iPhone update!

 Painting with the family at cousin Kellen's 3rd birthday! Nana is focused...

 ...Uncle Adam is pensive...

 ...the kids just want to eat cake! Had a wonderful time celebrating a very special little boy!

 Friday night out at Desert Ridge for the bookstore's "Frozen" event!

 It was madness! We all go crazy for Elsa and Anna!

 SeaLife Aquarium in Tempe, AZ

 Peyla at mommy's happiest place on earth! Love that veggie stir fry! lol

 Cuddle time...how lucky am I??

 Carousel fun at the mall.

 Daddy took us to Jambo indoor amusement

park...not the best-run place but at least the girls had fun!

 Is this what my future looks like in 14 years?? I'm scared...

 Story time at the bookstore...Biscuit the little yellow dog, one of Peyla's favorite characters.

 Visiting the AZ Puppet Theater for the first time for one of Ali's favorite stories!

 Ali cried as soon as it ended..."again! again!" she said.

 Ali's first Diamondbacks game! Peyla showed her the ropes.

 Finding some of the "golden oldies"!

 Brendon's love/hate relationship with Big Randy!

 She thinks she is going to catch a foul ball...

 A bowl of popcorn as big as her!

 Ali found her own "bowl"!

 Getting a piano lesson from LaLa Dahn.

 Peyla showing off her lessons at the school's open house!

 Little sister is always studying Peyla's every move.

 My girls enjoying the simple joy of putting their feet in the lake!

Froyo night but Ali is more interested in the toppings.

Nana's (and Papa's!) Cabin

What can I say about this post? Too many emotions and beautiful memories of long ago to put into words. We asked my sweet nana if we could take her and the girls up to her cabin in Forest Lakes, AZ. She hadn't spent more than a night or two there since we lost my grandfather Papa Al in 2011. When Nana excitedly said "yes!", we knew there was a wonderful weekend in store for us. Brendon left work a touch early and we headed up north on Friday night, with plans to stay through the weekend. My brave and independent grandmother insisted on driving up alone before us, "to get everything ready" as she put it. It was like stepping back 20 years as we pulled down their little driveway in the forest that night...evening was setting in and there she was...waiting for us on that same old front porch swing. I cried in the front seat as we approached, my loving grandpa should have been there...seated next to her. But I can honestly say- we felt his presence many, many times during those precious 48 hours. I smiled wider than I have in months, watching my children fall in love with the same forest we roamed through as children. My uncle has lovingly cared for the cabin that my grandfather built, and did everything he could to make sure our visit was perfect. Nana fed us way too much good food, we played hard all day with nature, only to fall fast asleep each night...curled up as a family in the attic that Papa refurbished. It was bliss...bittersweet...and a weekend I will never forget. Thank you Nana and Papa for sharing this beautiful space with us over the years!

 

 The girls found some familiar faces on the cups up there!

 Our first night, cozying up to nana.

 The next morning, bright and early...we unleashed these girls upon the forest!

 The best swing ever!

 Her expression says it all...they spent hours on that swing.

 I love this picture...it captures everything I imagine for childhood, including so many memories of my own.

 Someone sure likes to run free!

 "higher daddy!"

 Nana and Peyla searching for blue flowers.

 My other favorite picture!

 Shhh! There's an Ali bear in the woods!

 Well it's not a blue one, but she liked it.

 I loved to see my nana smile again.

 

 Feeding peanuts to the blue jays and squirrels. Just like Papa loved to do...he even gained the animals' trust so much that they would grab the peanuts off of his lap when I was a kid.

 Daddy found a worm!

 I can't believe she touched it!

 Ali was determined to "set him fwee".

 Giving him one last pat.

 Later in the day, the monsoons hit! Hooray for rain!

 Bathing in the same tub that I did 20 years ago...talk about a trip down memory lane!

 Pancakes in the morning before heading home!

Swimming!

We spent much of the summer just cooling off in the pool, practicing our swim techniques and being lazy. The blog just wouldn't be the same without a final swim post!

 

 This is how Ali prefers to "swim"... I like her style.

 She doesn't need much help in the water anymore except for a little assist from daddy!

Peyla was pretty proud of her new ability to dive for the rings this year!

  Totally happy staying drier at the pool's edge!

My lame attempt at a selfie, not that I enjoy photos of myself but just to document...yes! I was there!