Arizona Top 10 Explained

I took the kids to visit their beloved cousins Stella and Briggs this past week.  We made some great memories!  Here they are...

Pre-flight - so excited!!

10) Our flight was at noon so I decided we would pick up food and eat at the gate.  The kids are always game for McDonalds, but I was sure it would be cold by the time we got checked in and through security.  We compromised with yogurt parfaits from McD's and Subway sandwiches.  Parking was a nightmare at the airport.  I was actually beginning to think I was not going to find a spot.  A very smart husband reminded me of a secondary lot - thanks honey!! We get checked in and proceed to security.  "Do you have any food in your bag?"  Um yes, that big sandwich in the side.  "Any liquids?" Um no, I threw my water away, I have flown a few times before.  He begins searching my bag.  He pulls out the yogurt.  I had totally forgotten about that.  "Oh, do you consider yogurt a liquid?"  Apparently, the TSA guidelines for defining a liquid is if it holds its shape outside of its container.   Now I could have argued that perhaps McD's yogurt would hold it's shape, but I didn't.  He runs it through the scanner again and does the acid test and decides since it is for the kids and we would eat it before getting on the plane he would allow it.  Thank you!  The funny thing is that Elizabeth questioned the purchase at the drive-thru.  "Are you sure that isn't a liquid mommy?"  Ok, 2 points for you sweetie - mommy was wrong.

On the plane

Grant's cheesy smile!

I don't really know how to describe it, but sometimes my kid's personalities are just so them. Every time an announcement was made in the airport she would say "are we missing our flight?"  I finally  had to say "are you even listening to what they are saying?!" We board the plane and we had already decided that Elizabeth would have the aisle seat - she wanted to make sure Grant couldn't get out.  We get to our row and Grant crawls in and immediately starts pulling the window shade up and down.  Then he begins checking out the crumbs in the seat left from previous passengers.  Elizabeth sits down and immediately puts her seat belt on and instructs all of us to quickly do the same.  Oh and she wanted me to tighten it for her.

9) Overall the kids did excellent on the plane.  The last 45 minutes were a little rough.   At one point Grant decided he would like to take his shoes off.  No problem buddy.  Then he promptly launched them.  He was sitting by the window and they both landed in the aisle - luckily not hitting anyone in the head!  As we were getting ready to land he started saying really loud "falling down!  falling down!" I was a little nervous how the bathroom trips would be on the plane.  Elizabeth didn't have to go, but Grant did once.  I felt comfortable leaving her in our seats while I took him.  We weren't so lucky on the way home.  We had just staring taxiing and he starts in with "potty...potty...potty!!"  OK, honey just hold it a little bit longer.  They had announced use of electronics and even though the seatbelt light was still on I made a dash with him down the aisle only to face a very angry flight attendant.  We ended up sitting in the back row with our seat belts on, until she was worried he would have an accident and the told us to go.  He ended up having to go 3 times on the flight home.  Luckily the 2nd and 3rd were while the light was off.  Elizabeth had to join us on the 2nd trip and I am living proof that I with my two children do fit into a bathroom on a plane...not well...but we managed!

The classic cousin bath!

8) We took advantage of the warm weather and tried to be outside soaking up our vitamin D as much as possible.  The kids were playing with a ball and it went into the pool.  Elizabeth decided she could reach it, but lost her balance and went for a very brief swim.  The water was pretty chilly!  I told her that's why we take swim lessons! Aunt Amber told her to come back when it was warmer so she could swim for real!! We piled all of the kids in the tub.  Elizabeth needed to warm up and Briggs needed his dinner washed off.  Who doesn't have a picture of a big ole cousin bath?!

Dipping their toes in the pool, in their undies! The sun was really bright!!

7) The girls decided to play with make-up.
Stella: Elizabeth says we are putting make-up on before we go to the bar
Me: Elizabeth, why would you tell Stella to put make-up on before going to a bar?
Elizabeth: A ball mommy!
(Phew!)

EB with make-up on!

10 minutes later, the make-up is on and they are in dress up clothes. Grant decides he wants to be involved. Elizabeth decides he can marry her and Stella. Five minutes later Grant is crying, apparently he doesn't want to play preacher. I inform EB that unless he signed a waiver he doesn't have to play by her pretend rules. "But mommy he did sign his name."  She then sticks her tongue put at me. As we are having a tete a tete about that she rolls her eyes.  A lot of really bad choices being made here.  I tell her to make herself comfortable she is going to be in time-out for a while. When I go back and ask if she would like to apologize she says "sorry for lying". What?!  Do you not remember what you were in time-out for or did you actually lie somewhere along the line too? Good grief. (Insert my eye roll.... I know where she gets in)

6) "Elizabeth never stops talking"
Really no further explanation is needed here.  Enough said, the girl never stops talking!!

5) I knew Stella enjoyed playing with her baby dolls, but I got a real life lesson in how seriously she pretends with her babies.  We were at the park and one of her baby dolls were swinging.  She asks me to hand it to her.  I must have picked it up by one arm.  This did not make Stella happy.  How could I treat her baby like this?!  I should have known when Amber told me that she makes her baby dolls meals that we weren't messing around here!  Her stuffed black and white dog also gets fed dog food.  I have to share that Elizabeth and Grant fed their stuffed dogs food today and were very disappointed when they didn't eat it.  "Why don't our dogs eat the food like Stella's dog?"  (Well honey, because Stella's real dog eats faster than what Jack does!)

4) We had an awesome day the zoo.  We feed the giraffes, the kids rode a camel and the merry go round.  They have a great petting/children's zoo where you can brush the goats.  Elizabeth and Grant were brushing a goat and another little girl comes up.  I hear Elizabeth say something, but I can't make it out.  A moment later I hear the dad say, "We can find another goat, here come over here."  I quickly put the pieces together.  "Elizabeth, did you just tell that little girl to find another goat?"  Yep!  Perfect...and we are done with goats.  Seriously, why would she say that? I was so disappointed.

Waiting to feed the giraffes.

Elizabeth's turn

Elizabeth requested a picture here

Grant feeding the giraffe lettuce

The camel ride on Issac

Come to find out the giraffe didn't go up and down, so she switched to an elephant!

Later that same day...
3) Amber tells me that while I was packing Grant put Stella's toothbrush in the toilet.  What? Are my kids just on a mean streak or what? I have no idea what possessed him to do this.  I am just really glad that Stella took it to Amber.  She told her that it needed to be cleaned!  No it needed to be thrown away!  Luckily, it is dental month and we scored new toothbrushes earlier in the week at our visit to the Phoenix Children's Museum.  The kids had just finished dinner and Amber and I were just sitting down to eat when I hear Grant crying.  I find him in the bathroom with the door closed and the light off.  I turn to the girls and tell them a little story....

2) "Someday Grant and Briggs are going to be bigger than you and they are going to whomp on you"  Amber inserts "And we are going to sit back and watch!"  Honestly, we couldn't even keep a straight face.  Since we are both older sisters, we know all too well what happens when the little brother gets bigger than you!  All in all the kids played really well together.

1) Elizabeth and Stella had gone to bed together each night.  They always found their way to their respective parent's bed, but they fell asleep together.  Wednesday night Uncle Brian was able to come home early and he put the tent up in the basement for them to sleep in.  Grant crawled in for a picture, but quickly retreated to my bed.  On the last night I think the girls were worn out and they wanted their own beds.  So this was the first night for Grant and Elizabeth to sleep together.  They did really well.  They were both so tired it didn't take long for them to collapse.  In the midst of tired emotions Elizabeth started crying because she did not want to leave Stella.  These girls really do love each other and I hate they don't live closer, but in a way I think their distance makes their relationship that much more special.

 Pictures from the children's museum:

Names in sand on the light table

Grant's favorite way to ride a tricycle - as a passenger!

Grant and Stella weighing the lentils!

Grant loved the green pickle car!

 Random cousin cuteness:

The boys in their stripes!

Fun at the park!

Fun at the park on another day!

This is Stella's princess castle - Elizabeth loved it!  Grant however took a princess base bat and starting beating on it!  Priceless!

Briggs- you were supposed to be napping!!

This is what happens when you ask for a blanket at an Iowa fan's house!  

The kids crashed! I didn't sleep between them that night - I slid in next to Grant!

The week went way too fast, as I had feared it would.  We didn't even accomplish any Pinterest projects.  Four kids kept us pretty busy!  Little Briggs didn't make the top ten list, but he gets the biggest gold star for just being the best, easy going, adorable, cute baby that he is!! Thanks for all of the memories!  We hope to do it again soon!

Dream Lite in the tent was pretty cool!