Arizona or Bust!

We headed out on Saturday for Arizona. Unfortunately, our lovely airline, Frontier, failed to notify us that our 3:40 pm flight had been changed to 6 am. We missed our flight, without even realizing it. We had quite a day taking to customer service for 2 hours, taking a cab to a different airport, getting kicked off another flight b/c it was oversold and then finally getting out 4 hours after our original flight left. We didn't get in until 2 am Chicago time. The children were SO patient-I couldn't believe it. This is the second time Frontier has messed up our plans and our last time booking with them.

During our last hour of waiting-we played by the giant TRex in O'Hare airport for over an hour.

The boys checking to see if any flights were open or if we could possibly leave that night.

FINALLY here! Diana, Andrew and Eric spend some wonderful time together.

The annual pie making party. Chris' mom traditionally makes between 15-20 pies. This year it was 19 and we had fun talking while we baked and the kids played.

Aunt Jessica-everyone loves her. Alyssa and Joseph.

Andrew and Timmy at the Mesa Temple lights.

Most of the adults at the temple.

"The Fam"

The girls were particularly impressed with the cacti. We got out during a drive to Tonto Natural Bridge to check them out. It takes the suguaro cactus 50-75 years before it will start growing an arm and they only grow in Arizona and a small area in California.

At the Tonto Natural Bridge. Beautiful! We got to hike around and enjoy the beautiful cave that was carved out from the river. Above Grant, you can see the water falling down from a small waterfall. Poor Grant fell into the river and said, "Why did they have to put water in here???"

All the cousins hiking down to the Bridge.

We had reunion shirts made. The theme was "Let your light so shine" and Emily had shirts made with the Tangled sun with our names written across the front. On the last day, we let the Chinese lanterns go into the sky, like in the movie.

Our last night. Grant and Timmy were outside for hours playing soccer together. What a wonderful time we had with family!

Thanksgiving

We were so lucky to be able to spend Thanksgiving with Chris' family in Arizona this year. It took some doing to get there, but once we were there, we had a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful, the children had a FABULOUS time with their cousins, and the adults actually got to talk. Win-win.

Alyssa eating her Thanksgiving feast.

Alyssa and Joseph playing Uncle Ben's piano.

Aunt Janene was in charge of crafts for all of the children. They got to make turkey luminaries and pine cone turkeys.

These 4 were inseparable during the reunion: Carter, Eric, Diana, and Andrew. We rented a bounce house and it was constantly being used from the minute it was put up on Wednesday until they took it on Friday. Worth every penny.

The small cousins table. Oddly, the rest of us sat at folding tables and somehow they scored the real table. Go figure. (Eric, Thomas, Diana, Hailey, Ella, Caleb, Christian, Aaron, and Grant).

Alyssa

Alyssa is definitely two-she is so independent and I hear "self!" all the time. But, I also see such a sweet and loving child that it just warms my heart. I love to hear her talk, watch her try new things on her own and light up whenever she is around other people. Whenever we are at the store, she always tells people, "go ahead" and smiles at them. She is a joy to have around.

In her outfit from Stacy

Feeding her new baby-she is VERY maternal

She wanted to get dressed for the cold just like her siblings