Our Sunday Evenings

Our typical Sunday looks something like this...

He's my favorite ;)

PB Chocolate Chip Cookies...in the words of Jimmy "nom nom nom".

We have been under the weather throughout the week with the cold.  Apparently in Arizona gift giving can include lemons from the tree in their backyard.  We enjoyed an icy treat from it as well as getting some benefits on our throats...is that a triple win (free, icy treat, soothed throats), yes!

Valentines Donuts

We don't have a tradition for Valentine's Day.  It's always met with "well, what do you expect/want for Valentine's Day?"  We were settling in for ignoring the holiday all together, when Jimmy's wished for craving finally became my craving as well...DONUTS!!  Jimmy is a donut guru...and boy he sure knows how to pick them.  

The rule was we each got to pick 2.  Logan, of course, went with the reddest donut he could find (ps. he still loves red).  Then being the kid that he is...you guessed it, sprinkles.

Jimmy got this AMAZING apple pie donut.  Thank you Tempe Arizona for the Donut Parlor...a real treat!  Surely not our last visit!!

I'm always on board with the custard filled, however this one was not the best I ever had.  I think this place was made for the unusual donuts and really they're good at it!  My second choice was blueberry with icing and it was out of this world!

Do I sense a new tradition coming on?

Feeling Accomplished

Being a stay-at-home mom...it is clearly about finding new things to feel a sense of accomplishment in a day.  Nothing like building a lego tractor to help one feel successful :)  We were on the tail end of our being sick with colds recovery this week.  Tired of TV, so brought out our legos that we inherited for free (thank you Aunt Susan).  We have been avoiding this project FOREVER...2nd pic shows why, hah!

It is from the technic sets...which are meant for 10-15 year olds.  Truly they are quite challenging...the added challenge is finding the bajillion pieces needed in a pile of a bunch of mixed up sets, not to mention missing pieces and figuring out how to work around it.  Not like any other puzzle we've solved before.  Definitely cured our boredom!

Phoenix Zoo

We absolutely loved the Phoenix Zoo!  Our mom's group ventured there this week and what a treat!! It is nothing like any other zoo I've been to.  Everything was out in the open more.  Even in our photos below are the crocodile exhibit.  They are outdoors.  In Portland they are behind glass totally enclosed.  The monkeys were awesome they are just out on an island swinging around on ropes.  Definitely not our last visit!

The Latest and Greatest

We have been anxious for this day.  I've been saying to myself and others "I don't care what it is, I just want a healthy baby."  Then I have my own secret thought..."but it would be icing on the cake to have a girl."  Well...we are super excited because that extra wish has come true.  We're having a girl!!  Logan was super cute.  He came to the appointment with us.  When he found out he said, "I love girls!"  We can't wait!!

Logan and I have been enjoying the cultural passes at the local library.  Most recently it took us to the botanical garden.  It was quite the entertainment giving that kid the phone to snap away with photos.  Some of them he was getting the camera up underneath the bush, just to catch the perfect flower.  Granted very little came out, but here are some he took that were in focus ;)

It seems this kid poses with only one great facial expression in mind...going through his mind you probably can guess it "I am a T-Rex!"

Diggin for Dinos Monopoly Junior

We have been reaping the rewards of the occasional Goodwill trip.  Recently we got Diggin for Dinos Monopoly Junior.  What a treat.  Logan LOVES it!

We played it for the first time yesterday.  The first time Jimmy got T-Rex, there was an utter and complete melt down.  The next time I played and Jimmy beat the both of us.  I turned to Logan and said.  "We've got to beat dad, he's too good at this!"  Logan turns to Jimmy and says, "you're going to cry like a kid."   I have never heard so much laughter and giggling during a board game.  The motive was more about what dino places to collect and how silly the dinos looked on the cards than who was winning.  Winning $1 was the same as winning $5.  As one may have guessed, Jimmy's luck ran out.  He lost.  That kid did not skip a beat.  As we're packing up the game.  Logan turns to Jimmy and says, "Dad, you can cry like a baby now!"  What's with this 4 year old...never recall teaching him such great sportsmanship.  If only every game involved dinosaurs...

Holidays

So you know when you're seeking to fit in...this was result of one of those moments.  There was an announcement in the church bulletin for weeks.  There were announcements in Relief Society all about the urge to have people dress in Book of Mormon attire for the Christmas party.  They even had links showing us how to make these simple outfits.  It did only take an hour of hot glue gunning.  I asked Jimmy if I should just shove them in our bag and see if there are people dressed up.  Jimmy said we should wear them on in.  Well...as you can expect from where this story is leading.  We were the ONLY ones (okay, well aside from those in the play) dressed up.  Love sticking out like a sore thumb when you are new to the ward.  No one can miss us then, hah!

With some google searches found that the Mesa Temple was a hot spot to check out the holiday lights.  They were better than I remember the Salt Lake Temple lights being.  Quite the treat...and quite crowded where all the lights are.  Here I was propositioned to help toilet a total stranger's 3 year old granddaughter.  Cute, but that was something new for me.  Totally caught off guard.  On the other hand, when I have my son alone with me I totally bring that 4 year old in the woman's restroom.  When is it time to trust him to go in on his own?

As per usual, we took almost no photos while in Utah for our trip.  The best explanation...we're having too much fun to even think about whipping out that phone for photos.  Probably had the phone in our hands for other things ironically.  So...this may have been one of the only photos.  It was quite the memorable day.  The bride's parents were in St. George at the time of the sealing.  Which ended up being a blessing as there was an insane amount of hail and snow outside during and after that time.  Other brides hair was seriously plastered to their face.  Lezly looked beautiful and it was sure fun to see some mad dancing skills at the reception.  Like grandpa was getting some serious salsa dancing in.  Added bonus was getting to spend time with Jimmy's side of the family for as short of a trip as it was.

We've been really making an effort to check out what Chandler, AZ has to offer.  This is us at a Desert Breeze playground.  They had a train, carousel, lake (as you can see), huge playset, and it looks like other times a splash pad too.  Best part, it's 5 minutes from us.

I've heard enough about how amazing the weather is to get outdoors.  So...took some advice and went on a hike.  30 minute drive away to Kiwanis Trail at South Mountain post New Years.  This hike was 2 miles round trip and rated as "moderate," but really this 4 year old did great with it, only getting in 3 small breaks.  We got a great view of the city.  Not to mention some great Arizona landscape all in 60 degree weather.

This was from our hike...I kind of expected these cactus to cover the Arizona landscape.  In reality aside from this hike they are rather far and few between.  Reality adjustment...

Tippy top of the hike...we did it!

Logan has been getting some growing pains lately.  One of the few cuddle times in with dad too cute not to snap a shot of them both.

PS. Happy Holidays!!