It's taken me almost a month to post, but here was our trip! We had just checked in and checked our baggage at Charlotte-Douglas International! We're ready to go!
On our way to our terminal, I happen to glance out of a window...and saw a STEELERS plane! I showed this to Grandpa when we got to Arizona and he said that the Steelers must have been in Charlotte!
When we got to Arizona, we were of course, hugged, kissed, and loved upon. We drove to Mesa and unwound. Lauren discovered Grandma's lunch bags, saran wrap, and food storage container drawer. Here she is wearing a bowl wrap! She LOVED this drawer and thoroughly distroyed it several times a day during our visit.
We decided to head to the mountains, so on Wednesday the 9th, we drove to Prescott (called Pres-kit). We stayed at my grandma's cousin's mountain house...and what a treat that was! We went to my Uncle John's house to surprise him. After he woke up (he works 2nd shift), we took his two enormous dogs for a walk. You'll see a little lake behind us, but there were also the Granite Mountains. Talk about beautiful! Then we went to lunch.
Here are Grandpa and Lauren in the pool July 12. This picture got out of order. Lauren LOVED the water, but I think Grandpa had more fun than Lauren when he was playing with her!
This picture is also out of order. This is Grandma Bobbie with Lauren. Grandma was trying to get Lauren sleepy by rocking her in order for Lauren to take a nap. If I remember correctly, it was a valient effort, but she was unsuccessful.
Again, out of order. This is also a picture from July 12. Grandma is holding Lauren who is watching my cousin, Megan, make merangue for a lemon pie. Megan was born exactly 9 years after me and was upset with Lauren for not making her appearance on our birthday.
Okay, this was July 11. Lauren was looking so cute!! She was thrilled that we were back from Prescott and she was out of the car. Lauren was practicing standing from a squat. We were certain that she'd take those first steps while we were in Arizona, but alas, it did not happen.
This was our first day in Prescott, on July 9. Grandma Bobbie and Lauren were happily waiting their order of Mexican and posed for pictures. This little place where we ate was called Hugo's, and it was a TINY place! We were literally 3 feet away from the kitchen, the bathroom, and the cash register. We were about 5 feet from the door. The food was good, the prices fine, but the company was fantastic. Uncle John joined us for lunch. This is one of his favorite places to dine.
This was July 10. Again, we dined. (Do you see a pattern?) We ate at the Prescott Brewery, which was wonderfully sinful, and we needed to take a walk and rest in the park across the street. Here is Uncle John, Grandpa, me, and Lauren, a picture holding 4 generations. It was a really funny thing to think about and kind of hit us after the fact. This was also a Thursday, so it was a weekly birthday for Lauren.
Lauren and Uncle John, waiting for their food. As soon as I got ready to take this picture, our food came. Don't they look happy??
After we returned from Prescott, we relaxed, had birthday dinners, and just enjoyed one another's company. We got antsy on the Monday before our return and had to find souveniers. Lauren got irritated while we were in the Gap, so Grandpa took her out into the main areas for Lauren to watch the passer's by. I'm at the back of the Gap and I hear this screeching...and immediately, I know that it's MY daughter! When I got to the front of the store, I see Grandpa pushing Lauren back and forth. She's watching people pass below her...and she found that her voice echoed in the mall, which she liked, so she kept making an echo...
We let Fidgety get out of her stroller and climb. Here is Grandpa posing, Lauren wanting to dive off the bench, and Grandma getting ready to catch Lauren, should she jump.Just after this picture, we went into Eddie Bauer so that I could attempt to find a sweatshirt for Paul. (He's purchased, and ruined, two nice Eddie sweatshirts.) After being told that it wasn't the season yet (and remember, I'm in ARIZONA), I said, "Thank you," to the cashier and walk back to Grandpa and Grandma, who were checking out T-shirts. As I shifted Lauren, I felt something wet in my hand...which came from the side of her diaper...and as I just about say, "Oh, S - - T!" more of the something wet landed smack on the floor! Grandma is about ready to bust her gut as I panic. The cashier told me not to worry because she had kids and grandkids, so it's not something she's seen before. I'm mortified because my daughter had an explosion in the middle of a store and because I'm worried that Lauren is SICK, right before we are scheduled to fly home.
In the end, we found Babies R Us, I bought more wipes and a thermometer. Lauren had spiked a low-grade fever, but we were able to get it down and offered a lot of Pedialite.
Here we are in Prescott at the mountain house...Grandpa had a lot of fun playing with his hats with Lauren. Of course she ate up the attention!
Before we (sadly) left, we had to get pictures of Lauren in Grandpa's Steeler's Corner. Lauren especially loved the beer bottle cozy...I'm a little worried by her infatuation with alcohol bottles...she wouldn't cooperate, so this was the best picture I got!Lauren and I had a fantastic trip to Arizona to visit my grandparents. Of course, they just thought Lauren was the most precious thing in the world. I got a lot of comments as to how much she looks like me (surprisingly, right?). They loved her attitude, her independence, how well (and much) she ate, and her overall cuteness. It was a long overdue trip, but I certainly enjoyed it more having Lauren with me because we got to be with family. I'm hoping that our trip becomes something we do at least every 2 years. I'm sorry that it's taken so long to post, but there was just too much to say and show!!
