Our first week of vacation in Arizona was exciting to say the least. We started out by having to get up at 3 am so that Mike could take us to the airport in Lynchburg, Va for our 5:30am flight. Mike then continued on to Fort Pickett, where he helped with the National Guard for a few days while we were gone. The kids all did really well on the flights. Most peoples reactions to seeing me alone with three kids was to say, "You are one brave person to do it alone." If I didn't have such good kids I don't think I would want to do it alone. So we made it to Phoenix in one piece and with our sanity.
We got in at 11am, which gave us plenty of time to have fun so we headed for the swap meet so that I could pick-up some Mexican vanilla. The girls, grandma and I had fun walking around seeing all the things for sale. But my favorite part of the day was being able to have lunch at Cafe Rio, yummy! Also I was able to see Marcus roll from his front to back today. I've put him down before and he has rolled while I wasn't looking but today I actually got to see him do it.
My mom got tickets for Disney on Ice for Saturday so in the morning we got ready and headed downtown to see the show. We almost made it but as we were changing lanes to get off the freeway a car slammed into the back of my parents van. Luckily everyone came away fine except for a little whip lash and a head ache. The van on the other hand doesn't look so good. The rear door is all smashed in and can't open, part of the bumper is falling off and the sliding side door is bent so that it has a opening at the back and it can't open. The police were not going to let us drive the van home because there was a piece of car rubbing up against the wheel, so we had to call my dad to come and get us. But while waiting for my dad, my mom and I pulled the piece off the car that was touching the wheel. My dad showed up and after sitting and waiting for the police to finish their report we were able to continue on to the ice show. My dad followed us there just to make sure the van ran all right. We parked the van and headed to the show. That's when I realized Natalya didn't have her shoes on, instead she had a pair of shoes that were four sizes too big. But even with too big of shoes and a car wreck we were able to make it to the second half of Disney on Ice. The girls loved the part they did get to see!
Fun Uncle Bill also came to visit from Canada and arrived last night. The girls had so much fun with him.
Disney on Ice!
Sitting waiting for the show to begin.
Enjoying the show on Gamma's lap.
Sunday we were able to chat and have dinner with my good friend Julie and her family. Monday we got to hang out with my sister Erin for a while and eat samples at Costco.
After a couple of days of relaxing the girls were ready to have some fun so Grandma and I took them to the Arizona Science Museum and the Body World and Brain exhibit. Raquel is always asking about our body and why things do what they do, so I thought she would really like to see the Body World exhibit and I have wanted to see it for years. If you don't know about the Body World exhibit its where they have plasticized bodies in different poses so that you can see how our muscles work, or how thick our skin is. They had little babies in each stage of development in the womb, brains with a stroke, black coal miners lungs and all sorts of other interesting body parts. I really enjoyed it and I think Raquel liked it, next time I think I'll leave the two youngest at home.
After the Body World exhibit the girls were able to run around the science museum and get their energy out. Besides a bad bloody lip from falling down the stairs of the large stomach everyone had fun at the museum.
Playing at the museum.
Raquel laying on a bed of nails
They had a play area with a stomach and intestine slide.
The nose.
You would throw soft balls into a large nose and they would stick and then all of a sudden the nose would sneeze blowing everything out. It was really affective in showing the girls why we need to cover our noses when we sneeze.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the Body Worlds exhibit
so Raquel posed outside next to the sign.
Having a picnic outside enjoying the warm weather.
Wednesday I was able to visit my friend Julie and her new little baby girl Lillian. Lillian came early and so I didn't get to spend as much time hanging out with Julie but it was fun to hold a little 2 day old baby.
Our baby Marcus tried rice cereal for the first time also today. He absolutely loved it and would get made if I wasn't feeding him fast enough. He is getting to be such a big boy!
Testing out the high chair.
Yummy rice cereal.
Playing with fun Uncle Bill.
We rounded out the week with Marcus learning a new trick of sticking out his tongue and Raquel going swimming with Grandma one day and Grandpa the next. She really impressed the old guys at the pool with her swimming skills.
If you thought the birth of a new baby and a car wreck were excitement enough for one week think again. To top the week off my uncle Bill's truck got stolen at the mall. When he called to tell us we thought maybe he just forgot where he parked it. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and indeed it was stolen and probably on its way across the Mexican border. We later learned that his model of truck is the second most stolen vehicle in Arizona. We are sad that Bill got his truck stolen but the girls were happy to have him around for a few more days to play with.
