To Grandma's House We Go

I keep putting off posting about Spring Break. It's way too daunting of a task. I have about a bazillion pictures to go through.

We spent the week in Arizona with my mom and brother, Jeff. I say week, but we spent three days driving. (More to come on that...the road trip deserves a post of it's own.) So we really only spent five days there. We had WAY too much stuff to pack into that five days and didn't come close to accomplishing it all. And can you believe what got cut? Pedicures with my mom. And even worse...visiting some of our favorite people. We didn't get around to visiting all the friends and family we would have liked. Sorry.

Makutu's Island:

It is this MASSIVE playground that's at least 2 stores tall and so incredibly awesome. And the best part (or worst part...depending on how you look at it) is that it's not off limits to the grown-ups. The kids wore us out...even uncle Jeff in his 6 ft. 3 in. stature chased the kids through that thing. We all came out with rug burns. And I've never been on a faster slide in my life. I let out a pretty crazy scream...Jeff can attest to that. And that, I believe, is where I broke my coccyx...yet again. (Which made for the most uncomfortable ride home.)

This picture doesn't even do it justice...there are 3 slides INSIDE this tree alone.

Jeff, Grayden and Mom...this is a REAL fish tank built right in to the playground.
This was my mom pretty much the whole trip...taking pictures. Can you believe how skinny she is?
All four Smith crazies on a bridge.

St. Patrick's Day:

The Leprechaun's paid a visit. We rode a merry-go-round at the mall and of course went out for our tradition St. Patrick's Day meal.






Hiking in the Desert:

Parker learned about dinosaurs at school the week before spring break and has been obsessed. When he realized Arizona was a desert, we HAD to hunt for dinosaur bones. And every rock we saw...half buried in the dirt...was a t-rex head or a brontosaurus foot. Plus the boys loved the cactus and we even saw a snake.

I realize my kids look ridiculous...they hiked in their pj's and insisted on taking their shirts off.

Parker had to have pictures in the desert with the cactus. I think they're hilarious.

Swimming at Aunt Debbie's:

My aunt Debbie has the most fantastic pool and backyard I've ever seen...it's like a private resort. We spent a little while swimming at her house...my mom's pool wasn't as warm as hers. Yet I thought hers was still too cold, even though it was 90 degrees out. I didn't get in past my knees. But the other four braved it. Afterward we feasted on her HOMEMADE whole wheat bagels. To die for!



A visit with April:

Spencer has a sister that lives in Arizona as well...but he wouldn't let me post the ridiculous pictures I caught of that event. April has such a fun family. She has kids about my age. I really love getting together. And the kids love it because she has so many pets. Gray chased her dogs around all night barking at them.


Science Museum:

We rode the light rail into the science museum. The "train ride" alone would have been enough of an adventure. My kids loved it. Spence and I? Not so much. But the museum was perfect for Parker. He is so curious by nature. He has to know about everything...especially science related. He colored the whole trip home...pictures of tape worms, and head lice, and bed bugs (he learned about all this at the museum). When I took him to school yesterday I asked him what he was going to tell his friends about the trip. He said the desert and science because he only tells his friends cool things and those are the cool things he did.

The "Train" ride

Uncle Jeff entertaining the masses...as usual.

Hangin' Out at Grandma's:

We of course spent lots of time here...and lots of early mornings waking up uncle Jeff.

I LOVE this picture of my mom with my crazies...Popsicles of course...and dipping their feet in the pool...the request of the week.

I think our favorite night included sitting around a fire pit with cousins into the night. The crazies had been our entertainment for quite some time. I was afraid once we put them to bed, the fun would end. But we had a great night visiting and roasting marshmallows. It's sometimes sad to live so far away from family.

Thanks mom for the whirlwind week. We'll do it again in about two years...which is probably how long it will take to clean up all the Lego's in every crack and corner of your house.