The older I get, the more I realize just how impulsive I really am. I am not good at making long drawn out decisions, it makes my anxiety level too high. I prefer the 'quick like a bandaide' decisions. For the most part, I seem to function well on it.
I would absolutely, 100% say that our spring break vacation was exactly this--one big impulsive decision! We had been planning for a few weeks to drive down to St. George, Ut for my uncle's wedding reception, and the kids and I decided to stay an extra few days for a mini vacation. We were set to leave Saturday morning at 8am and on Friday night at 10pm, after talking to my two sister in laws, we made the very last minute choice to pack for a week and make the drive to Arizona to visit them!
So we left Lehi, Utah in 35 degree and snowing weather, with our coats on, and slowly made our way south to warmer temperature.
The first leg was the reception in St. George. It was held in this quaint little white chapel and there was lots of yummy food and catching up with cousins we haven't seen in a while.
Here is Ally ringing the bell with a cousin she actually sees everyday at school-Dani.
Reese picked dandelions for me...so sweet of her!
I would absolutely, 100% say that our spring break vacation was exactly this--one big impulsive decision! We had been planning for a few weeks to drive down to St. George, Ut for my uncle's wedding reception, and the kids and I decided to stay an extra few days for a mini vacation. We were set to leave Saturday morning at 8am and on Friday night at 10pm, after talking to my two sister in laws, we made the very last minute choice to pack for a week and make the drive to Arizona to visit them!
So we left Lehi, Utah in 35 degree and snowing weather, with our coats on, and slowly made our way south to warmer temperature.
The first leg was the reception in St. George. It was held in this quaint little white chapel and there was lots of yummy food and catching up with cousins we haven't seen in a while.
Here is Ally ringing the bell with a cousin she actually sees everyday at school-Dani.
Reese picked dandelions for me...so sweet of her!
And we spent some quality time with great-grandparents.
We stayed with my aunt Kim and her family. Her son Kaden was the BEST playmate for my kids! He's 14 and was so patient and kind to them. He played games with them, showed them how to tie toys to the ceiling fan and then turn it on (thanks for that one!), and was just flat out an awesome guy to be around. Owen followed him around like a little puppy and Kaden was so patient with him. Thanks Kaden! You rock!
My aunt Kim is now a grandma! I can't believe it! We got to play with Colton who is my kids third cousin! Crazy! We sure love our big extended family.
Here is Colton with his great-grandma, who is MY grandma.
Everyone loves her to pieces....
My mom, grandma and Don drove back home on Sunday morning, and the kids and I stayed in St. George for another night. Kaden took us to the park that afternoon...
And here is Owen crying because the camera was pointed at him.
You'll see a lot of these types of pictures in this post. Little stinker!
Yep, she's almost 12, and yep she still loves to be a kid. I love her.
Hey Owen, say cheese!
The next day we woke up bright and early to start our next leg of Spring Break Vacation: Tucson, Arizonato see Mark, Jamie, Isabela and Christopher.
Since we had an eight hour drive, we decided to stop at the Hoover Dam to stretch our legs. Parking was crazy and too far away to walk to the dam with four kids and no stroller, so we made due and took some photos from this lookout. Bummer that it's the back of the dam. So I promised the kids we'd cross the big new bridge (in the background) and get a better view on the way home.
I bet Brayden is thinking here: This is IT? Can we just get back in the car now? It's cold.
Hey Owen, just ONE picture with you looking? Please?
No?
After 6 more hours in the car, we finally made it to Mexico. Oops, I mean Tucson. Haha! I liked to tease Mark and Jamie that they are practically in Mexico and the next day Mark bought us some cereal from their local store that was printed ALL in Spanish! Awesome.
The first night we were there, Mark and Jamie treated us to pizza and played games with the kids. We were all so exhausted from the drive, but they wanted to play so bad and poor Reese was falling asleep at the table!
The next morning, we packed some lunches and headed out to popular Sabino Canyon located in the Catalina Mountains. So beautiful and so much different then the mountains we are used to.
We got some tickets for the tram ride up the canyon and the kids were so excited to explore a new part of the county.
Baby Christopher was a trooper! It was hot but he was as cute and sweet as ever...as long as his mom was in sight!
The next morning, we packed some lunches and headed out to popular Sabino Canyon located in the Catalina Mountains. So beautiful and so much different then the mountains we are used to.
We got some tickets for the tram ride up the canyon and the kids were so excited to explore a new part of the county.
Baby Christopher was a trooper! It was hot but he was as cute and sweet as ever...as long as his mom was in sight!
He reminds me a lot of Allyson when she was a baby--he definitely has that MacArthur look to him. I could eat him up!
Reese was a big fan-actually all my kids were. They took very good care of little Christopher. 
And here's a Prickly Pear Cactus Bush, who knew you can make jam out of these things?!
And here's a Prickly Pear Cactus Bush, who knew you can make jam out of these things?!
Ally wants to know if they'll hurt when you touch them--I told her to go ahead and find out.
She declined.
Ahhh, the Suguaro Cactus in all it's majesty.
Did you know it takes about sixty years before they even start growing arms?
These things live for a LONG, LONG time.
She declined.
Ahhh, the Suguaro Cactus in all it's majesty.
Did you know it takes about sixty years before they even start growing arms?
These things live for a LONG, LONG time.
We rode in a sort of tram up the canyon that had nine stops in between so you could get out and hike around if you wanted too.
I loved that Bela wanted to hold the hands of her big cousins--so cute!
I loved that Bela wanted to hold the hands of her big cousins--so cute!
The view from the tram, SO COOL! The guide told us that many movies have been filmed in this little canyon, and the one that made me laugh was The Three Amigos.
I can totally picture the singing bush here!
The tram made a stop at the top and said we could get out and look for a minute. Well, the driver wasn't kidding when he said a minute. The kids started climbing rocks and this photo was taken as the driver was getting ready to pull away without us! Wait!
The kids and Aunt Jamie, on the other side. Soaked by this time.
"Mom I'm weally wet!"
"Hey it's deep over here!"
Team cheer with Uncle Mark, who by the way, has won the award for funnest uncle ever.
He played and played with my kids--they ate up every second of it.
It helps that he's sort of a kid himself still!
Team cheer with Uncle Mark, who by the way, has won the award for funnest uncle ever.
He played and played with my kids--they ate up every second of it.
It helps that he's sort of a kid himself still!
Drying off on the rocks...they are getting so darn big!
Bela and Owen, born just three days apart, LOVED throwing rocks into the river.
These two had a love/hate relationship, but I think at three that's how it goes.
Every man for himself!
Waiting for our ride back to the bottom of the canyon...Say Cheese Owen! Sigh.
Reese, Bela and Ally relaxing in Bela's room after a long hot day.
Mark and Jamie spoiled us with food and fun, we are so happy we got to spend some time in their awesome house with their sweet little family! Thank you so much for letting us crash at your house on such short notice! It was SOOOO fun hanging out in your neck of the woods :)
The next day we loaded up and followed Jamie to Gilbert--she knew all the short cuts!
It was about 1.5 hours to the north east of Tucson--and it was a beautiful drive....
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