Memorial Weekend

So I'm finally getting around to posting about Memorial Weekend. Once you get through all of this post you will understand why it took me so long to get it done. I think this takes the prize for my longest post ever! We planned this little trip once we found out that Dave had this weekend off. We went about a couple hours north up to Prescott and it was amazing! We went with Dave's sister and family and our good friends the Bybee's. One afternoon we drove up to Sedona and had lunch. We completely fell in love with the scenery and the view!

The next pics are from Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well. These Indians built their homes up in this mountain so many years ago. A few miles away was where they built this irrigation system from this well to get water. It was amazing how these people lived back then. The well was beautiful and we were able to hike all the way to the bottom with the kids.

We went to Out of Africa one day and left there feeling like we had really been there. It was totally rugged and dirty. It had so many animals it was crazy! We got to go on a safari ride and giraffes would come right up to us and we fed them! I even held a biscuit in my mouth and fed this cute giraffe twice. The first time I didn't feel anything when he grabbed the biscuit. The second time it felt like he licked my face off. I couldn't even open my eyes. I don't have the pics of that yet but I will, thank goodness for Spencer and his camera shots! We had so much fun though! The kids helped carry a python snake and we saw a tiger slash show. It's like sea world's version of Shamu but with tigers. I know, crazy huh! They were jumping all over the place! It was fun!

These kids are so cute together...you can't break them apart!

This was Dave and Spencer the whole time pretty much...taking pics and filming:) I couldn't resist taking this of Dave is front of that sign...so funny!

My new BIG friend that I got to know really well!

It was such a great weekend and we can't wait to go back up there. It was gorgeous and so quiet. Good times!

An afternoon Surprise

Things around our place have been a bit hectic...chaotic...crazy...insane...stressful...you name it we've felt it. It got to a point with Dave and I that something had to be done. So I planned this little surprise night away with out him even knowing. A big thanks to Kirsten and Brian...they watched the kids for us while we went away! Dave got home from work and he was totally drained, sitting on the couch catching up on some ESPN. I asked him to go with me to run some errands for Ashlynn's bday party. That did not excited him one bit and he didn't understand why I needed him to come. Dave was really making it hard to surprise him and he didn't stop there. We got in the car and I told him I wanted to drive because he always drives...he didn't like that. He started asking questions and said I was acting really strange and I probably was. He basically wouldn't be quiet about the whole drive. I told him we had to go to this special party store for some things. I'm a bad liar, he could see right through me but still didn't have a clue what I was doing. I got lost so I had to pull over and let him drive to our destination with out him knowing what it was. He made this so hard for me! Finally when we got there we pulled up to this hotel in Scottsdale and he was really puzzled. He thought we were parking to go to dinner or something. I told him to pop the trunk and he saw our bags and it clicked that we were staying there for the night! Oh I swear...I love this man but sometimes he can make things so much harder than they need to be. You should have seen the look on his face...he was so incredibly happy to get away and be with only me. It was great!

We walked around Scottsdale, went through art galleries, went to the botanical gardens, and enjoyed a yummy dinner at a Italian place that we love. Basically went to places that we wouldn't take our kids to because they would be touching everything! There was a "Chihuly Glass" showing there at the botanical gardens. It was amazing to see all of this colorful blown glass. It was hotter than sin that day but we dealt with it and had a great time. It was a much needed getaway and something we need to do more often to keep us sane. You gotta love priceline when you can get a really nice hotel and bid your own price for peanuts! It was so fun keeping this from him, I knew we were going about a couple weeks before and I didn't say a word...so proud of myself! I told him that it's his turn to surprise me now and whisk me away somewhere. Hopefully it won't be too long...we will see:).

Happy Birthday Ty

I can't let May pass me by without posting about Ty's birthday too! His special day is on the 23rd and we were heading out of town that day. But we still were able to celebrate that night. We went up to Prescott area with our good friends the Bybee's and Kirsten and Brian for Memorial Weekend. After we got settled in we went to this Indian place for dinner and got "bombed". That's our code for getting that kind of food. I had a serious problem with even smelling that and could barely walk into places like that for years. But I have turned over a new leaf and it is a new love of mine!

Anyway...so we ate yummy food and brought presents for Ty there to open. It was fun and the kids always have a ball together. I love Ty's face is so many of these pictures...he was so happy and excited! He got some toys that he's been wanting and he got a new Tony Hawk outfit from Kir. He absolutely loves anything to do with Tony Hawk and we think it's kind of cute! We still have yet to have a party with his friends and we're still trying to figure that out as we speak. But we are so grateful for Ty and love him to bits. Can't believe he is 7...Happy Birthday!

My son the Artist

Tyler brought these home with him last week when school got out. I was totally amazed and had no idea that he loved to do art SO MUCH! I told him we could go and get him some art supplies with his birthday money and he was ecstatic! My personal favorite is the colorful fat cat! Good job Ty!

Princess Party

I am so behind on my blogging it's not even funny! I have so many things I could post it's crazy! It's fair to say that May has been quite a busy month in our house. I'm going to try and get caught up so keep checking back! Ashlynn had her first bday party with her friends. She has always had a party with Tyler due to their birthdays being 4 days apart. It was always easier to combine them. This year we thought it was time to separate them and let them have their own fun!

All her friends came over dressed up as a princess...we painted nails...made tiara's...played pin the crown on the princess...they were having a ball! Thanks to my SIL Kirsten for helping me throw it all together...my mom came by for a bit to help paint nails too! It was so fun seeing all these little girls playing together...what a day!

Happy Birthday Ashlynn!!!

Look at my baby girl....today she turns 4 years old! I can't believe it! This morning I was telling her what happened the day she was born. I can still remember her in this pretty white dress on her blessing day. I can still remember the crazy crazy crazy pain I felt pushing her out of me with no drugs! Now she is all grown up and ready for the world...she thinks she is...ya right! We love this little peanut so much and we are so grateful she is a part of our family. We thought Campbell men weren't able to produce girls until she came into our lives. Since then we've had one more Campbell girl come...little Mia that we've yet to meet. But I say woohoo for these girls to balance out all the boys!

Today we are having a "Princess Party" and I can't even tell you how excited Ashlynn is! All her friends are coming over dressed up as a princess. We have the house all decorated...we are painting nails, making tiara's, playing pin the crown on the princess...it's going to be a fun afternoon! We love you baby girl...Happy Birthday princess!