nama and Ga. We got to see their new apartment, which is beautiful. It was clear how much work they did with Aunt Joyce and Uncle Jerry during their move just two weeks earlier - the apartment was entirely put together, and I can honestly say I immediately felt like it was their HOME when we walked in. The setting is gorgeous, too! They are on the first floor, and their patio opens up to a courtyard with beautiful plants and flowers, palm trees, and the swimming pool. What a wonderful location!

We had lunch there, after which we headed over to Peoria for our first of two spring training games. We were lucky enough to be in Phoenix at the same time as Greg and Jennifer, and we were able to meet up with them for the game, which was great! Jennifer is a big Dodgers fan from her time living in California, and so it was fun to see the Dodgers take on the Padres with her. Our seats were great, too - just three rows up from the Dodgers dugout. The weather was gorgeous and the Dodgers came away with a win - gotta love spring training!

Steve and Zack - yes, there is a sleeping baby under there. We just were trying to keep him out of the sun. :)

Zack, recovering from his nap, at his first baseball game

Jennifer and Zack

The Peoria ballpark has a small field for the kids to play on. Brandon and Evan loved it! Here, Brandon is making a big hit with his dad and brother looking on.

Brandon and Evan playing in the outfield. :)

Zack and I watching his brothers play baseball. Being that we are from a frigid state, this was the first time Zack got to play in the grass. He loved it!

Poor Evan... he passed out at the end of the game.

After the game, we headed back to Nama and Ga's for dinner. We had a great time with everyone!

Unfortunately, our day didn't end when we went to bed. In the middle of the night, Evan was up sick. He threw up all over his bed. Multiple times. After changing the sheets (again, multiple times), changing pajamas, waking everyone up, etc., we ended up asking Papa Wayne and Grandma Jane to let Brandon sleep with them. Steve was Evan's "sleeping buddy" for the rest of the night, and I was in with Zack, trying to get him back to sleep. It was a fun time for all.

WEDNESDAY

In the light of day Wednesday morning, things got better. Wayne and Jane packed up to head over to California to visit with Katie. Steve took Zack and Brandon over to Nama and Ga's for a morning visit while Evan and I stayed back at the house. He seemed to be feeling much better, but we didn't want to risk it.

Ga, Brandon, and Zack

Once Steve, Brandon, and Zack made it back home, we were able to head out together to Goodyear Stadium to see the Cubs take on the Indians. We got there really early so the boys could check out batting practice and try to get some autographs. They loved being able to be so close to the players - they stood along the field with their dad just past the Cubs dugout. They did get an autograph from new Cub Aaron Miles, although they didn't really get the why Dad didn't want them to color on that piece of paper later. :) After batting practice, we all hung out in the grass for a while and enjoyed some hot dogs in the sun.

Evan and Brandon checking out the batting practice

Brandon

Steve and Zack playing in the grass outside the field

By the time the game started, everyone was exhausted. Between the late night on Monday night, short naps on Tuesday, and the crazy night Tuesday night, we were all coming up short on sleep. And it was naptime. After the top of the first inning, Steve took Brandon and Evan out to the kids area to play some games while I stayed back at our seats with Zack, who was sleeping. The fellas came back at the top of the fourth inning, and things quickly deteriorated. Let me just say that we ended up dragging our two screaming children out of the ballpark with plenty of people staring, most of them with smiles on their faces because they had been there (or at least that is the way I want to remember it)!

Of course, Brandon and Evan fell asleep on the way back to the house, so we let them sleep in the car for a while and then spent a quiet evening there. We got all of the kids to bed early, and then Steve and I enjoyed some delicious enchiladas that Nama and Ga had sent for us. (Thanks again!) It was nice for us to have some time to unwind after a long and crazy few days.

Zack taking a bath Wednesday night in the sink. :)

THURSDAY

On Thursday, we had a much more laid back day. The five of us headed over to visit with Nama and Ga in the morning. On our way over, Zack fell asleep in the car. Not wanting to wake him up, I stayed in the car so that he could get a good nap while Brandon, Evan, and Steve went inside. Well over an hour later, I was still there! Steve switched spots with me, and Zack ended up staying in the car for about an hour and a half after we arrived at Nama and Ga's - at least he got a good nap!

Brandon and Evan had a ton of fun playing at Nama and Ga's. They LOVED blowing bubbles out in the courtyard, they learned how to play Crazy 8s with Ga, and they listened intently as Nama read them some stories. After Zack ate, he was a social butterfly, too, smiling at everyone, rolling around on the floor, and just being cute in general. :)

Ga and Zack

After visiting for a while, we met Nama and Ga over to McDonalds for lunch, and then the five of us went back to the house to rest up for the afternoon. Papa Wayne and Grandma Jane met us back there when they got back from California, and then we headed back over to Nama and Ga's to head out to dinner!

Whenever we go to Arizona, we love to get Mexican food - it is so delicious there! Nama and Ga treated the seven of us to Abuelo's, and we had a wonderful time visiting over some great food. All three kids did a great job at dinner, which made it even more fun!

After dinner, we went back to Nama and Ga's for dessert. Ga made his famous vanilla ice cream, which is hands down the best ice cream anywhere. Yum!

Papa Wayne, Brandon, and me at Abuelo's

FRIDAY

Friday was our last day in Arizona. The house we were staying at was really close to the White Tank Mountains, so we headed over there with Papa Wayne and Grandma Jane to do some hiking in the morning. The weather was perfect, and we loved getting out in the desert (other than the snake we saw, right Jane???). Here are some pictures from the hike...

The desert and mountains... we have been in the area over the summer, too, and it is nice to be there in the spring before it gets too hot and while everything is still green.

Brandon, Evan, and Grandma Jane

Zack LOVED his first hike! He was talking almost the whole time. :)

The hikers...

Just what any creepy-crawly-fearing person likes to see: "AREA CLOSED: Poisonous snakes and insects inhabit the area," complete with pictures of a scorpion and a rattlesnake. Nice.

After heading back to the house and packing up to leave, we made one last stop at Nama and Ga's. Brandon and Evan immediately wanted to go outside to play with bubbles again. :) We all spent some time visiting and then had a snack before saying our goodbyes.

Nama and Zack

Chatting in the sun in the courtyard

Brandon blowing bubbles... there is still nothing more fun!

Ga and Nama with their three great-grandchildren, complete with Zack crying about the sun and Brandon being a goofball :)

Evan with two special treats... Nama's pumpkin bread and Ga's ice cream. Yum, yum, yum! Nama had the pumpkin bread out for us to take on the plane, but the entire loaf got eaten before we even left their house! :)

The plane ride back to Illinois was pretty uneventful. We left a little early, believe it or not, and got in almost an hour before our scheduled time, which was a beautiful thing. Zack did a great job on the plane, again sleeping the entire time. :)

Except for Evan getting sick, our entire trip to Arizona was wonderful. It is was so nice to get to spend some quality time with so many different parts of the family. Nama and Ga, thank you so much for all of your hospitality! We hope to be able to do it again soon!