Phoenix

In early December, Paul and I were able to get away for a few days to Phoenix!  My sister Hattie and brother-in-law Brandon moved there in August so it was great seeing them in their new home!  

Reunited!

Hattie took us to Lo-Lo's for chicken and waffles :)

Brandon had to work the day we flew into Phoenix.  He is a high school science and P.E. teacher right now at Glenview Prep.  His school is fairly new but located in an old building.  When asked to coach P.E. they gave him five jump-ropes and two frisbees.  There is no gym and P.E. class is held outside.  He was also asked to coach the high school boys' basketball team.  

Here they are practicing at a city park.  

Shopping around Glendale

It was fun walking around taking pictures of a landscape a little different than what we see in Iowa ;)

We are pretty sure this is a grapefruit tree

Lemons

Oranges

It was fun to see "our team" in the showcase window!  Go Hawkeyes!

My parents were in AZ a few weeks before us...so had to mock them a little and copy their picture.  

Scottsdale

We got up before the sunrise on our last full day in Phoenix to hike Camelback.

We made it to the top to see the real Christmas tree some people hauled up their for the season!

We went to Top Golf.  Definitely recommended!  

My brother ended up being in Phoenix and our trips overlapped a day so we were able to meet him at Top Golf too!  

Siblings in PHX!

Brandon is from Portland and the Trailblazers were in PHX to play the Suns so we took in the NBA action.  Trailblazers won ;)

The next morning before we left, we were able to see Coach P do his thing as his team was in a tournament.  They didn't win when we watched but I think they are starting to make some progress!  ;)  They aren't too into running set plays...more street ball action than anything!  They were fun to watch though and we were glad to see Brandon doing such a good job with them.  

Meanwhile...Paul's parents stayed with our three kiddos!  I was sad not to take them with us because they LOVE their Uncle Brandon and Aunt Hattie.  But since Brandon and Hattie were able to make plans to come home for Christmas we knew the kids would get to see them just a couple weeks later.  

It was Crazy Hair day at school so Grandma Ruth asked Ruby what she wanted.  Three spiked ponytails was the final product ;)

Ruby got to attend her cousin Sydney's Christmas program at school one afternoon.

And donuts at church before Christmas program practice.  

Jace got to have a date to McDonald's with just Grandma Ruth.  

Annie played a lot with Papa Gary.

We feel so lucky to have such wonderful and willing parents to take care of our kids while we were gone!  Our kids loved spending time with their grandparents as well!  Our time in Phoenix was wonderful and Hattie and Brandon, we look forward to returning!  With or without kids!  

Annie 8-9 Months

Annie had two rounds of illness this past month.  Nothing serious, just super cuddly and wasn't into drinking much of her bottles.  

Snuggles for dad.

She's becoming more mobile and continues to try to climb everything.  

Don't let this highchair picture fool you... she still isn't into eating much of anything.  Once in a while we can get her to eat some small pieces of bread, frozen veggies, or a baby Mum-Mum.  But then the next day she may just gag on those same foods and throw it all up!  And then you add in those tummy bugs and we aren't sure if she just wasn't feeling well or if she just gagged.  Who knows....!

Crazy hair ;)

Annie got to truly experience her first snow.  She wasn't too sure...

...but didn't mind it at all when in mom's arms.

Towards the end of eight months, she started pulling herself up and officially crawling.  

She still loves her thumb.  

Nine months old on December 6th.

She is such a happy and content baby.  She's a mama's girl and usually cries when I leave the room, but now that she can crawl, she usually tries to find me!  Her cries don't last long though!  Her siblings take good care of her.  She gets comments on her cheeks wherever we go.  We just love her little smile and bright eyes.  It has been fun to see more and more of her personality come out in the last month.  She is working on waving, clapping, and touchdown.  She can do all three... but isn't very good at doing them on command!  She also blows raspberries and does the most adorable little "smack" that resembles a fish face but I call them kisses!  We love you, Baby A!

(Ruby, the Queen of Nicknames, has affectionately nicknamed her Baby A, among MANY other things.  The nicknames usually change every day and most of the time they are so bizarre and don't resemble the English language.  So at least Baby A is short and easy to remember!)