Welcome to the Big Apple

Welcome to New York City! The happy moment has finally arrived (a trip without children)! This week we get to go on a big adventure in the Big Apple while the kids spend some quality time with Melanie and Grandma Shaw. It was very overcast and cold today flying into the city so we couldn't really see the city from the plane. However, once we got into the city you could tell it was huge. Completely different from Phoenix. Everything goes straight up and seems to go for a very long ways. There are also, so many people. 

We checked into our hotel and then started walking around. We went to Times Square first since it was close and we wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Lots of billboards, lots of weirdos, and lots of shopping (three things that are sure to draw a crowd).  

We even ran into a dinosaur! He was inside the toy store on times square and really moved and roared! It was pretty awesome.

Overall we walked around to a bunch of places close by to try and get a lay of the land here. Now we have to catch some sleep to prepare for the adventures of tomorrow (in New York!).

Here comes Peter Cottontail

This was our regular Easter egg coloring adventure. While the children love to color the eggs, it is a bit more stressful for us as we play defense to keep from redecorating the kitchen. This year Miles really wanted to get involved so we had to let Allie do her own thing, and she managed to create some beautiful eggs with minimal mess. 

Miles was really excited too be part of the fun this year. He always wants to be involved in anything we do as a family, and often pushes his way into the middle to make sure we don't leave him out.

Hadley was wanting to do lots of fancy colored eggs and use all the neat extras from the box. This egg was going to be stripped for awesomeness!

Allie made a bunch of very deep colored eggs. She had the most patience to let the eggs rest in the potion the longest.

Miles had more fun trying to crack the eggs (which he managed to do for two or three of his). He always has a look that shows he enjoys the mischief a little too much. We might be in trouble with this look for years to come.

Happy Easter 2015!

Impromptu spring break in St. George!

Sunday night before spring break, my parents called and said that they were on their way down to St. George for some work meetings for the first part of the week.  After talking to them, I thought it might be fun to meet them in St. George since we didn't have any school or plans for the week.  

After some late night laundry and packing, we were in the car headed for Utah by 7:45.  After some traffic and 3 stops, we made it to St. George around 4:30.  Google maps had it at 6.5 hours, but with kids and traffic it took about 8.  Mike stayed home to work overtime for the week while we played.  

This was at the park waiting for Grandma and Grandpa with our dinner.

We had Cafe rio and pizza and then played our hearts out.  Miles loves bugs and follows them everywhere.  All animals, really.

 I love this picture because it is of our rough and tumble boy, bruises and all, sucking his thumb.  Reminds me that he is still a little boy.

 Those cheeks, lips and lashes just get me.  

We also went to the Children's Museum which was great, but pictures are on my phone.  Whoops.

On our way up, I called Aubrey to see if she wanted to meet us there with her girls.  Totally last minute, but she was able to make it work and the girls had SO MUCH FUN with their cousins.  Ever since, Allie and Hadley's prayers have consisted of praying to be able to play with their cousins.  

Allie and Kaylee play smash the berries all afternoon.

 After a trip to Walmart with all the kids in tow, we made dinner and then had ice cream!  

 The next day we did some bunny crafting, with our matching hairdo's courtesy of Aubrey.  

We mostly played around the condo with so many little kids, but they had the best time!

We did trek it out to the water feature by the tabernacle which Miles could have lived in.  He was entertained for hours.

We ran into Jack, a boy in our neighborhood who is in Allie's class.  

After that we went to the pool since we were still in swimsuits and then finished the night with yummy coconut pancakes.

It was a lot of work and sleepless nights with Miles, but it was all worth it for the kids to see Grandma and Grandpa, GGs Naylor and some of their cousins.  Not to bad for a last minute plan!

3.1415 Day

Pie Day fun was had today as it was 3.1415926 today.  March 14th, 2015 at 9:26. 

We celebrated by eating Pizza pie and having a Chocolate pie.  Yum!

6 is the Best!

After much waiting and waiting, it was finally her birthday!  Grandma and Grandpa Meldrum were in town for their spring break, so we celebrated by having doughnuts for breakfast, making a birthday cake, having pancakes for dinner, and going to build a bear for her present.  She chose out rarity who is a pony on My Little Ponies.  Much fun was had by all, especially Allie.

 We love you Allie!  You are so bright in so many ways!  Your spirit shines through your countenance and when you smile, we all smile.  You are usually the happiest in the family, always finding reasons to smile or laugh.  You are so bright in school, excelling in all areas, especially reading.  

Your classmates wrote reasons why they love Allie and most of them were about how kind you are.  I hope you are always kind to everyone.  We love you so much and can't wait to see what the next year brings.