Phoenix Children's Museum

I've been hearing great things about this new Children's Museum in downtown Phoenix, and have been wanting to take the kids. It happened to be that Maylene has an annual pass and invited Sandy and I to come check it out! It worked out perfectly because the kids were randomly out of school on a Wednesday and we needed an out! This place was pretty cool! It looks really similar to the pictures I've seen of the Salt Lake one.



Our first stop was a huge room right inside the entrance that allowed the "little" ones to climb through tunnels and tents, while the older ones got to learn a hands on lesson about "vacuums" and how fast hankerchiefs can speed when there's no air around! Boston was shooting some ping pong balls out of some pipe thing, while the girls were more excited by the huge tube mass on the wall shooting colorful "hankies"!
Next we stopped by this area that had something Tyler should make! He's going into mechanical engineering, and if he can make a robot that can retrieve an egg and drop it into a basket w/out breaking it...this should be a breeze! My brother is always "tinkering" with things...so I took a bunch of pictures of it...so he can get an idea of how it works. My kids loved it! Thatcher and his little brother/sister will love it too!




Then it was upstairs to the biking area. They had all these little tricycles set up, some with "trailors" on the back, with a little road area that they could drive through! The best was trying to watch Paris try and take Talan for a ride. She kept cutting the corner sharp and getting stuck everytime around! I finally just let strangers go and help her! I'm so mean...but it was getting old...and she obviously didn't understand why it was happening!!!!



Then we stopped by the noodle area! I wish I had a bunch of extra space around my house, so I could hang a thousand of these things up somewhere! The kids were so excited! They had no fear...Brooklyn, Boston, & Paris, would race through all the way to the other side, (Keep in mind there were a bunch of kids inside also doing the same thing) but luckily there were no collisions! Atleast...that I was made aware of! It's funny how you don't get cautious...until you get a little older! We ended up seeing Laurie Ramirez there too! Her little boy kept getting lost in the noodles, which was funny, because you could only find your kids by looking into the 18 inch gap from the floor to the bottom of the noodles. So you could see legs and feet! It was nice because they all eventually came out...and when it was time to go...I just had to lasso each one individually!

The store was probably their favorite place there. Seattle specialized in taking everything off of the shelves. (She would be great for "recalled" items or store closing events!) The other kids loved being on the other side of the check stand for once! I remember when I was younger...I dreamed of being a "store checker outer!" There's something about that "beep" and the typing on the cash register that seemed soooo awesome!







It was fun! We'll have to go again soon!

Happy Birthday Nash!

My friend Kim's son Nash had his B-day party on Saturday with a bounce house. It was so much fun watching the kids play around! Phil and Spencer came about an hour late (from the FBR open, which I originally thought was called the FDR open, in Scottsdale) It's a golf tournament or something like that. They were in the "Members Club" section, the tickets were worth like $1800 or something like that! They were excited because I think someone won them and then gave them to Spencer. (Everything's better when it's free!) Anyhoo, they were nice tickets...Phil said they had some dang good food, and there were a lot of college kids there...so it was kind of roudy and some funny things were going on. (I think it was a "had to be there" sort of fun:)

Paris and a random "party goer" that happened to be standing next to her.

Madison blowing kisses!

Boston...keeping it real.
Seattle and Ryan...catching some rays.

When all the older kids jammed out of the bounce house, we thought we'd hook Ryan, Seattle, Madison, and Talan, up with a double date...in the house! No one wanted to cooperate...I think they were embarrassed that parents needed to be involved! Ha! Something I'm sure they'll get used to...right?

Madison enjoying the "bounce" time!

Seattle really wasn't sure about the whole thing.

Madison trying to ditch out...Seattle and Ryan trying to figure this place out!

Ryan looking cute, while trying to escape!

Phil got on a Madison kick...but how can you blame him...she was on a roll!

GNO Time!

Madison caught the "runny nose/cough" bug on Monday...now Seattle has come down with it! Yuck. It's been a sweet couple of days...you know...the ones where you're shirt is one big "snot" rag! I've changed my shirt 4 times today! NO JOKE! So...needless to say, I needed a break! Last minute...we threw together a Girls Night Out...to Oreganos! (I'm talking 1 hour notice!) Phil's the greatest! I apologized to him in advance because Seattle has been soooo whiney, and all he said was, "That's okay, I've been at work all day so I won't mind a few hours!"

He needs an AWARD!!! It was soooo worth it! They have the best "Kaboom Dip" and the "Pizookie" is a huge "a" cookie, cooked almost all the way, then topped with vanilla ice cream! Yeah...it can't be finished by any one person...but oh so worth the effort!

Our relaxing trip to Walmart...

Our trip to Walmart turned out to be a lot more relaxing then I expected. On my way out the door, ( you know...somewhere in between stocking the diaper bag, fixing a bottle, bringing snacks, grabbing my purse, cell phone, etc.) I lost Seattle's pacifier! Nice, I know. But the spare I had...has been in my purse so long, she no longer likes it! She's getting to be a picky "sucker"...on the pacifier that is! Anyway, as we are about half way through our shopping list, Seattle starts rubbing her eyes and I can tell it's going to get ugly any second. So I grab for the bottle and make her a little pillow using her blankie. I never ever thought she would fall asleep! It was so funny! She had to be so uncomfortable, but was out in a flash! Madison was so happy with the Valentine's Day suckers I had picked up earlier, that she was completely content being buried alive with the groceries! (This never happens! I usually resort to picking up a second cart, or being brave and let her hold on to the side!) Because this was such a memorable trip, I grabbed the camera to remember it by! Oh...now if every shopping trip could be as nice!

It's A Girl!

Well it's official...we are having our last baby...and yes it's another girl! (5 girls 1 boy)I'm pretty excited. I went to my 17 week appointment today and the ultrasound tech...did a triple check, just to make sure! I think Phil and Boston were a little dissapointed at first, but have quickly warmed up to the idea! I think it's great. I grew up with 4 girls in the house...we weren't even as close in age and we are still really close! Boston is just going to have to find the most awesome girl ever...so she can fit into our fam! So it's taken me a little while to warm up to the idea that we are having a baby #6, especially so close to baby #5 (they'll be 17 mos apart) yikes, but Phil has taken an extra precaution that has ensured that we are OFFICIALLY done! Yay! I'll be turning 30 this year, and my dream has always been to be able to vacation when I'm 35...and now I can...my youngest will just be 5! That's pretty good. The kids are all ecstatic and now we're just trying to agree on a name! We knew for sure it would be London if it was a boy...but since it's a girl...we're still debating on a few. We'll put up a survey to see what you guys think:)
P.S. for those of you who are "out of the loop"...we're due June 26th!

Day Off!

The weather is still amazing and while we were trying to decide how to spend the "day off", my friend Kim invited us to come play and ride bikes at her house. It was the best idea ever! I have to say I'm so jealous that I don't live in a cul-de-sac or have a backyard the size of two football fields! It was so nice to be able to chat with friends and know that your kids are totally confined!!!!

Seattle showing off her new walking legs!

A free for all out in the cul-de-sac!

Paris, trying to keep out of the sun. It really was warm in the sun!!

Paris on Maddy's Bike...
Ryan and Nash playing on the grass.

My kids always beg me to ride their bikes outside, but I never want to go sit out there and watch! I'm so mean, our street isn't that busy...but it's really long and straight...and you just never know! Call me a "worrywart" if you will. So it was really nice to sit on her lawn, in the shade, and watch all the kids circle around and around without a single car coming in!

Drew, Paris, Jake, and Talen...

It was a nice break for the kids...and a "Girls Day" for us ladies too! Thanks a bunch Kim!

Front Yard BBQ

The weather has been soo nice lately! It's literally what California people experience in May! It's beautiful! So some of our friends invited us over for a BBQ and a game of soccer. It was soo much fun. I had to take pictures of the "front yard" bbq too! We decided it was just easier, so we could walk to the park and keep an eye on everyone at the same time! Who said BBQing in the front yard was "ghetto?" Ha! I think we brought it back!!!!!

Seattle practically outweighs Paris, but she insists on picking her up constantly!The kids loved the portable hammock! Relaxing out on the sidewalk! That's right...REPRESENT!Sandy and Spencer...showing their post game faces! Boston...probably talking trash because he was the "best" goalie ever, Phil...mad because I won't take a picture of him showing his "post game" face, Sandy and Spencer...still feeling the love, my other kids strewn throughout the field, and Maylene missed the shot because she was chasing after little Sophie!

It was fun, and the kids all had a blast! So let us know when the next game is!