Highlights of Arizona Part 1

Picking a Christmas Tree

Kelly's parents were nice and waited for us to get to Arizona before they got a Christmas tree. The kids had fun picking it out, it didn't take too long, this one was our favorite.  They loved decorating it also!  

The Polar Express

I've always wanted to do the Polar Express ride with the kids, and they Busby's found one about 3 hours away from them, up in the mountains.  It was much colder there, luckily we had our warm coats. We all wore our pajamas, except for Kelly, he refused to wear pajamas in public.  Mabel had an adorable robe we found at Kid to Kid.  The kids were really excited!  The train ride was fun, we had hot chocolate and cookies and the 2 ladies we had serving our car walked around with the Polar Express book as it was read aloud on the loud speaker.  To train went to "Santa's workshop"  We saw Santa outside the window on his sleigh.  Then the train turned around.  Then we had a surprise, Santa came on the train and gave all the kids candy canes.  It was really fun, but I think Lincoln was getting a little too old to believe that was really Santa's workshop!  

  

The Phoenix Zoo!

We went to the zoo a couple of times.  We saw the Zoo lights, which are always fun.  It was a really nice night, not too cold and there weren't too many people there.  Then Kelly and his Dad too the kids one day.  I was getting over a cold and Gail was not feeling well, so the guys had the kids.  The had a ton of fun and Lincoln was the photographer.  He took tons of pictures of Izzy and Mabel being really cheesy!  They loved it.  I think their favorite part was the petting zoo.  Mabel didn't want to leave the goats!!!

The Puppet Theater

There is a really neat Puppet Theater not to far from the Busby's house.  We saw "the Elves and the Shoemaker"  it was really cute and Lincoln had read that book in school, so he was familiar with it.  As soon as it started Mabel freaked out.  She really didn't like those weird puppets talking to us, so we had to leave.  Grandpa hung out with her most of the time so I could see the show.  It was really cute.  

Don Jose'

You can't go to Arizona without going to Don Jose'!  We met up with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Greg and Grandma Nalder.  Fun times and great food.  Izzy really got into the chips and salsa, one time she took a huge big with tons of salsa.  She was dying!!!

Hiking in the Arizona Desert

It is so nice to go to Phoenix when it is finally not boiling hot!!!  The kids went hiking with Grandma and Grandpa many times.  Look at the beautiful blue sky and clean air.  We don't get enough of that.  It was so nice to go hiking and running in the beautiful clean air while we were  in America!!!!