Over the River and Through the Rain...

It rained when we left California and it rained all the way to Sun City, Arizona. It rained, rained, and it was foggy and windy, and floody. It rained a couple days in Arizona, and the temperature was less than to be desired (freezing, in fact). But we had a wonderful time with Mike's mom, his sister and husband the kids' only McCarthy cousin, Georgia. Mike's brother, Tim and his girlfriend also flew down from Oakland to spend a few days with us.

We went to the Musical Instrument Museum and the Phoenix Children's Museum. The Children's Museum will be on our to do list the next time we are down there. It is a sight to behold.

Santa was very kind to the kids and so were mom, dad, Grandma and Aunt Amanda and Uncle Moose, Uncle Tim and Melissa. Katie got ballet slippers and tap shoes from Aunt Amanda, as she starts dance class next week. Grandma made the cutest nap/bed rolls for the kids, including a matching pillow. They also got a few Wii games, including Disney Sing It, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Colin even got his own mini Wii-mote and nunchuk from Santa. I got a new purse and The Pioneer Woman's cookbook from Mike, and a beautiful new blue and yellow quilt from my wonderfully talented mother-in-law (and finished just in the nick of time!). I'm a happy gal!

Mike got a smart phone after wanting one for over 2 years and I even hooked him up with accessories for it. Mike's mom sent us home with a kid's table from Ikea and two chairs to match. She even made little chair pads in that matches the fabric from their bed rolls. Katie got her first Duplo Legos (Toy Story ones) from Uncle Tim and Melissa. They got us a great set of prep bowls, and reusable paper-like towels.

I even got to make the kids new pillow cases thanks to the patient instruction of my mother-in-law, cut squares for a new quilt that she will make for Katie. She even sent me home with over 100 fabric squares for a quilt that I will be attempting this year. There are many more wonderful presents that we received that we are so grateful for.

We had a wonderful time in Arizona. After an all night drive home (getting home at 4:30am)with rain only when we hit Tulare County we are exhausted and taking the day to recover before the week starts again.

Too bad that Katie missed her first day of Primary today. But I guess next week will be the "first" day for her.

Onto the next: Colin's 7th birthday in 11 days!