Arizona or BUST!

Well, we survived our first road trip as a family of four!! I must admit, It was a rocky start but once we got there we had such a great time. 

The drive out there (which should take 6 hours door to door) ended up taking a LONG 11 hours!  Arden got car sick the ENTIRE drive out there.  Poor baby.  We forgot the pack n' play so had to stop on the way and pick up a new one (an hour down), had to stop every hour or so because Arden had to use the potty or Anderson needed to eat, be changed or was crying uncontrollably, got a speeding ticket (Merry Christmas to us!) and got stuck in traffic in Phoenix on the last leg.  This was not a good start to our much needed vacation.

We drove to Anthem first to visit Grandma & Grandpa Marshall (Larry & Cindy).  Although it was a short trip we enjoyed every second of it.  We enjoyed a morning at a gorgeous park in Anthem, AZ and we even got to see cousin Jackson who turned 2 in November.  He's such a doll!! 

Arden & Grandpa Larry

Cousin Jackson, Anderson & Arden

Dean, Me, Anderson, Arden, Cindy & Larry

Next stop on our trip: Tucson!  We had a packed visit with The Perolla's (A.K.A. Mimi & Papa). 

Anderson, Grandpa Frank & Arden

Dean got to do a ride-along with my Dad on Thanksgiving Day.  Equipped with a bullet-proof vest.  Despite what you might think, Thanksgiving Day was not busy with a bunch of family domestics after a day of drinking.  HA!  Luckily for my sanity, as I'm a worry-wart by nature, it was a slow day.

Instead of shopping on Black Friday, we went to The Reid Park Zoo.  It was a very nice Zoo and the animals were very close.  The kids had fun and it was nice to spend the day with my favorite people (minus Mimi who had to work)

Grandpa Frank, Auntie Harleigh, Dean, Arden, Me & Anderson (Reid Park Zoo)

We decided to buzz Anderson's hair again.  The hawk had lost it's cute-ness and it was time to say Adios to his baby hair.  Dean & I were a little shocked at first but now it's come in so nicely.  Once we shaved it too, I swear he looks just like my Dad!!  He didn't think so but I have heard it from a few people since.

BEFORE

AFTER

Doing some cool crafts with Mimi.  Arden thought being smeared with paint was pretty cool.  (Love the dot on her nose!)

On our last night in Tucson, Mimi had gotten tickets for a cool show at The Gaslight Theatre.  We saw "Christmas In The Big Apple".  It was Arden's first musical and she LOVED IT!  So much so that we bought tickets to see The Nutcracker for Christmas.  Mimi picked out THE CUTEST outfit for her very special night.  She looked like a Princess!

Anderson slept the entire show!  THANK GOODNESS! 

If anyone has the sweetest pets in the entire world, The Perolla's do.  The pets took to the kids very well.  How sweet is that?!