PHOENIX or BUST!I think this year's last week of Spring Break was the best! Usually it is the hardest, but since we decided to go out of town this week as a family it was great!
Sunday (4/24)- Easter. We didn't take any pictures, but there was lots of chocolate eating, basket finding and family time. All after a wonderful church service of course. There was also packing and getting ready for our trip to Phoenix.
Monday-we got up not to early and headed out to Phoenix. It didn't take that long to get there. We checked into our hotel, The Pointe Tapatio Cliffs and the kids went swimming. Then we headed over to my friend Kelly's house for dinner. We had a yummy dinner and the kids loved playing with her kids. After we left her house we decided to visit Mary Coyle's. It is a wonderful ice cream shop that I grew up going to since it was right down the street from my house. It moved locations, but it was still a favorite place of every ones. The kids really thought it was fun and that the ice cream was yummy. Adam wasn't able to finish his Jolly Green Giant, but I sure loved my banana split, which was oh so yummy.
Tuesday-we had all these fun activities planned and all the kids wanted to do was stay at the resort and swim at the pool. Fine by us. We played tennis and ping pong in the morning and spent the rest of the day at the pool. We went to target after dinner and bought a new game, Farkle. The kids have had fun playing that ever since. We also went back to Mary Coyle's for dessert. Still so yummy.
Wednesday- spent the day at the pool again. Damon went to the driving range. That afternoon we took the kids back over to Kelly's and Damon and I went on a date. It was my month to plan the date and I didn't disappoint. We went to South Mountain and rode horses with a wrangler to the T-bone Steakhouse. It was a sunset ride and the Phoenix Desert did not disappoint. The Saguaro's were in bloom and we could see from the west valley to the east valley. It was really beautiful in a desert sort of way. Dinner was fabulous. We rode back with our wrangler, Andrew, at night and the desert was just as pretty in the light of the moon. We both really enjoyed our evening and the kids loved playing over at Kelly's all night.
Thursday-we went out to breakfast at IHOP and then over to the resort's sister resort that has a water park inside it. The kids loved that. We floated along on the lazy river, slid down water slides and swam under waterfalls. It was very relaxing. That night after dinner we took the kids on a tour of my old stomping grounds. We went to my high school, old house, old pool, Encanto, where I life guarded with Kelly, drove past were my old elementary school was, Encanto and ended up the tour at Mary Coyle's one last time. I still can't believe they are closing their doors after 60 years. It makes me so sad. It was such a Phoenix establishment. Lily ended the night in tears because she didn't want to leave Phoenix or all the fun we had been having. All of us felt that way.
Friday-The Royal Wedding. So fabulous. The pageantry, the city, the people, the history all of it was great. The happy couple both looked stunning. I loved the dress, hair, tiara, and everything. Kate looked beautiful, just like a princess. After we got back to San Diego and had dinner we watched more on TV. Lily put on her crown and insisted we call her Princess Catherine. It was pretty funny. She loved watching all the royal hoopla just like I did with my mom back in 1981. The drive home was fine. We stopped in Yuma and had ourselves some good ole fashion A&W root beer from the A&W place. Very yummy.
It was a great vacation full of laughs, good times, great friends and memories that should last. It was wonderful going "home". I am so at ease there and I always feel like I fit right in. I don't always feel that way in San Diego. It's hard getting back to reality as I know the busyness of school and life will soon take over again. It's sad because it is our last time of a full month off for spring break. Noah goes to a traditional schedule next year. It's hard watching our little family grow up, but at the same time we are happy that they are. 11 weeks til summer break!
Monday- We went to Legoland. That's what Noah wanted to do for his birthday. We were able to go on some rides and see the new Star Wars exhibit in Miniland. That was pretty cool. We also hit the aquarium. The kids all loved that. I only have one thing to say about Legoland... there is a reason that I've only been there twice since we have moved here.
Tuesday- Happy Birthday Noah! It's hard to believe that he is 11. Where does time go? It really seems like he was just a little toddler filling our life with smiles and questions. Now it is comments and answers. We went to the bike store to get Noah a new bike. He was very excited about that. Then that night the neighbors came over for cake and ice cream and we watched old movies from when Noah was a baby. 
Wednesday- I had to work all day. That wasn't fun, but it had to be done. The kids played all day. 
Thursday-We picked up Noah's bike, and played outside again. Adam had cub scouts and the boys had basketball. I started to not feel well on Wednesday and by Thursday I was really feeling bad. I also made blueberry muffins from scratch. they were super yummy. I haven't done a food post in a while. They were really healthy. If you want the recipe let me know.
Friday- We met up with the Shoff's at the park and ended up playing there for 3 hours. It was so much fun. Damon's car ended up at the mechanics. He needs a new catalytic converter (grrr).
Saturday-chores, errands, a birthday party for Lily and egg dying in preparation for the Easter Bunny. 
At least the last week of break Damon will be around. All the fun has very much exhausted me. I am very much looking forward to May 2nd.
Tuesday- Disneyland! We left early, stayed late and completely wore ourselves out. The kids all won animals at the Boardwalk. We stayed to watch Fantasmic! We had a super great time even if it was a little bit more crowded than what I prefer.
Wednesday- On the way home from Disneyland Noah asked if Wednesday could be a recovery day from Tuesday and wanted to just hang around the house. That was fine by me. It was a nice relaxing day for the kids. I had to work a lot. Noah finished off all his requirements for his Arrow of light at Cub Scouts that night. YEA! He will get that award in May.
Friday-with the weather at about 85*F we headed to the beach! The kids picked Coronado Island, which I love! We had a delightful few hours there. The kids got to run around dig in the sand and I got to read a book and relax. The lifeguards announced that there were a lot of sting rays in the water so there was no one in the water. Noah sat right next to the water for about an hour hoping to catch sight of one.
Saturday- up to Mortensen Manor for the weekend. Damon had two shows in Riverside (show season again!) so we decided to make a weekend of it. The kids are so happy to be with their cousins. They played with the new baby chicks, slipped on the slip n slide and swam in a cold pool. Another fun day!
Monday-It was beautiful weather and the perfect beach day so we headed up to Del Mar with the Sadlier's and the Shoff's. Unfortunately it was our only good weather day... thus far 
Tuesday-The Shoff's came over at 5:30am (very early for me) because one of them was getting his tonsils out and we were watching the others. After that everyone settled back down and got a little bit more sleep. We had breakfast, did piano, played Wii, went outside and played, had lunch and played some more. It was an exhausting day, but fun. We topped the night off with a trip to Baskin Robbins with Dad!
Wednesday-This was a new adventure for us. The kids rode their bike at the lake. Lily has been wanting to do this for so long and she was finally able to. She rode 3.5 miles. The boys did 4. I got to run along side her which was great. She only cried a little.
Thursday- The boys got to have fun by themselves and went to the movies without an adult. They saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Lily had her fun later with a play date at a friend's house and then a play date at her house. Who doesn't like a day like that.
Friday- The kids had a sitter most of today and got to do whatever they wanted. I went to La Jolla with a friend and had lunch at CPK and saw her new (but old) beach house. The kids had so much fun with the sitter. That night we watched some of our favorite Phineas and Ferb episodes on Netflicks after dinner. Yea for family time.
