Home Sweet Home

We are officially settled into our new home in Arizona!  It's been the warmest summer we have ever experienced but we are adjusting well!  Air conditioning paired with fun activities is a wonderful thing! Thanks to our new friends - many of which are in our local LPA group - it's been a fantastic transition! 

One of the best things about our new town is that everything is very family oriented!  Running errands has turned into an activity that the kids enjoy ...
Here we are making a quick trip to the drugstore ...

The local mall even has a splash pad and nice covered play area!

Our local pizza place even hands out pizza dough for the kids to play with at the table ... Ellie loved it, Ryan wasn't so sure ...

We have also found a lot of really fun places to visit!

Ryan's favorite is the local small airport.  There is always something happening there - commercial planes coming & going, private planes taking off & landing, and even military jets and helicopter sightings!

There is even a cafe where we can have breakfast while we watch the planes!

On one of the really really hot days we made a trip to a local children's museum.  Lots of fun for the kids!  And nice and cool for mommy ... :)

So much to do - from tending a garden to flying an airplane!

There are too many great places to go ... We did a fun day trip to a wonderful train museum and park with daddy!

Ryan loved the huge building filled with model trains!  A fantastic sight for all of us!

There were even model trains up by the ceiling!

And trains to explore!

Waiting in line for our train ride!

All aboard!

We keep things fun day-to-day too!  

Ryan and Ellie like to help mommy bake ...

Brownies ...

... and chocolate chip cookies ...

Play at home is fun too!

Ryan "reading" to Ellie

Trains are a lot of fun!

 Tea parties aren't just for girls!

Ryan likes to help out with our meals ... 

The doctor is in!

 In the morning we can play outside ... :)

Another favorite place is Gymboree ... or "inside park" as we call it!  It's a great program for Ryan since he's almost a preschooler!

Ryan also has a music class ... after our first class his teacher gave him a special treat - a chocolate horse!  Yum!

We feel so lucky to have the LPA group that we do!  Ryan is one of about 12 children under the age of 5!  Here we are having a blast at our new friend's first birthday party!

Scott and I even managed a couple of date nights too!  Cheers!

It's been an incredible summer ... we are so happy settled in our new home.  And the amazing support we have gotten from our LPA family and new local friends has been unreal.  We are looking ahead and excited! 

... On to the next adventure!

Life is a Highway

It's been a busy start to the summer in our household!

The adventures began to get really exciting when we confirmed and planned our big move from California to Arizona!  Scott's work offered him a new opportunity in Arizona so we decided to make the leap and start a new life out there!

Here are the kiddos helping us pack up!

Before we left CA we had a big birthday to celebrate ... Eleanor turned one on June 18th!  So the weekend before we headed out, we had a big bash for her with all of our friends and family.  It was fun to celebrate with everyone just before our big move!

We did an adorable strawberry theme for our "Berry Sweet" girl!

Big brother all ready to celebrate ... in his "Most Amazing Brother Ever" T-Shirt!

Eleanor isn't so sure about her first taste of cake ...

Ryan was happy to show her how it's done!

Here we are - a berry happy bunch :)

Ryan after the party ... Safe to say he had a fantastic time!

Eleanor is one lucky little girl!

... and Ryan feels pretty lucky too!  He got a few "surprises" also!

It was quite the adventure getting out to AZ ... the kids stayed in CA with grandparents - and Scott, Grandpa John and I made the drive out in 2 days!  Grandpa John drove the 26 foot truck towing Scott's car and Scott followed us in my car.  It was quite an adventure - but thanks to Grandpa, it was extremely well planned and safe!   We were able to enjoy the sights!

All loaded and ready to go!

Rest stop ... already warm out!

Lots of open space!

Our truck driver :)

Lots of windmills out here!

Unloading in our new climate ... it's 110 degrees out!

The kids rooms are all ready ...

Our arrival in AZ was busy ... Scott and I were thankful to have the home kid-free for a few days while we settled in.  After a long week without the kids they flew out with Grandpa John and Grandma Cec.

At the airport ready to go!

Pilot Ryan ready to come home!

We were all very excited to be reunited again and the kids both love their new home!  It's been an exciting couple of months - lots of anxiety, sadness and excitement all at the same time!  This first week settled in we have been lucky to spend time with the kids and all 4 grandparents!  Here are some pictures of our adventures!

 Settling in at home ...

Enjoying a trip to the grocery store ...

Ready for a swim!

Loving the "splash pad" near our house!

Our first little "park incident" ... Ryan got stuck in this tree frame ... thankfully with a bit of help from mom and dad we got him out!

Ta-Da!  Our cautious boy is starting to enjoy climbing ...

It's a wonderful and family friendly area ... a bit of interesting climate to adjust to but we will get the hang of that soon too!

We are eager to meet with our local LPA group - they are a fantastic group and full of kids Ryan's age too!  That alone was a great reason to make the move out here!  We are also excited to get involved in our new community at Scott's work, the kids groups, schools and play groups!

... On to our next adventure!