Arizona Trip - December

We were able to spend over a week with my family in AZ!

It was a wonderful time and we are still praising God that we all stayed well this time around!

Wednesday

We left for AZ around 6pm!

Snuggles with dad while watching the lights as we took off!

We recently have started letting Ryken use the iPad for games...it was such a nice thing to have while traveling!

The kids watched the movie Cars, as well!

The lights of Phoenix!!!

Warm welcomes and hugs from Grandma and Grandpa!

She couldn't be happier!

Thursday

Ryken pretending to be a baby while we wait for the Evans!!!

Cousins reunited!!!!

Our family got to meet this little sweetie, Reece (3.5 months) for the first time!!! He is sweeter than pictures portray...which is hard to do! 

The kids were so sweet with him! And they both would use a sweet little higher than normal voice when talking to him!! 

There was such nice weather, we were outside as much as we could be!!

Ember brought her strider bike and was kind enough to share it a lot with Ryken! He loved it!

We took a walk to go see the horses...which ended up not being there anymore! haha! But a nice walk regardless!

Ryken got to walk Maci- which he enjoyed!

Ladies in the kitchen working on supper! 

They loved Maci! She was so patient with all their faces and fingers in her face! 

Silly girls!

Grandpa wanted a picture with the grandkids to show his boss as he has his review the next morning! 

VERY hard to tell...but Raya is wearing one of Ember's hair barrette!! haha!

Her hair will come in eventually!

Lots of books being read, and lots of pictures of such times! 

Friday

A picture of all the grandkids feet for Grandpa's gift! 

Went to the park in the afternoon!

We kicked the ball around a lot in the backyard! Kids and Adults!

Orange picking off Grandma and Grandpa's tree!!

Great helpers these 3 are!

They each had brooms and were sweeping the leaves they had put on the sidewalk earlier!

They didn't see it as a chore! :)

Spaghetti night!! 

Raya was chowing down on the noodles!

Reading books together!

The first two nights we had all of the oldest three kids sleep in the same room!

Then Raya joined mom and dad after keeping the others up for so long just chattering and singing! 

Saturday

Aunt Kristin made Snowman pancakes for everyone!

What a treat! 

The wind-chim was a hit!

Looking at the soccer ball that went over the fence! 

Don't get to many pictures of this little man sleeping anymore, as his room is so dark and the flash would wake him up!

Such a sweet sight!

But he was napping in mom and dad's bed - I later joined him and when he woke up, he stroked my face to wake up too! haha!!

Great Grandpa Flin came over for supper tonight!

Excited for supper! 

Bathtime! :)

Raya was in there too at an earlier point!

Great Grandpa with all the grandkids!

Sunday

We had a wonderful morning of worship at my old church.

It was so great seeing so many familiar and loved faces!

Here is our traditional family picture after church!

And more....since everyone looked so nice!

Coming home from evening service and Raya was melting down. 

So dad reached back and holding his hand was the one thing that calmed her down for a while!

Ryken had a join in too....and mom couldn't help by take a picture! :)

Monday

Good morning books read!

This little man was not lacking any love!!

My sweet, sleepy girl eating breakfast!!

I was able to get together with my good friend Allison, and her kids (minus one, who got sick that morning)

What a wonderful time it was!

So warm and sunny out!

The kids all got along so well and played like good friends so we were able to chat and catch up!

It was wonderful seeing my good friend again and getting to see her for a few hours was so encouraging and refreshing! 

Free cookies from AJ's!!!

Daddy helping Raya kick the soccer ball!!

She kept coming to him and backing up to Chris so he would pick her up and swing her to kick. 

Sugar Cookie Time!!!!

Raya helping Reece's sock back on!

She made the biggest mess with the flour!!!

But had a blast doing so! 

Sorraya didn't quite get the purpose of the cookie cutters - as she thought her fingers and hands would be better shaped cookies!

But then again, we have done salt dough hand prints!....

The new baby helped with the cookies as well!!...and enjoyed MANY!

Frosting and sprinkles!!

Grandma and Grandpa even helped frost a few cookies...in their matching NDSU shirts! :)

Masterpieces! 

Some whole, some not!

After super, we went to Cherry Lane and walked around to see the whole street filled with lights on each house!

Tuesday

Off to the Zoo this morning!

Waiting and excited for everyone to get there!!

The whole group! 

All 14 of us!!!

Ryken's ready to go in!

These baboons were fun to watch and kept getting right up to the glass!

Picnic Lunch!!

Just the 4 of us! 

It's fun cause it seems that each year we reunite....there are new babies to meet and more babies on their way!

The 4 of us grew up together...like literally. We were 6 weeks apart and in the same grade from Kindergarten thru 12th grade! Our families went on family vacations together annually and we would often be at each others house on Saturday nights! 

Many memories with them and now all the more as we all have families of our own! 

What dear friends and the time with them was too short, but we were all so grateful for it!

We entered the Monkey Village at the right time, as they were just about to be fed from these little rings that hung from the ropes they jumped around on!

Was neat for all to see!!

The Orangutans were very entertaining! 

All the big kids on this big lizard!

The Tigers were very busy and were coming close for all to get a good look!

They also made Sorraya cry as it got too close!!

The Pagel boys!

It was Reece's first time to the ZOO!!

Sisters and their kids!

Sweet boy!

Aunt Kristin bought Pizzas for all of us tonight and she even got the little Mini Murph's for the two big kids!

They had a blast making them and enjoyed eating them just as much!

A special movie to watch together!

Popcorn as a bonus!!

Grandma and Grandpa had stockings for the kids to open!

More hair clips!! Come on hair, grow!!

Grandma knows our weakness....a Sonic gift card! 

After supper, Chris was able to go meet some of the men from Grace Covenant Church for beer and discuss theology of choice!! Sounds like it was a wonderful time for each!!! 

Wednesday

Playing in the dirt!

Sleeping on their "pillows"!

Grandma Alma and Grandpa Jed came over to see everyone!!

Jed showing the kids how to fly the plane!

Silly Raya loved this spot!

She made it a little chair and table often!

More loves for the littlest!

Row, Row your Boat!

After supper, we walked to the house in the neighborhood that has lights synced with music!

There was "Snow" and all the PHX kids went crazy!! It was pretty funny!

Our kids didn't even flinch! 

Kristin, Dustin and Mom as the Frozen Gang!

Me, Raya and Mom joining in!

Watching the lights!

Thursday

We walked to Starbucks in the morning as Dad wanted to treat us all to a drink!

Sharing their drink!

Once again, our time has come to a close and we got a few more pictures to have and treasure!

Grandma and all her kids!

Saying our goodbyes! :(

Walking to our plane!

The Lights of Fargo welcomed us home!

It is good to be home!

We had such a wonderful time of vacation with family and friends!

The warm weather was a treat!

And the extra time our family of 4 even had together was a delight!!

Not sure how trips to AZ will look in the future as our families just keep getting bigger and more tickets will need to be bought...but we will get back or meet half way!!