Phoenix Children's Museum

Today, we went to the Children's Museum of Phoenix with some friends...it was awesome!!! The kids all had a really great time playing and there was so much for them to do! From the tunnels and tents, to the wall of suction tubes, the trike wash, grocery store, discovery zone, noodle forest, and much, much more, the kids kept busy, busy, busy!!! Even the adults had a great time :) A.J. had such a great time, we ended up buying a membership before we left...summer is coming and we have to look for fun indoor activities!

And they're off! Owen and A.J. running to all of the exhibits.

Owen and A.J. in front of the noodle forest

Even Isaac enjoyed the noodle forest!

Shopping for groceries

Owen, A.J., and Hayden weighing stuff...this was one of A.J.'s favorites, as he got to dig

Isaac in the Little People Discovery Zone

He quickly found a "friend" to play with

Sarah, Hayden, and Lindsey getting "presents" from A.J. and Owen

Isaac has taken a big liking to Sarah :)

Serving up some ice cream cones

The trike wash

Bring on the Heat!!!

Andy spent some time this past weekend getting the pool ready for the summer. He partially drained the pool to get the salt level right (yes, we have a salt water pool), cleaned out the filter, and did routine maintenance. It has actually been an unusually mild spring here, so the pool is still in the 70s. Now we are ready for the heat!

Sir Smiles-A-Lot

Another pic of Smiley

Me and my boys...we're ready for the pool!

"All I need is my cabana girl and a bottle with a little umbrella in it"

Snoozing like Papa Simmons

Sandbox Fun

Andy finished building the sandbox last week, and AJ finally got to use it!!! He is having a ton of fun with all his diggers and dumpers. The nice thing about living in AZ is when he's done playing in the sandbox, he just goes and jumps in the pool to clean off!!!

A.J. playing in his new sandbox

Isaac taking a snooze on Mommy

Fun Day at the Park

Today, our neighborhood hosted "Fun Day at the Park." They had bouncy-houses, cars, and pitching for the kids. They also had food for everyone, including pizza, Chinese, hot dogs, popcorn, and A.J.'s favorite...snow cones!!! We had a great time!

A.J. enjoying the bouncy house

He was one of the few kids who could actually figure out how to drive these cars!!!

We're up to 18 mph!!!

Isaac kept wanting to gnaw on my hot dog

(he actually just licked the bun and got it all soggy...yuck)!

Cheers!!!

Sooo good (but sooo messy)!

Isaac enjoyed the snow cones as well...

Really, really enjoyed them!!!

Tumbleweed Park

On Thursday, we decided to do a spur-of-the-moment playdate at Tumbleweed Park. The kids seemed to have a great time, especially digging in the sand. Poor Hayden fell off one of the play structures, did a complete flip in the air, and landed on her face in the wood mulch. I think she'll be okay, besides some minor scrapes and bruises on her face...raisins seem to make things all better (even if they were hard-as-a-rock stale)! Here's a pic of A.J., Owen, and Hayden sitting at a little table having snacks (thanks for sharing guys)!!!

District Fun

We've been getting together with friends, old and new, from the Cat Phoenix District this week. The kids are all having so much fun playing together, while the ladies have some much needed adult conversation (and maybe a snack or two...can't get together without food)! Luckily, the weather is still pretty nice, so the kids can play outside...soon, we'll be jumping in the pool!

"The boys"...A.J., Owen, and Levi riding in the truck

New buddies, A.J. and Owen

Hayden had to take a turn too...isn't she the cutest little thing???

Lindsey delivering some pitches to Owen

The kids all buddying up to Sarah :)

Easter

I've been really far behind on blogging, so I'm trying to catch up :) Sunday was Easter...we had a great day! A.J. actually slept in (waking up at 7:20) and came downstairs to find the Easter Bunny had visited! He got a variety of toys and candy and was really happy and excited. Isaac basically got the shaft (he got some puffs and yogurt bites, which he can't have quite yet, and a pair of jammies). Then we all went to church for Easter services. When we came home, we had ham, rolls, broccoli/cauliflower salad, strawberry pretzel salad and Buster Bar dessert! It was all really good and we stuffed ourselves!

A.J. checking out the goods in his baskets

He was so excited about this little tow truck!

Isaac sporting his "Baby's First Easter" bib

We had Isaac's picture taken with the Easter Bunny at Wal-mart (the bunny was scary, but the picture was free)!!!

All smiles, despite getting the shaft on his basket :(

Rainy Day Fun

On Saturday, we woke up to cold temps, gray skies, and this wet stuff falling to the ground (I think I remember it being called rain or something...hasn't done that in months)!!! So we skipped swimming lessons and tried to think of something creative to do indoors. Andy finally finished A.J.'s sandbox this week, but A.J. hasn't gotten to use it yet, as we have had plans or it's been too windy, and now rain. So we made our own indoor "sandbox." I put a vinyl tablecloth down on the kitchen floor, dumped some rice onto cookie sheets, and told A.J. to go crazy! He had a blast with all his diggers and dump trucks! It was a mess, but well worth it!!!

A.J. digging in the "sand"

Isaac trying out the new dump truck

The Zoo and New Friends!!!

On Thursday, we went to the zoo with the newest members of the Phoenix District. It's great to have more people in the district with kids!!! We just took it slow and let the boys run wild while we chatted and followed with the littler ones in strollers. We didn't even end up seeing 1/10 of what the zoo had to offer, but as long as the kids were happy, we were happy! I really enjoyed the adult conversation and getting to know Lindsey better, and A.J. was so excited to have another boy, Owen, to play with (there is only one boy his age in the district and our MOMS club has a ton of girls). We look forward to many more fun times with new friends!!!

A.J. and Owen checking out the fish in the pond

Owen and A.J. climbed to the top of an old tree stump

Owen receiving a little help to get down

Hanging Out

It has been really windy here this spring, so we have been spending some quality time indoors (unfortunately...soon it will be summer and we'll have to stay in). Isaac absolutely adores A.J.!!! There can be a room full of people, and he still singles A.J. out. He is always smiling at A.J. and the few times that A.J. actually does pay attention to him, he just laughs and laughs! I can't wait for Isaac to start crawling and interacting more...I think he and A.J. will have a blast together! Then I was vacuuming the other day and everytime I vacuum, A.J. gets out his toy vacuum and vacuums with me. So I let him do the real thing. He's still a little small for it, but if he still enjoys it in a couple of years, that chore is all his! We got the Jumping Johnny out for Isaac last week. So far, he just likes to sit in it and play with toys, but he hasn't really figured out the bouncing yet. I'm sure that is only a matter of time. He does squeal if anyone bounces him. Finally, when it's not too windy out, A.J. loves riding his Power Wheel around. He was driving the other day, and Andy put Isaac in the bed of the truck. A.J. hauled him around the yard a couple of times and he loved it! Soon, he'll be sitting in the passenger seat and before you know it, he'll be driving!!!

A.J. and Isaac spending some time together

A.J. vacuuming

Isaac in the Jumping Johnny

At first, Isaac didn't know what to think...

...but he soon realized he was having fun!!!

Easter's Coming!!!

On Friday, we went on an Easter Egg hunt with friends from my MOMS Club. The kids all had a lot of fun and got a ton of eggs. There was also a nice spread of sugary treats that all the kids as well as moms enjoyed. It was a little windy though, so we tried to make it a quick trip, as my kids get ear infections at the drop of a hat. Since it was so windy, we stayed in that night and colored Easter eggs. A.J. had a good time, but his attention span is still a little short...Isaac, as usual, fell asleep.

A.J. gathering some eggs

We're trying to teach manners...A.J. helping some of the littler kids

Looking for the eggs

Isabella and A.J. riding the helicopter

Some of the moms hula-hooping

A.J. enjoying a Peep

A.J. coloring eggs

A.J. and Mommy coloring eggs

The finished product

Isaac was asleep, of course