Arizona Heat - Part 2

After the Children's Museum we went to dinner at Organ Stop Pizza.  This place is so awesome! Everyone sits at long tables and listens to the most amazing, fantastic, out of this world organ.  This guy just plays random requests all night long, and his organ does more then just play a few notes and chords.  He can control the lights, drums, symbols, a disco ball, puppets, chimes, and accordion and tons of other things right from the controls on his organ!  It really is so fun!

These are the random puppets that he would incorporate into some of the songs, they would dance to the beat haha.  My family all submitted tons of requests.  He played a couple of them, mom requested a Disney song medley and he played that and Jenny requested It's a Small World and he played that right as we were leaving.  Karin requested Chariots of Fire, which would have been so great on so many levels, but he never played it, maybe next time.

Thomas loved dancing to all the fun music!

This picture makes me giggle every time I see it.  Will didn't like having his picture taken for some reason.  So he would try to avoid them at all costs .....

The organist could also make bubbles fall from the ceiling from his magical organ!

Thomas loved the bubbles

The kids were excited to get outside and run around and play, I love how the cousins love to play with each other!

The next day was a nice relaxing day where we could all sleep in and then do whatever we wanted.  In the late afternoon we all went to see the new Disney movie, Brave.  Beth and I were on Thomas control since we had already seen the movie.  He was such a good little boy, Bethy got him some apple juice and popcorn and he sat on her lap the entire time!  So cute and cuddly.  And yes, we had to sit on the very front row of the theater, notice how everyone heads are tilted way up .... haha

After the movie we all walked over to Brio for dinner.  This place always reminds me of Karin and Arizona since we always go out to eat here when we visit her!  I got a steak salad with a creamy horseradish dressing, drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It was so amazingly good, I shoveled it in at an embarrassingly fast rate

At Brio

Nora drew the most adorable portrait of all the bears from the movie while waiting for her meal.  I just love her drawings

On our walk back to the cars, we discovered there was a Disney Store in the mall!  We had to go in and see what merchandise they had for Brave!  I thought this big, soft Mama bear was so cute!  If she wasn't like $50 I probably would have gotten her.  I loved how she has her paws crossed all proper like.

Grammy got the girls Merida dolls and a baby bear stuffed animal for Sammy, they were thrilled! 

This mall (I don't know the name of it) is so fun to stroll around at night time.  They have all sorts of lights up everywhere.

When we got home the boys were begging to go swimming but only if an adult came with them, since they said that would be more fun.  So I jumped on in with them.  They are so funny to go swimming with, they know all the cool pool games, and the best way to play so as not to get caught haha

 

Look at that cute little frog sitting next to me.

The next day was Sunday.  So we all got up to get to 8 am church, church should never be that early .... Then we came home and relaxed and played games and enjoyed each other's company.

Andrew showed off some of his amazing bass skills.  That boy is talented!

Karin and dad cooked us all an amazing Sunday dinner, which we all enjoyed!

Then it was time for everyone to get packed and get to bed early, since we had to leave for the airport at 5 in the morning the following day in order to get to Seattle on time to board our Disney cruise ship!

Ben likes to put Thomas to bed, I thought it was so adorable!

Arizona Heat

At the very end of June the whole family flew down to Arizona to spend a few days with Karin and Ricky and family to celebrate Ricky's awesome accomplishment of completing his psychiatry residency and getting a great job!  How exciting for him!  We are all so proud of him for all the hard work he has put into that goal.

On the flight down there Bethy and I made friends with the cutest little boy who was sitting across the aisle from us.  He was obsessed with planes and wanted to be a pilot when he grows up.  Bethy made a paper airplanes with all sorts of cute little drawings on it and threw it at him when he wasn't looking.  He really loved that surprise!

When we finally arrived the the Burton's house we were all so excited to be reunited with sisters, cousins, nephews etc!  Beth and I instantly became obsessed with Thomas, he is the most adorable little baby!

That night we all went to a special dinner to celebrate Ricky.  He chose to dine at the Top of the Rock restaurant.  What a gorgeous restaurant!  We had spectacular views of the sunset all evening long!

I had chilled sweet corn bisque for an appetizer, it was amazing of course.

For my main course I decided to go Tapas style and order a couple of appetizers.  I got meat balls in the most delicious pomegranate coleslaw.  As well as sweet chipotle glazed buffalo wings. {Am I a child, sure looks like it}

For dessert Bethy and I shard a warm blondie with cinnamon ice cream, I love sweet way to much!

After dinner we all gathered outside to enjoy the balmy 108 degree weather ...

The next day we all went to the Children's Museum in downtown Phoenix.  This place is amazing!  They have created so many magical things out of everyday objects that we all have around the house.  One of my favorites, is the wall full of CD garlands.

This was another one of my favorites, a glowing light table with sand on top.  Simple?  Yes.  Totally awesome and mesmerizing?  Double yes.

All of their artwork that is hanging on their walls is fascinating, such as this piece made entirely out of number two pencils.

The museum is made up of several different rooms, all with a different theme.  The kids really enjoyed the craft room where they could paint the giant rocket ship or draw and color.

Notice how small the smock is .... haha

I thought this was so amazing, they created gold molding out of egg cartons!  When you looked at the wall as a whole, it looked like thick, elaborate gilded molding.  I want to do this for something sometime haha

Will loved this room and spent the most time here at of all the kids.  He is such a creative little soul.

Will drew this picture of a monkey and I fell in love with it!  I think it is the most adorable thing in the world.  Not to mention totally artistic, I love how minimalist and abstract it is.  I would totally hang this somewhere in my house.

This kids always love playing the the pool noodle forest.  I don't blame them, it is pretty awesome.  Even though you can't really tell in this picture, Sam loved exploring around in there.  We all had to keep a careful eye on him since it is easy to loose little runaways in there.

Evie loved the little ice cream stand and served us all colorful ice cream cones.

His cheese face makes me melt every time.  I don't know how Karin ever says no to that sweet little face!

These are the bins where you can put your shoes, very clever.

We stopped to have lunch and all adore Thomas.  Told you I am obsessed!

Another room was dedicated to building forts.  The boys had a great time in here, they love to figure out ways to build the awesome things.

All tuckered out from a day of playing and exploring!