Arizona Museum of Natural History

A couple weeks ago, Caleb got an unexpected day off his rotation. We were so excited to get to spend some time with him so I ran over to the library to get a culture pass. Unfortunately the zoo was already taken so we went with the Museum of Natural History instead. We'd never been there before and it was a lot bigger than I'd expected. Caysja was actually pretty excited to see the dinosaurs. (I wasn't even sure she knew what dinosaurs were!)

This pic turned out kind of blurry, but it's one of the first things you see when you walk in the museum and it's HUGE!

It wasn't all dinosaurs either. They had these beautiful murals that looked so real!

fishy kissies

There was a "flash flood" that would go off every 20 min. or so and fall down three stories! Caysja loved watching the water.

A real crocodile--I think his name was "Elvis"

You can see the gorgeous desert photography in the background.

We thought we were almost done seeing everything there was to see - and then we discovered that there was this whole outdoor part where you could "pan for gold".

This was Crew at the end of the trip...

It was pretty fun and totally worth it--especially since it was free!

Arizona Winters

You gotta love Arizona winters--need I say more?!!

Arizona Science Museum

Since we didn't get to see my parents for Christmas, they were so nice to come visit us for New Year's. We had a wonderful time together. We went to the Mesa Temple, Organ Stop Pizza, saw The Blindside (awesome!), and to the Arizona Science Museum. Here are some pics from the museum.

Caysja, Crew and my mom having fun with the magnetic toys

My dad playing a tune on the wind pipes

Caleb on a bed of nails

Kiki and Caleb demonstrating how the pulley system works

Building a tower

Eating lunch in the cafeteria

My dad and Caleb went four-wheeling on some trails

My dad loves Crew! He never had a boy so he calls him his "little man"

Playin' the piano with Grandpa

Thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa! We miss you!

Ready, Set...Recap!!!

I realize this post is LONG overdue...(if anyone has quit reading this blog, I totally understand and I apologize!) I guess my biggest excuse is that we all got sick (just colds/coughs) but Crew got RSV and almost ended up in the hospital. We're all okay now, thank heavens!

SO...going back to November...here we on Thanksgiving Day about to run in our ward's "Turkey Trot". I am NOT a runner (I've never run more than the required mile in PE in my life) but I am proud to say that I ran my first 5k that day!! I joined our ward's running group that meets three days a week and it's really helped me get motivated to run. Caleb ran it with me and pushed our kids--(he's MUCH faster than I am, no surprise).

Here's my Honey about to carve our first turkey latter that day. I was a wimp and didn't want to cook a turkey (having never done it before) but Caleb said "it can't be that hard" and so he did it! I have to say it tasted pretty good too. Way to go, Hon!

My family all came for Thanksgiving. Here are my parents and my only sibling, Chalise.

Only in AZ can you do this in Nov.

While my sister Chalise was here, Crewser got his first hair cut. She does a great job cutting hair. I was sad to see his curls go, but he looks so much older now--and now I don't have to put gel in his hair everyday!

Pretty long, eh?

He wasn't too thrilled about the whole thing...

Doesn't he look so much older? My baby isn't a baby anymore. Thanks, Aunt Chalise--I love it!

December...

We celebrated the season by making gingerbread houses with our Preschool group. Thanks for putting them together, Alissa, and hosting it, Joanna!

The girls had so much fun decorating them...and eating lots of candy of course.

Caysja was very brave at our ward Christmas party. She went right up to Santa and had no problem sitting on his lap and telling him what she wanted for Christmas--"a computer, a camera, and a watch". (Pretty grown up gifts for a three year old, eh?)

Caysja and her friends, Lilly, Halle, and Kate

I had my annual Christmas concert for my flute quartet, "Flutasia" at the Mesa temple grounds. We got together with some of our friends to eat at Cafe Rio before. The girls were so cute.

The lights were beautiful as always

Then Crew got sick...

When we took him to Urgent Care, they said his oxygen levels were so low that he might have to stay a night in the hospital. Luckily the breathing treatments starting working (finally) and he was able to come home. RSV, breathing treatments every four hours (and double ear infections) are NO FUN!!! He was so patient throughout the whole thing. What a little trooper.

Christmas morning...

lovin' her "cramra" as she calls it

Do we all look half asleep or what?!

new kitchen

matching dresses
Because Crew got sick, we decided not to risk him getting worse by driving the 14 hours home like we were planning to for Christmas and instead had a quiet time here in AZ by ourselves. It was the first Christmas of my entire life where I haven't been home for Christmas, or had family members here. Kind of sad...but also kind of special.

Christmas Eve dinner
Whew! If you made it through all that, you're amazing! Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

More B-day Pics

On Crew's b-day, we celebrated with a little party for him at the park with some friends. I made him some little basketball cupcakes and we sang to him. Thanks to everyone for making it such a fun day. We are so grateful for our little blue-eyed boy!

Happy 1st Birthday Crewser!!!

Happy Birthday, Crewser! I can hardly believe that my Christmas baby is one year old today. Where has this year gone? We love you so much, Crew, and can't imagine life without you. What a sweet, handsome little man you are.

\