Grandma and Grandpa!

Dear Kacie,

This might be a bit of a long post. This is all about our trip to AZ, which was awesome!

We arrived at the airport in Phoenix safely and were in such a hurry to see g-ma and g-pa that we didn't even take the time to find and use the elevator.

When we saw grandma and grandpa sitting by the baggage claim, you pointed and smiled and got so excited! Grandma loves Skype because you recognized them right away and let grandpa play with you immediately (because it took a ridiculous 45 minutes for our bags to get out!)

I can't even tell you how glad I was to be with my parents!!

When we got to the car, grandma had a super fun bag of presents for you! While grandpa and I made sure the car seat was correctly installed, you and grandma checked out your bag. There were books (Disney of course) and a princess crown (which you now try to wear on your face like glasses), and a wand (which you like to attack grandpa with!). There were some fruit snacks which you surprisingly didn't really like and some pretty bracelets! The bracelets are your favorite, you wear them a lot. And then a few pairs of socks which are perfect because you were starting to outgrow some of your old ones!

There was a lot of other exciting new things at grandma's so you didn't really play with your new toys until the last day we were there and now that we are home you play with them a lot. You did however start to eat the Strawberry Shortcake book, even though I tried to explain to you that it won't taste like strawberries!

After we left the airport we met Aunt Aubree at Gecko Grill, because they have the best bean dip ever… and the food is delightful too!

You kept stealing grandpas straw and then you would crumble it up so he couldn't use it anymore. Grandpa taught you how to 'beep, honk, awooga!' instead of just beeping your nose. It was hilarious! And then you started eating everyone else's food instead of your own. You especially loved everyones rice.

When we got to their house, we Skyped with dad. You laid in your bed testing it out.

The next morning I went in to check on you and found you like this:

Grandma is in school and I just wanted to relax, so we spent a lot of time on this comfortable couch playing on grandma's iPad, which you loved! Grandma didn't really get any homework done but she got lots of cuddles in! And everybody loves a good cuddle!

Grandma Sandra is such a trooper! She has had to deal with this increasingly bigger lump on her arm since October! It's very painful and obnoxious but she doesn't even complain! If she were writing this post, she would want you to remember to be very grateful for your hands because life without one of them would not be easy!

When grandpa came home, he played the piano with you

And then your Auntie Aub and I went out for a little sister date.

I'm lazy and don't have a picture of the actual earrings we bought… but we got these cute earrings for both your aunts and me. I almost bought these earrings, because baseball season is coming quickly, but for some reason I didn't… maybe I should go back and get some cause the more I look at them, the cuter they get!

We went to dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory because it's delicious and you get 'free' ice cream with your meal!

It was really good to just talk and catch up! I sure do miss my sister!

While we were out, you stayed home and hung out with grandma and grandpa. I don't really know what you did with them but when we got home you screamed and got a little crazy. That means that you were having a fun time!

I do know that grandpa taught you how to go down the stairs the right way. Unfortunately, we only have rusty dangerous stairs at home so we still walk you down them so you've probably forgotten this cool trick!

But you definitely had fun doing it. You would just say 'weee! weee! weee!' as you went down and then at the bottom you'd say "all right!"

On Thursday, grandpa was home from work so you got to spend some good quality time with him. He got this adorable shot of you on your way down the stairs:

And then you helped him get some work done

And then we went to the park and you helped him drive!

"Eyes on the road Kacie!!"

There is so much grass that you just wandered around while grandpa and I talked. This particular picture you are walking around this tree looking up trying to figure out what the 'chirping' sound is!

And then grandpa took you down the slide again…and again… and again… and again… and one more time… and ok, just one more… I lied, one more time… and I don't know how many times that happened but you were having so much fun he couldn't stop!

Then we went home and had corn dogs, your favorite! And of course, I forgot to get a picture, but great grandma and grandpa Jarvis came over to see you too! they brought you a little bear that you kept putting on and taking off the sweater it was wearing. You even let them hold you! You weren't shy at all! 

For our last night there, we had a cookie party!! We made lots of sugar cookies and royal icing and decorated really fancy cookies!

I helped you decorate one and you loved it, well loved eating it!

I made the shirts, grandma made the tags and ties

She also made the mickey hands and heads. Grandpa's are the glasses, swirly tie, star and mustache

Aunt Aub made the mickey head and flower… I feel like she made some more… but she may have eaten them before pictures were taken...

And these are all mine… If you couldn't tell, I was the one that wanted to have a party!

I have been dying to have another cookie party but it is a lot of work!! It took aaalll day to get ready just to decorate!

Here is the bear grandma brought… I just don't feel like moving it up there ^^

While we were there we also went to visit my cousin Nicole and you got to play with Kyler. He wasn't too excited to share his toys but it was good practice for both of you because you are both going to become siblings soon!

I also got to hang out with my BFF Jenessa! We went and got Nielsons and I got to meet her boyfriend.  I went without you though cause I wanted a little break! But I still love you.

Unfortunately, our cookie party was our last night so Friday morning we sadly had to go to the airport and fly home! On the way there though, you sang Let It Go for grandma, grandpa and Aunt Aub so it was the perfect way to end the trip.

I was nervous again about flying home alone but we planned it perfectly so by the time we got to the gate, we only waited for about 8 minutes before they loaded the plane. I tried to take a cute picture of you for dad to let him know we were ready to leave but this was what I got… 

oh well! You were just fine on the ride home and fell asleep towards the end.

We were really happy to be with dad again and he was thrilled to see us!

It was a great trip home and probably the last time you will get to fly for free =(

Thanks dad for letting us go! 

We love you!

Mommy and Kacie