D-Backs Game

We took the kids to a D-Backs game this summer. We picked a mid week day game to attend because we knew the stadium would be empty. The kids loved watching the game, eating ice cream and popcorn, playing in the batting cages and meeting Baxter (the D-backs mascot). We even ran into our good friends the Wagners.

I just LOVE this picture of Rylie and Matt. They sure share a special Daddy-daughter bond!

 Best buds! 

Road trip to San Diego

We took our new mini van on its first road trip to San Diego! The kids LOVED watching movies the whole way and packing was a breeze. It was like a date for Matt and I because the drive was so easy. We even did the budget along the way. It had been a couple years since we had been to San Diego and seen our good friends Matt and Becca Ellis. To say we had a good time was an understatement. Our kids and their kids got along SO well. It was like they had been friends for ever.

We went to Moonlight Beach in Del Mar. It was nice to all ride in the same car and chat on the way to the beach. It was especially nice on the way home when we got stuck in traffic because the kids watched movies.

Derek and Rylie LOVED playing the waves and sand. 

They did not want to leave!!

Derek and Weston loved getting burried.

We at dinner at Pizza Port! They even had GF pizza.

Weston and Derek doing a puzzle together.

Hiking is one of our favorite things to do with Matt and Becca. We have been hiking together with them for the past 10 years. This time we had 4 kids with us and got to share the memories with them.

Dusty dirty sneaker picture a tradition with our hikes...now 4 more pairs of sneakers!!

We were so busy during the trip that Rylie fell asleep on Matt's shoulder. She even transferred to my shoulder too! Enjoying every minute of her sweet cuddles.

We met up with Aunt Ruthie for dinner at Balast Point Brewery. Yummy!

Matt let the kids try out his Police motorcycle. 

I love Derek's face when Matt turned on the siren and lights.

We can't wait to make another trip out to San Diego. We are grateful that its only 6 hours from home!

Derek (6 years old) and Rylie (4.5 years old)

We drove to Prescott for a family adventure day. Driving to Prescott was so fun with the new minivan. The kids watched a movie while Matt and I had a great "date." We explored a new hike called Granite Gardens. The hike included playing dot-to-dot scrambling along granite rock. There were white dots along the rocks and the kids loved discovering the path. Along the way Rylie fell and split her knee open. There was a lot of blood, but she was a trooper. At the end of the hike we had to scramble through a bunch of rocks while wading through a foot of water. It was so neat.

I took Derek to the Science Museum while Rylie went to work with Daddy.

 Derek loved the bed of nails....

Making cookies with Rylie!

Matt and I took Rylie to meet her teachers and see her classroom. 

She is very excited for her school year. She had a scavenger hunt to complete.

There was lots of swimming in August!

I LOVE long eyelashes after the pool. 

 I got to take Derek to see his classroom the day before school started. 

He completed a scavenger hunt to explore the classroom.

 Doing an "experiment" with baking soda and colored vinegar. SO much fun!

Surprise! Playing with a cardboard box is so much fun!!! 

Happy 4th of July

This year for 4th of July we celebrated together as a family after being apart for two weeks. We picked Matt up at the airport on July 3rd after being in Australia for 12 days. He took a nap and we headed to Anthem for fireworks. It was a great night and the fireworks spectacular, but the BEST part was being together as a family. After a month in Boston, it was so nice to be back together with our family. I LOVE us and our life!

Daddy brought the kids back some pretty cool souveniers. Derek got an authentic Australian Rules Football jersey. Rylie got a penguin from the Melbourne aquarium and a coloring book with pencils. Matt bought himself some local beer called Millennium Falcon. Matt bought me 2 lbs of local coffee beans. It is so good to have him home.

 swimming before leaving for the fireworks!

 

 

 playing on the playground before the fireworks

 

 Enjoying giant snow cones before the fireworks

Falling asleep on Daddy's chest on July 4th, after being up late for fireworks. 

Daddy enjoying every minute of it!