Arizona Photo Dump

I think I hit my record for the most pictures in one blog post. You have been warned :)
Pre-wedding reception:
Christmas round 2 :)


We all got put to work ;)

 
 
Pizza before the reception


Reception:
I didn't take any pictures!!! I can't wait to see the photographer's but it was a beautiful evening and so much fun!

New Year's Eve:
Top golf and Bahama Bucks with the Oggletrees (Maddie's family)
 
 
 
Fireworks party at 8 so that Jack and David could participate (Warning: a ridiculous amount of pictures below)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
This portion of the post is entitled "Elizabeth and the Fireworks" haha
 
 
 
 
 
And then we spent an hour getting an Instagram worthy picture with sparklers! haha I've never had any desire to have 7 sisters until spending New Years Eve with the Oggletree girls! At least I've got one of them now :)
 

 
New Years Day
We hiked flat iron with Maddie and James!
On January 1, 2010, I hiked Flat Iron with my boyfriend

 
 
Exactly six years later the same hike seemed a lot harder! haha

 
 
 
 
 
We went to get bobas after AND THEY WERE OUT OF BOBA!!! I almost cried.

While we were hiking, my mom and dad took Jack and David to Freestone Park to feed the ducks, ride the train, and ride the boats. They are the best!
 
This picture makes me laugh :)
 
My grandma and grandpa played with them too :) They love their "snail" grandparents :)
 
Hanging out at my parent's house

Four generations
 
 
 
"Turtle and Bunny hike" at the Riparian Preserve. We were going to hike the wind caves but we were too wiped after playing soccer that morning and we were still sore from Flat Iron. Jack just wanted to ride in a hiking backpack so it was all good :)

Jack loves riding the Polaris!

Making brownies with Papa!

Spencer went home on the 4th and I spent a few more days in warm Arizona with Jack and David.
Sea Life Aquarium  
 
 
 Turtles for the win!

 
And a boba WITH BOBA on the way home, thank goodness.

The day before I left for Iowa, I had made crazy plans with friends to drive to California and go to Six Flags and come back the same night. The forecast was not looking great but we decided to risk it and go anyway with a back up plan to go to the L.A. Temple if it was closed. It was pouring rain when we got there (and closed) so we went to the temple instead. After we got out of the temple session (it was such a cool temple!), I somehow convinced everyone that we NEEDED to ride a roller coaster and we somehow ended up at California Adventure that afternoon and evening. BEST. TRIP. EVER. I was obnoxiously high on Disney Magic and the lack of sleep probably didn't help :) I have yet to visit Six Flags but I sure love Disney and my friends!!!
 
 
 
Katie forgot shoes! haha
 
The new Cars Land was so cute and the ride was so fun!

 I beat Chelsie on the Toy Story ride!

 And I found out that I make two and a half Disney Churros an hour at my job, not just one, thank you very much! ;)

Taking a picture of my favorite clam chowder bowl - what a great moment ;)
 
 
 
While I was playing for 24 hours straight, my mom played with Jack and David at the zoo. She's the best!





Flying is never pleasant by myself with two kids but it's the price I pay to enjoy Arizona a little longer and avoid Iowa's horrible winter (it's 3 degrees with a wind chill that feels like -17 as I type this). My flight was delayed (of course, it's Allegiant) but when my flight was delayed, someone told me about the gate pass that let me take my mom through security and have her help me. It was a game changer and I seriously don't know how I didn't know about it before!!!
 
 
Every time I leave Arizona, I wonder why the heck I don't live there and I also leave ridiculously hooked on diet coke (thanks, mom!) haha

 
Now, we are trying to make the most out of the winter, but we're mostly just freezing and eating a lot of vegetables because - resolutions. Whoot whoot.