Ok, i did it...

...i finally posted most of our fun in AZ (and FL).

Because my computer is lame it cut off some of the pics so still have to add some pics to some of the posts, but AHHHH, I feel like a huge burden has been lifted from my chest!

Tomorrow we are officially out of the apartment and into the house! YAY!! (little side note: can you tell I'm procrastinating packing up the last of the random things around here?) SOOO, I'm sure it will be a while before I am up and running again. Maybe this time it won't take over a month to get back in gear.

Maybe.

but no promises.

My Birthday

Needless to say that I had a Terrific Birthday. We were en route back to AZ from FL, and I couldn't wait to see my girls. We celebrated with the Crouse and Mollenhauer Fams separately, which was just fine by me because it spread the birthday love across a week or so!
I LOVE my birthday!

kami and cousin ryann giving each other some serious love.





My birthday "cake". My family knows me too well...I would much rather have ice cream than cake!!

My "cake" a the Mollenhauer's--also know me well enough not to have a traditional cake it was an eclair cake...LOVED IT!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY DAY SPECIAL! LOVE YOU ALL!

Playing with Goodmans

We really miss the Goodmans and are so glad that they settled in AZ! We got to see them a couple of times. Gracie still asks to go to AZ to see Kaylee!

The only pic I got of Kenna and Kami!

Gator Park and Florida

While in FL, I had to see the everglades. Crappy pic of me, but check out the gator!



This guy gave a little presentation of all of the animals they keep around at the gator park. We were in the front row and it was AWESOME! When he held up the skunk he said, "Watch out it sprays" and used a syringe of water to spray and scare the audience. I totally fell for it!

***DUMP COMPUTER!! more pics to come....

Caribbean!

Lance and I are coming up on our FIFTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! Holy Crap, I'm getting old. So every year we have celbrated minimally, usually dinner at home that we make together and maybe a small date later, and that's why this year we decided we better get a way while we still could. First of all, none of this would have been possible without my AMAZING MIL!! When I called to timidly ask if she would watch our kids while we were away she didn't hesitate a second before agreeing.

So our trip was INCREDIBLE. We went to Miami, FL to visit the sights of Lance's mission, and then jumped on a cruise ship to the BAHAMAS!!
WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES!
Ahhh, I wish I was back there already!
Our first stop in Nassau. Beware most of the pics are the ghetto hold-your-arm-out-as-far-as-you-can-photos...











This is on the bus on the way to the fish fry. Probably the BEST FOOD I've EVER tasted--really EVER! AHH, fried Conch (pronounced CONCK on the island), fried shrimp, fried grouper, and Conch hush puppy-like appetizers. But the bus was the funniest. as the bus fills the aisle gets taken up by these hide-a-way seats so the aisle disappears. So safe, especially the way Bahamians drive.






Check out the clear water!

Enjoying a fresh coconut, and it was gross. Just not ripe enough.

Amazing Jake's and Dewitts

I think this was the last of Alexa's planned activities for the week. We had so much fun at Amazing Jake's. There is so much to do! My fav part is sitting and eating dinner while watching a kid's flick.

Grace and Alexa on the roller coaster. I think G HATED it.













G's Fav ride EVER!

I love this little play area and I think Lance loved it as much as Gracie did.

Freestone

Just took advantage of the sunshine and went to Freestone to play...

More WW Zoo

Thank goodness for Grumpa (and the rest of the family) to chase the kids around!
Look closely at the white alligator on the rocks.

Britt and Sienna

Grumpa and Gracie touching the sting rays

Wildlife World Zoo and Big Screen Movie

This was our first trip to the Wildlife World Zoo. VERY EXPENSIVE< and VERY FAR, but VERY WORTH the trip! We had a blast and it was so fun to have almost the entire family there!

Tyrus and Gracie

Blake, Kami, Britt, Alexa

Gracie was pooped by the end and while we picniced she slept.

High School Girlfriends and Kiddos

When I am in AZ, sometimes I am lucky enough to get together with some girlfriends from High School. Geez, these kids are getting so big! We had such a good time, and so did the kids.

Freddy, mason, Belle, Gracie, Macy

Hike To Windcaves

Kami and I had a fun time hiking together, but she did get a bit heavy and that's when my wonderful FIL took over!

Grumpa, Gracie, and Alexa

Bread Making courtesy of the Bowler Fam

My aunt Ann and cousin Erin (and kids) came over to my mom's house to teach us the fine art of making wheat bread. There were a lot more tricks to making this recipe then I thought. But boy we sure had a fun time. I really miss my family and wish we could spend more time with them. Between Erin and I we have 6 little girls (and soon it will be 8). I think Erin and I got blessed with so many girls because we both wished so badly that we had sisters growing up. Now, it seems we are overly blessed with the pink genes.


Ellie, Libby, Eliza and Kamryn, Grace, Hattie

It did take a whole lot of concentration! :)

Then I made my dad's b-day cake...and we all DEVOURED the left over frosting.

Imagine a trip to Costco with 6 girls under the age of 6 (all wearing green)...lunch was a bit chaotic to say the very least. Notice my mom and Aunt Ann are NOT sitting with us? They giggled at us from the table across the aisle.

Dad's B-day

So my dad is born on St. Patty's Day. I thought the day deserved a little extra green. So I made a GREEN velvet cake. It was delish!! Although, I think I used a bit too much green coloring!! OOPS!!


Seriously SO GOOD!!

Happy Birthday Daddy! I LOVE YOU!