Snow Birds

In April we were able to escape the endless Oregon rain and headed down to the Southwest for the first time in over a year.  We flew into Arizona first to visit Aunt Laura and Malcolm and see their house for the first time.  The girls loved escaping their winter wardrobe in the warm weather, and swimming in the big pool with all the float toys.  

Aunt Laura had planned several outings, including painting clay figurines, a puppet show, a train museum and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.   It was much larger and had a lot more activities than the Portland one, and the girls were completely enthralled by it.  Eva got lost at the top of the giant tree house for a few minutes, but Daddy came to the rescue and helped her find her way down. 

 

At the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, we got to walk down the hallways of a real antique train, ride the mini train ride and take the girls for a turn on the merry-go-round before retiring to the playground.   

The puppet show was “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” and though Daddy had to take Bethany outside when the ugly troll showed up, Eva and Amanda were so impressed they put on their own impromptu puppet show for us when we got home. 

 

After a few days it was time to head to our old stomping grounds in California, so we took a scenic route that Laura had mapped out for us and followed it all the way through Julian, where it was cool enough that we had to switch back into long sleeves and pants.   Once in Vista we took every opportunity to visit with friends and family.  Aunt Nanci took the girls to the Wild Animal Park to see the new baby elephant and lions.  

 

We drove up to Riverside to visit with Grandpa Gordon, enjoying a BBQ at his friend’s house with a spectacular view in the backyard.   We enjoyed seeing Uncle Mark and cousin Riley, and the girls had a blast playing with cardboard boxes and dressing up a toy goose that had clothing for all holidays and seasons. 

 

We went to Orange County to have dinner with my Aunt Gayle and Uncle Mark.  It was the first time I had gotten to see my cousin Joshua and his wife Suzanne since their wedding almost two years ago, and we got to meet their adorable son Aiden.   He reached for me the moment he saw me and cuddled on my shoulder, though he had never met me before.  I guess I must look like family! 

 

We spent an evening at Amber and Xavier’s with Aunt Nanci, Uncle Gary and cousins Allen and Haden, and got to see how much Michayla and baby Sophia had grown.   By booking almost every breakfast, lunch and dinner on our trip, we were able to squeeze in visits with my friends Laurelle and Rachel, Dave’s old buddy Johnny, and Chappy and Misty.   It was a full schedule, but well worth it to see everyone, and the trip was over much too quickly.