Thanksgiving in AZ

We decided to spend Thanksgiving with Amber's family this year.  We soaked up the AZ sun for a week and we were so lucky to have Daddy with us the whole time!

Rockstar travelers - then again how hard is it to watch a movie?!

All of the kids wearing capes and striking a superhero pose

They loved playing at the park - daddy had to try to slide - it was pretty fast!

Playing soccer with the kids on the tennis court

Brandon reading them the Tickle Monster

I got to read a more serious selection...Stellaluna

I guess they ate a good dinner and got ice cream!

Grant: "Watching Mickey with Briggs makes me happy" (melt my heart!)

Hibachi for dinner Thanksgiving Eve

Grant behaves really well next to Uncle Brian, who apparently just put sushi in his mouth! Grant really does like Brian and was happy to sit with him.

The talking giraffe at Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights = Phoenix Zoo covered in lights = very pretty!

Morning cousin cuddle on the couch

We were going to do a real local Turkey Trot, but we all slept in Thanksgiving morning and we weren't going to make it, but Elizabeth in particular was really excited about it.  Since none of them really knew what a turkey trot was we just invented our own.  Which translated to Auntie Alison taking the kids for a run around the block, playing "our jam" (Love Runs Out) on my phone.  They insisted on proper stretching before we started.  We were going to make turkeys and feathers to wear as hats/headbands, but luckily they forgot about that!

The Bird!!

The kids made place cards and decorated placemats.

Boys manning the fryer

The last day pumpkin shirts can be worn! Both are wearing special turkey bows that Mime made for them.

It was a warm day, 80's.  The kids thought it was hot.  They wanted to swim.  We didn't have suits.  Swim in your underwear kids!  It was such a sight to watch the 4 of them strip down to their underoos and then watch them jump in to water that was 55 degrees!  They played in and out of the pool in their wet undies for almost two hours!  YOLO!

They even drove the jeep! It was tough to figure out how to cart 3 of them around, so G opted to just ride on the hood! EB, sorry I didn't crop this picture - that's the edge of the house.

Thank you Aunt Amber for this one...during dinner EB says "Daddy there isn't a T in your name"

It was really fun to prepare Thanksgiving dinner with Amber.  We both had things that we had to have.  Brian has a special green bean casserole (which was delicious!).  I told Amber she needed a potato ricer to make proper mashed potatoes!  She wanted a chocolate pie that she always makes and I had to have pumpkin.  We compromised on the stuffing and had gravy from a mix bc we had no drippings because we fried the turkey. We both decided homemade rolls were not a good use of our time and that Sister Scheuster or whoever does a fine job!  The meal was really good and eating Thanksgiving dinner outside was a special treat for us.

What's more fun then walking around in a pool tube with your cousin...falling on top of her and creating a awkward family photo!

They decorated 4 giant gingerbread men

Of course we let them eat them! (well not all of them, just a leg or arm!)

Amazing balloon man at a Mexican restaurant.  The girls each asked for Elsa.

G wanted a dolphin - Winter of course!

They loved to put on shows for us, which displayed their musical talents and always ended in running around being crazy!

Best quote of the week.  Amber and I were driving home with the kids from an excursion.  Grant is telling us how hungry he is and I tell him that I hear him, but I have no food, but I will try to find a place to stop and get him something and to please stop complaining.  EB pipes up "I am hungry too, but I am not complaining."  Thanks honey.  Then Stella "I'm hungry too, but I'm not complaining" Thank you Stellie.  Then Grant says "Well I am complaining!!!! FEED ME!!!" We promptly found a grocery store and got the boy some food! Oh yeah, we fed the other 3 too!

The kids had a great week and played together best when they had all had a little alone time at some point during the day.  And although we all love each others kids we all know why we only have two a piece!  All we did was prepare a meal, clean up after it and then get someone a snack oh not wait, everyone would then need a snack and then feed them another meal.  It's a vicious cycle of eating!! They must be growing!  We were emptying the dishwasher 3 times a day!  We finally got smart and starting using paper plates to try to keep up!

We had such a fun, warm week!  We are so blessed to have family who hosted us for a week and I think actually enjoyed it too!  ;) Thank you Campbells!  We will be back!