There's No Place Like Home

 ...was the theme we went with this Spring Break and it turned out fabulous!
And seeing how our original destination was camping, I think we did alright.

We booked a night at the JW(thanks to our inside source) and lived it up in style.

The Nightlife was fab...we hardly saw these girls at all.  They were out and about.

These guys were content to hang out with the game cube.

These guys loved the stairs and fountains.

The pool the next day was heaven.

The Fischers poolside

The Vals

Luke got pretty sunburned and was loving the shade of the hat.

And we even got a little tennis in.

It was a dreamy staycation, just wish it could have been longer.

I have a feeling we will be back!

Spring Break 2013

Park, Peter Piper, Movies, Pool and Friends Over.  

Did not want this week to end!

We packed it in today

Started the day off with two hours of hiking up gorgeous Camelback Mtn. Breanna led us up the mountain and was so far ahead of us we rarely saw her. Trailblazer, that one. Jake on the other hand was pretty sure he wasn't going to be able to make it. We knew better. On the way down, Jake was the clear leader and we didn't see him at all until we got to the bottom. That's my Jake!
Luke hiking Stanley style.
We couldn't have done it without their cool backpack.
Luke loved it.
Our fellow hikers loved it
(wish I had a dime for every comment we got about it).
Jer was THE MAN to pack Luke over the steep, rocky terrain for 2 solid hours.

Luke snackin on oranges the way home.
Need to replenish the fluids after that exhausting hike.

Then we hit the ballpark.

Anyone know who's playing?

Sure wish someone would sell Jamie some skittles.

Put your order in next time, girls, I will no doubt deliver.

Jer knew who was playing, oh yes he did.

And just for the record Tony Gwinn is a Padre!

I know my team.

Wet n Wild

No crowds.

Gorgeous Weather.

Icy Cold Water.

And a chance to try out my old hat.

Worked like a charm!

Sorry no pics of the magic.

You'll just have to come with us

next time to see for yourself.

Jake coming down their favorite slide.

Jer kicked booty everytime they raced.
Jake said it was because of Jer's mass.
He learned that in science.

After taking a few pics I realized this place was

way to fun to expect anyone to sit still and take a picture.

Especially this guy.

Next time I won't give up so easy, so watch out!

There Again?

We hit the zoo again today.

We had the big kids with us and it was great.

As I pulled out my camera, someone commented that the one thing she didn't need was more pictures of the kids at the zoo.

I beg to differ: I want to eat them up.

That same person later confided in me that she was suffering from a terrible case of cankles,

thus explaining her momentary laps of good mood.

I see no cankles here.

Look how naturally they just posed for this one.
Gifted, every one of em, I tell you!
Love how they're all in green for St. Patrick's Day.
But seriously, Who's Your Paddy?
This one's for you Dylan, you crazy boy!

Missing Drew in this shot because of the log catapult
that temporarily took him out.
Breezy is still so very sorry!

Hmmm, I think I see a little Leprechaun peeking out behind Dylan's legs.
Wish you could see her close up cause she was being so cute.

Still smiling after 5 hours!

If you don't count the buckets of sand in Elle's eyes,

Luke and Jake's many scrapes

and Drew's encounter with the log,

I'd say it was a perfect day.

The kids were unbelievably good

which meant the moms got lots of quality talks in.

Oh and if you ever do come to the zoo with us

(which you really must do)

there are a few things you should know:

The bear is a baby bear.

Yelling at your kids incessantly from a mile a way is very unattractive.

She/he who throws sand in Elle's eyes, if found, will pay.

And bring dem gangsta signs.

Spring Break....off to a Messy Start!

First Mess: At midnight poor Breanna became violently ill with some sort of stomach sickness. That girl has got some serious skills when it comes to making it to the bathroom every time. She was such a trooper!

Second Mess: Jake woke up with a HUGE unidentifiable red blob in his hair/forehead area. Turned out to be a piece of Big Red gum that he had neglected to spit out before falling asleep the night before. I begged him to let me take a picture (since this certainly will be the first and last time this will ever happen), but he would under no circumstances consent to such an embarrassing suggestion. I deeply regret that I didn't got against his wishes.

It was actually very funny (mom and Marilyn and I had to demonstrate a superhuman amount of self control to not laugh out loud when he came downstairs). Jake did not for one second think it was funny at all. Especially when we broke out the peanut butter, and started attempting to comb it out. Scissors did eventually come into play.

Third Mess: After de-gumming Jake, we decided to head to JoAnne's. After much shopping success, we got in the car and it wouldn't start. Turns out the battery was completely corroded. A nice man jump started us with his pocket knife (not kidding - sparks flew). Jer had to replace the battery all together.

Fourth Mess: Mom and Aunt Marilyn who could not keep their drinks in the upright position to save themselves.

Fifth and Final Mess: The shreds of cloth that are still at this moment on my floors from the amazing and very cool PJ bottoms that Grandma and the kids made.

Now there's a mess I can live with!

Oh and we did get in a little gaming between messes.

So glad Uncle Gerald, Aunt Denys, Mom and Aunt Marilyn could hang out with us!