Phoenix Zoo/Graceyn's Birthday

Her birthday cupcake

So happy it's her birthday

   Graceyn celebrated her actual birthday on Monday of our vacation.  We decided we had to do something special to celebrate.  We decided to make a trip to the Phoenix zoo since the weather was supposed to be really nice.  My sister and I took Ashlyn to the Phoenix zoo when she was about Graceyn's age, but we have not been back since.  The kids were really excited to go to a new zoo.
    The Phoenix zoo is massive and there was so much to look at.  There was also a lot of walking.  The kids held up really well despite the heat.  As the day progressed, it got pretty hot.  I really don't see how that zoo is even open in the summer months.  It must be miserable!  Despite the heat, we had a great time and enjoyed seeing different animals that we don't have at our zoo.  We realized that they had a really neat splash pad/cave area that the kids loved.  Unfortunately, we did not have bathing suits for them.  If we go again, we will definitely be bringing suits so they can play some more.
    We stayed at the zoo for several hours until heat and hunger got the best of us.  We grabbed a quick lunch and headed back to the house for some rest time.  After we rested and cooled down, we headed up to the splash park again.  My grandma came with us and we had a nice visit with her while the kids played.  We ended Graceyn's birthday with cupcakes on the patio.  I think she had a great birthday.

Walkin into the zoo

The kids love looking at maps anytime we go somewhere.  They have gotten pretty good at reading them.  

The giraffes

Checking out the rhinos

Gracie looks tired and hot in this picture

This guy was sleeping with his face pressed against the window

The really neat splash pad/cave area

The kids definitely love their Uncle Steven

The Phoenix zoo has a really neat monkey area where you can get up close to the spider monkeys.  It was so neat to see the monkeys so close and not in a cage.  Gracie loved the monkeys.  It reminded me so much of Ashlyn when we took her there.  

Checking out the monkeys

They are so cute

A very interesting bird

Backyard Fun

   One thing we love most about our house in Arizona is the great backyard.  When you stay at a hotel you don't get a nice outdoor space to run around and play or soak up the sun.  The kids had so much fun playing out there.  We loved watching them while sitting in the beautiful weather.  I think we spent almost all of our time at home in the backyard.  My dad bought the kids some squirt guns which kept them entertained for hours.  We also set up a slip and slide and a small pool that were also hits.  We will definitely miss our backyard time!

Squirt gun fight!

Playing a game of hot potato

This was a cool water rocket that launched in the sky.  Big hit as well.  

Waiting for the rocket to go off

Jameson loves the water

Slip and slide time

Such fun

The kids were a little confused by the slip and slide since they had never been on one before.  Ashlyn really got the hang of it.  

Our makeshift pool.  

Taking a break

Underwear boy

My new favorite picture of Dawson  

Tempe Race

     My brother really likes running races in Arizona.  The elevation difference makes a big difference.  He found a race on Sunday morning that we decided to run.  The race benefited the Arizona Cerebral Palsy Foundation so it was for a very good cause.  The race was in Tempe at a park we had never been to.  When we arrived, we were blown away by how nice the park was.  It was a huge park that was gorgeous.   It had a huge lake, walking paths,  and a large covered playground among other things.  It was truly the perfect place for a race.
    Being the second year, I was really surprised as to how organized the race was.  We took off right at 8:00 a.m. when the weather was perfect.  The course was an out and back and it had several turns.  I love courses like that because it gives me a chance to see how my brother is doing.  I was so happy to see that he was in first each time I passed him.  I kept with my same strategy I did the week before.  I soon realized that there were only 2 females in front of me.  Once I realized I was in third place, I managed to maintain my pace until the end.  I was another great race for me and I once again felt very strong.  My brother ended up getting first place overall, and I got 3rd place for the females.  It was such a great way to spend our Sunday morning.  I hope I get the chance to run this race again.

Running in front of the lake

The start of the race

Coming in to the finish line

Finishing strong.  My brother definitely deserved first place.  He works so hard.  

Coming in for the finish 

Crossing the finish line

Train Park

  As we do every year, we had to spend some time at the train park,  It is literally minutes from our house and the kids just love it there so much.  It is such a neat park and they always have such fun there.  We actually went to separate tmes.  The first time was on Saturday morning, and the park was pretty packed.  By the time we left they were literally directing traffic into the parking lot.  The second time we went, was in the evening and it was just perfect.  The weather was so nice and the crowds had really died down.  The kids almost had the entire park to themselves.  We just love the train park so much!

Best buds

They have this area that is designed to look like an old wild west jail.  The kids always spend most of their time there.  

The stagecoach is always a hit

Oh no!  Someone got locked up!

Gracie decided she really wanted to catch a bird and tried her hardest to get one.  

Riding the train

Riding the carousel which they really liked.  

Our second train ride

The train station

This little enclosed cattle car is where the kids always insist on riding.  Crazy kids!