Spring Break

Well, you know it's time to catch up on blogging when your visiting teacher asks you to do so. She tells me it's her way of knowing all is well. So, Ursula, this is for you.

For Spring Break we went down to Arizona to visit my brother, Spence, and his family. It came as a shock to me, but as I thought about it, I realized I'd actually never been in the state of Arizona, so I guess that's another to cross off the list!

Our trip coincided with a trip my parent's had planned, so we got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Critt, too!


Our first day we headed to the Phoenix Zoo. Phoenix has an amazing zoo for being a smaller city.

Lez fell in love with the monkeys.


Jackson waited patiently all day to see a komodo dragon.


All the "big" kids (3 and older) got to ride a camel.


Grandma bought everyone a snow cone, so we had lots of colorful lips and tongues!


There was a sting ray tank that was shallow enough for the kids to reach in and touch them. I was surprised that my kids weren't scared, but they loved it.


While in Phoenix, we also got to go to a Cubs Spring Training game. Jackson has really wanted to go to a Cubs game, and was thrilled to finally go. The stadium was packed and the announcer said the attendance at the game broke a stadium record that day. I forgot my camera at the game, but here's everyone, decked out in their Cubbies gear, cooling off with an ice-cream treat afterwards.


And we can't forget a pic of Miss Addie, even if she's too grumpy/stubborn to get in the picture with the rest of the kiddos.


The weekend before we came, Rachael's brother was married in Salt Lake. After the wedding, Spence drove Mom and Dad's boat back down to Arizona so we could go boating while we were there.

The lake we were at was gorgeous, with tons of cacti. I can't believe I never took a picture of the scenery. Grandpa drove the boat and spent most of the time pulling tubers. Jackson, being the nervous Nellie that he can be about certain things, surprised me by going solo in the tube. Jackson also "attempted" wake boarding (he got in the water with the board on, but then demanded to be immediately pulled back out), and blamed the cold water on his getting out (I have a feeling he was nervous, too, but I'm proud of him for trying). Delaney, who has a fear of nothing, was more than happy to join him in the tube.


Addie even got in on the action.


All tired out from lots of fun and sun.


We had a great time. Arizona was gorgeous, and lucky for us, we brought the gorgeous weather back with us. We have had extremely above average temps over the past few weeks, and I couldn't be happier. Chicago owed it to me...I just about gave up on our relationship. But, after these past few weeks of warm temps, I have to say I'm in love with Chicago once again.