Week in Warm Arizona

It was so wonderful to be in warm, sunny Arizona for a week with family and friends! 

You know me, I can't just pick a few pictures...so enjoy them all! :)

Wednesday

Ryken was more than ready to go! He had talked about going to AZ for weeks before we actually left! :) He was excited to have his own ticket and seat as well!

Baby girl excited about her first flight!!!

Our plane!

Lots of pictures were drawn while on the plane to keep kids occupied. 

One little cat nap on the way there!

Sorraya sat in Ryken's seat more than Ryken did! :) Which worked out just fine!

While Ryken and I were waiting to use the potty on the plane (you thought they were small with just one person in them...try two) and Ryken was charming the flight attendants and we ended up leaving with some Allegiant wings for Ryken and Sorraya, as well as some fruit snacks! :)

Raya wearing her wings!

We made it and were greeted with the biggest of smiles from Grandma!!!!

Kristin and Ember arrived at my parents house about 15 minutes after we got there. Perfect timing! 

Raya loved the rocks....in her mouth!

She also LOVED Maci! 

She would just follow her around, climb in her bed, point at her and touch her when she could!

Grandpa's home from work and all the toys came out!

Dad turned 60 on February 19th, so we celebrated together while we were all there!

By celebrating we gave him "60 Years of Memories!"

My sister and I saw this idea on Pinterest and we made it happen with lots of e-mails sent out and letters asking for memories of our dad. We hoped to get 60 and be able to put 1 memory in each envelope! We received over 60!! 

Since we were there a week...we decided to have him read 8-9 memories a night instead of sitting and reading all 60 all at once! 

The memories were great!! People really took the time to think about the memories and they were spot on! There were many that were repeats, which just shows how true they are to him as a man of God!

It was encouraging hearing the respect and honor people had for our dad!

It was a blessing hearing all the memories and they sure blessed him! He looked forward to them every night! 

Loved the faces we captured as well!!

Thursday

Raya making faces at Aunt Kristin who sat in the way back most the time when we all drove some place!

We wasted no time and went to the PHX Zoo with the Frazey's!!

This Mama, Allison, is such a great mama! She lives life to teach her kids the grace of God with love! I sure enjoyed watching her handle 4 kids 4 yrs and under with ease and confidence! What an encouragement she is!

The Tiger was playing this with tin bucket which was fun to see!

Oh just picking bug off of each other!

We all went into the Monkey Village and enjoyed those fast little guys flying all over the place!!

This orangutang had a baby not too long ago! She was cradling her baby and the baby was just looking around in peace! It was sweet!

We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed the beautiful day!

Group Picture...except for Chris! 

Ember and Raya holding hands on the way home!

The train track was a hit!!

These two sure enjoyed playing together this time!!

Raya trying to put these little glasses on her head! She knew they go on the head! Too cute!

Great Grandpa Flin was able to come over more than once!

Helping Raya walk!

3 cousins in the tub!!

Reading more memories! Glad Great Grandpa was able to hear some as well!!

Friday

Ryken loved this Mr. Potato Head! It actually was a SpiderMan one!

We threw or kicked a lot of balls onto the roof throughout the week!

We drove to Fountain Hill to have lunch with and spend time with Joel and Lorretta!

We had lunch at Señor Taco!! It was delicious! We had never been, but it is one of Joel and Lorretta's favorites! 

We went over to the fountain and fed the ducks!

Ryken was holding bread in his hands for too long and this big duck snapped at his fingers. Here Chris is just about to smack the duck on the head! 

It scared Ryken, so up on Dad's shoulders he went! :)

It's always so pretty there!!

After naps, we had family photo shoot!!

It was fun and an hour of pictures sure went by fast!!!

She did a great job!!

Had to get the ladder out to get the ball off the roof once or twice!

Sweet look Uncle D!!

Uncle Dustin rocking out with the guitar!

Dustin and the girls!!

So nice to have dinners altogether! 

There was a new Frozen Yogurt place across the street that we checked out!

Everyone was able to enjoy some!!

Saturday

We woke up, got ready and went to the Pagel's house for Breakfast and to watch the Arsenal game!

Matt really likes Arsenal soccer as well...so it was fun that they got to watch it and talk about it together!

Steph was so kind to make us all breakfast! It was yummy! We all went back for seconds!

Jenn and her boys came over and we all walked to the park, while the men finished up the game!

The wives were sporting the Arsenal gear too!

Ryken and Aunt Kristin were blowing bubbles together!

He learned how to do it all by himself while there!

We celebrated Dad's 60th Saturday night with take out from Texas Roadhouse!!

(a little boy was anxious to eat, I see)

Always a treat and ever so tastey!

There were pigeons on the roof and Raya kept pointing and saying "ooh" each time she saw them!

After dinner, we had a few of Dad's good friends over for dessert!

He blew all the candles out in once shot!

When we were deciding what desserts to make, we threw out a few ideas and ended up with 3 different ones!

Mom  made 7 layer cookies, Kristin made Sweet Potato Cake and I made fried ice cream!

The kids were great entertainment for all the adults!

Sunday

Sunday was busy with Sunday School, Church, and lunch!

Chris and Raya stayed home due to her not feeling well. Chris was kind to let me go with Ryken!

These kids were a big help to Grandma. Since it was warmer than usual, the oranges kept falling off the tree and the kids would climb under and get them for her!

Reading books together!

Monday

In the morning, Jed and Alma came over to spend some time with the kids as well as help with an art project!

Jed was a pilot, and he brought a foam plane for the kids to enjoy!

Always love watching the hummingbirds!

Grandma Flin got to come over again!

Alma sure loves those kids!

The men getting the cement ready for Sorraya's hand and footprints! 

Ryken and Ember did one last year!

Sorraya was a good sport about it! And we got it first try!

When it dries and is taken out of the mold, it will be in the shape of a butterfly!

Ryken and Ember liked putting their hands and feet into their prints!

They have grown in a year!

Picture with Great Grandpa!

Monday afternoon, we went to the park and met Caleb and Mary!

We fed the ducks again! Ryken liked that they were in the water and not as close to him as they were on land!

Ryken played on the park while the adults talked!

Mary and I met at BTC. She lived in Indiana at the time. She then moved to Michigan and we came to visit us once. Then they just recently moved to AZ and what a treat it was to be able to see her much sooner than expected!

Bath night again!!!

Tuesday

Back seat full of sweet kids!

Today we went to Jenn's house and all 4 of us enjoyed our time together again and it sure was fun seeing our kids play together!

Seems like each year, there is at least one new baby added to the mix!!

Ryken was shooting the soccer ball into the hoop and was making them! He was a pretty good shot!!

We enjoyed lunch outside!!

The kids table! :)

Just the original four! What a great morning!

Sweet picture of Raya with her daddy!

It was so nice for Chris to have a whole week off! He got a little sick as well...but he was able to relax!!

Ryken would ask if we could eat outside most nights!! So we did when we could!

It was so beautiful out and well, there are only certain times that you can! 

It was so fun seeing these two together, playing so nicely! 

We were given Bahama Bucks gift certificates for Christmas to use while in AZ.

So we went after supper!

Thanks for the treat Evans!

A dad and his 2 girls!

Ryken wanted to get a picture with mom!! :)

Wednesday

One last picture with Grandma and her 3 beautiful grandchildren! 

My kids and I had a lunch date at the park with the Frazey clan as well as our sweet friend Pam!

Pam brought us all In N Out!!! YUM!

She also brought a ice cream cake to celebrate January birthdays!

Pam and Allison share one and Sorraya's is in there too!!

Each kid got to take off a star candle and lick it! :)

Elliana was so sweet with Raya!

Allison's oldest girl (4 yrs old) took our picture! It sure was a treat to see her twice while in AZ!

Grandma had to move the car over in the driveway and Ryken enjoyed going along for the ride up front! 

We tried to reenact this picture of me when I was right around Raya's age...but obviously we weren't going to get her sleeping on it! :) But this is the closest we got!

When Grandma and Grandpa came to Fargo last, we went to go see the NDSU marching band play and we talked about how Grandpa used to play the trumpet. So he brought it out to show Ryken the last night we were there!

He was thrilled!!

He liked pushing the buttons and hooking his pinky on the hook! :) 

It was the last night reading the 60 memories! 

Saying goodbye to Grandpa!!

Thursday
On our way to the airport, we stopped and looked at this really old firetruck that was in my parents neighborhood!

My mom said this hasn't been the first old one in this driveway!

Goodbye sunny, warm AZ! :)

Despite everyone feeling a little under the weather during the trip, it was such a nice time spending with family and friends and outside! :)

The trip home went smoothly and we were greeted with about a 75 degree difference in the weather!

Welcome home!

It was good to be home!