Arizona, Vash's Birthday, and Return of the Daddy

So I know what you're thinking: Jymie... You haven't done the blog in like... three weeks. And you're right.... Simply, I've just not been up to it. Anyway, you haven't missed a ton. Maybe a lot but not a ton. We spent one week getting ready for Arizona, ten days in Arizona, and a week recovering from the trip. Lol.

This is just a cute picture of the kids at our church's picnic. These two really love playing together now that Rhyla is better able to keep up with Vash. The other night they came in the room together saying, "Swarm, Swarm" like a weird chant... You could tell they were having fun. But I have no idea what that was about.

Turns out this is a fun park in the middle of a golf course. We got invited here for a picnic and the kids really enjoyed it. Had no idea it existed until we got invited there.

The kids did a great job on the flight to AZ. It was 4 1/2 hours and their first flight, but Rhyla just napped and Vash watched movies on the Kindle Fire. They were both so thrilled to see Papa who came to help us at the airport.

Of course they were super happy to get back into a pool. We swam all but thee days of the ten days we were out there. Rhyla and I got tan while Vash got... shall we say "Less white?" LOL. I love my boy but he does have his Grandpa's fair skin.

We were also happy to meet up with some of our old friends. Maylie and Timmy now have a new baby sister and my kids were all over that. They want a little sibling so badly, I think they were about ready to take baby Charity home with us!

Vash, as always, likes holding hands with pretty girls.

Made sure to get our teeth cleaned while we were out near Papa's office. He loves clean teeth. One night Rhyla was fighting me about brushing her teeth and Vash says, "Rhyla, you have to brush your teeth or your head will fall off." LOL. I think what he meant to say was, "Brush your teeth or they'll fall out of your head." Vash was totally cool about sitting in the chair though...

While Rhyla watched from a safe distance. Every so many minutes she asked if I was ok because the cleaning instruments looked spooky to her. 

We went to the Zoo one day and Vash remembered immediately that we used to fee the giraffes there. Rhyla's favorite exhibit was the tiny turtles. Vash insisted that the biggest of the turtles was the mommy turtle and the tiny turtles were him and Rhyla. Then he asked me, "Where's the daddy turtle?" So I said maybe he was out getting more Cactus to eat, but Vash was positive that the daddy turtle was at school. LOL. 

Vash's favorite exhibit was the lone elephant. Again, he had a story about why the elephant was alone and swaying side to side. "It's a mommy elephant and she's sad. The Vash and Rhyla elephants are taking a bath and the daddy elephant is away at school."

Kids really enjoyed staying in a hotel. They fought over who'd push the button for the elevator. (Rhyla called it a Tinkerbell.) And Vash liked to pick up the phone and pretend to talk to his cousins. He also loved the automatic doors at the front. He and Rhyla would thank them each and every time we entered or exited the building. "Thank you doors! Oh they love me." He didn't like the swivel chair though; "Stop wiggling around on me! Stop it!"

Nana and Papa threw Vash a great party. They got three dozen balloons, put up tons of streamers, and gave him a super hero cake. Rhyla stood by the balloons and growled, hoping one would come down for her.

Vash wanted a dance party, but anytime I tried to put music on he changed his mind about it. He was super excited about having his cousins out to see him before they left for Germany though.

Rhyla took a while to warm up to the family, but not the boys. She crawled right into their arms.

And of course she loves her some Papa snuggles. Actually she just loves snuggles. The other night she was sleeping in my bed and I said "Rhyla, it's time to wake up." Shaking her head no, she says, "Nope. Let's snuggle."

All in all, it was a great trip and Vash got so many gifts that we had to get another bag to bring everything home. I didn't realize it until we went out there, but I think we all missed quite a few things about AZ. Having fun days with Aunt Jen. Swimming as much as we want. Having so many play areas to choose from. Not to mention all my favorite restaurants that just don't exist out here. LOL. Oh well. I'll have more stories and pictures next week. Can't believe my baby is four!

And of course Craig is home so we're very excited about that. Eight weeks without daddy is eight weeks too long.