Thanksgiving in Winters Paradise
We were able to sneak away for almost a week to sunny Arizona for Thanksgiving and it was so nice, thanks be to my parents. [sigh] Although it hasn't really been all that cold here yet, the eighty-degree-sunshiny days did our bodies good (I think a few of us even came home with sun tan lines!).
I could kick myself for not taking more pictures but my mind was a tad preoccupied with fact that Milo was really feeling awful (fevers and asthmatic breathing) and that we were sort of crashing my Dad and Sue's party in a beautiful little home they found to stay at in Foutain Hills. P.S. If I were to move to that valley, that's where I'd want to live!
We started Thanksgiving day off with a run around the beautiful little lake/fountain/park that is central to the town and watched the cute parade.
Loved the Jazzercisers of course!
Can't beat the marching band!
This beautiful park centers around a 562 foot high fountain that is lit up at night.
Part of the delicious spread over at my uncles house in Queen Creek.
Eli, no doubt, listening to another one of Milo's big ideas.
Flora wishing the pool was heated.
Grandma Sue soaking up the sun, as usual.
Our dinner group (more like Linner?) was a small crowd that grew as the night went on. It is always so delightful to catch up with cousins that we so rarely now that we are all adults with our own busy lives. Some great chats, Rook games, and of course eating.
At least someone enjoyed herself some relaxing baths on her vacation.
My parents were good sports and took us on a hike around Saguaro Lake. When I say hike, I mean our kids allowed us to walk partially around the perimeter of the lake until they decided they didn't want to walk anymore or until exploring in the cacti wasn't as fun as they'd hoped. Milo was a good sport and even though he could hardly breathe from his bronchitis, he tried to keep up without complaining.
My squishy face Jujyfruit and her generous daddy.
Eli made a point to give the boys something to remember him by with a few classic home-made Bluth-style slingshots. But it was obvious which two really got the most enjoyment out of them.
My dad and Sue never cease to spoil us with the opportunity of fun adventures and good memories together.
Even though I don't consider myself an Arizonian, whenever I return I am reminded of the scents and scene's that fill in the holes of my memory up until the age of eight (which is crazy to think that is Milo's age!). After walking around the neighborhood, every plant (that is so foreign to the Utah climate!) held a particular space in my memory as a young child. It's funny to think that I was probably really curious about plants and nature even at that young age.
I made indian weapons with these.
I plucked out each individual blossom on these and counted the yellows verses the red.
I used to pull these out and suck out the nectar on the inside. P.S. Find the bee.
If you can get past they nasty stickers, these are nice and gooy on the inside.
These felt like paper to me and I always checked to make sure they were real.
More weapons with these attached to popsicle sticks.
The beautiful neighborhood we stayed in at Fountain Hills.
This kid is always creating something. It makes my heart squeeze.
A generous birthday bbq by my dad and Sue for Eli on the back porch with a gorgeous, peaceful, warm, wild view of AZ's amazing sunset was the perfect ending to our week in Winter's Paradise. (just don't ask me to visit in July, ok?)
Eli is really really awesome with my kids and they adore him to pieces. It was so nice to be with him, as it always is.
This is the only picture I have of the 4-generation Bluth Reunion in Queen Creek (stolen off Facebook). My Grandpa will turn ninety years old in less than two weeks and he has two more siblings living out of the eight children in his immediate family. I'm sure this isn't even a third of us (most of these people are Arizona residents) but I am so proud to come from a family with such an amazing heritage that makes a priority to strengthen family bonds. The day was short and sweet but I experienced a few really meaningful moments. One of them being when my sweet Grandpa sat next to his sister, Flossie, for the first time in probably a long while (years?) and with tears in his eyes embraced her with a long squeeze. The relationships I have with my own siblings are among my lifes greatest blessings.
Not pictured: A really great half-day reunion with my long-time friend, Melissa. I was a tad younger than her but we grew up skipping barefoot (ok more like mad-dashing in the AZ heat) to each others' houses when I was in pre-school/early elementary school. She is the very definition of a friend. Not only do we have a lot of history together, but she is really funny/witty, sings like an angel (and plays multiple instruments), has a super cute family, listens to all my ramblings (and still has uplifting things to say) and maybe most importantly is really fun to be around. It sure would be nice if we could get together more often. I always feel spoiled with the time she makes to be with me.
Also not pictured: A few hours with Rod's Uncle Mark and his wife Aunt Nancy and their two kids Blake and Lexi. His grandmother also came over to visit for a bit and we had a nice chat. Maybe I'm 72 inside, but I really do enjoy the time family makes to connect with each other and share a little taste of their lives with us. It is enriching and strengthens my belief in families. I left feeling so grateful they had made time for our visit and for their amazing examples.
