Terrific Tucson

With Kristin, Cory & PJ, not to mention Katie, Joe & Isabelle, all moving out West to Tucson - it soon became clear that I would need to squeeze in a trip out there before I became too preggers to travel.  Happily we were able to plan an extended weekend just before Thanksgiving to do just that.  Matt stayed home with the Dukerson so I could have a relaxing and fun mini-girls weekend.  Not only did I get to see the new houses, new school, new neighborhoods and new "must do's" of the Tucson area - I got to spend plain ole quality time with my favorite ladies (that's including PJ and Isabelle, of course).  From the moment I got off the plane and Katie & Kristin picked me up for a fun lunch and pedicure, the good times didn't end.  Being with them made me miss them even more when I got back, if that is possible, since it is now quite fresh what I'm missing on a regular basis:)  But I was definitely happy and grateful to get a full dose of them while I could and it will sustain me until Christmas!

This is PJ's cubby at school - she goes to the International School of Tucson and is in the Spanish immersion program.   Paige has become such a big girl even since September.  I found her more like a little girl and less like the small child I think of her as.  It is so fun to be around her, she's so smart and funny!

GORGEOUS views from K&C's GORGEOUS new home.   This pic is from their sweet rooftop deck.  All of their renovations are seriously amazing.  I urge everyone who is able to make a trip out there and stay in their luxurious accommodations!

Their resort-like pool and hot tub, complete with picturesque palm tree.  Kristin and I agree that while the pool fence detracts from the resort like atmosphere, it is certainly a comfort knowing it is there to keep our kiddos safe.  

Front of K&C's new house, on our way out the door for a fun dog walk around the neighborhood.  So weird to see all the dirt and rocks and no grass in all the yards!

Isabelle (left), Isabelle's bow (center), and Katie (right).  Adorableness!!!  We all went out to dinner at one of their favorite places.  

Godmother & Goddaughter:)

We all went to Katie & Joe's temporary home's community pool on Saturday.  The views were also awesome there.

Saturday night Katie, with her Mom's help, made a delicious ham dinner feast!  Yum!

Isabelle and PJ get along great!  Isabelle is crawling now and is seriously the happiest baby I've ever met.  She is  100% sweetness, love love love her!

Ham!  Pass the horseradish sauce! (I'm obsessed with that sauce, by the way.  I literally made my Mom serve it when she had ham at her house a week later.)

Kitty obstruction!  Kristin and I stayed up late watching old music videos on You Tube.  A good use of time!  Did you know actress Debi Mazar starred in one of Madonna's earliest music videos?  Little known fact that now you know!

Sunday trip to breathtaking nearby Sabino Canyon

Loved the little hike at the top of the tram tour.

The tres amigas

Tram time!

The Carpenter's with their new home landscape as a backdrop.

Katie & Joe's new house that they are renovating before they move in, which should be  in December.  Another beautiful home with superb new work done to it.  

Very fun Sunday afternoon pizza dinner and theater show "Scrooge" at the Gaslight Theater.  Weird to go to a classic holiday show when it feels like June outside!

Catnap before FROST, which is only the best gelato this side of the  Atlantic!

Flying away into the sunset...goodbye my loved ones!  Until next time, Tucson!

2nd Cousin Birthday Party (squared)

Last weekend we had the pleasure of attending two birthday parties, both for second cousins.  Luke hadn't been to a kid birthday party for a while, so didn't really know what treats he was in for.  He quickly understood that kid's birthday parties meant three things that he is very supportive of:  other kids, new toys to play with and cake.  We had a breakthrough that he didn't cry when "Happy Birthday" was sung, as he has done almost every time so far.  We think he is either a) getting more mature; or perhaps more likely b)  linking the singing with the cake eating immediately after.  

Jackson Warner (Matt's cousin Drew's son) has his 2nd BD party on Saturday.  His party was race car themed, so cute!   Jackson is in his new car and Luke wants to play with the balloons that were taped to it.

Drew, Aunt Diane, 2nd cousin Lila

Race track - Luke, Orrin and Jackson

Jackson opening his presents.  

On Sunday we had Lila Huffman's 1st bd party (Matt's cousin Justin's daughter)

eating her cupcake

Opening presents.  There were tons of kids there!

Also this week I got to visit a couple of my friends who both recently had babies.  Amy Spears is a friend from work, and Katherine is a friend from business school.  Holding those only weeks-old babies was making this baby in my stomach seem a lot more real!  Soon this will be us again!

Amy and Jax, her 4th!!

Katherine, Eliah & baby Lillian, their 1st,

Miscellaneous pictures from the week.  Luke is talking so much more each week, I can't even keep up with giving the updates.   I think this was the "explosion" they all told me would happen sooner or later.  It is very fun!

More painting of the pumpkins.

Isolene made this little proxy train table for Luke, since he tends to knock over everythikng when it is on the ground.  We'll play for hours with this when it is up on the table.

A "real" train table at the auto repair shop that we had to literally rip Luke away from.

After the pumpkin paint was such a hit, we got him some finger paint which became a messy activity.  Since Luke prefers to not wear clothes anyway, it didn't take much to convince him to paint with just his diaper on.

But then he decided his diaper didn't need to be on either:)

Road Trip to TN!

Our friends Brian and Erica were getting married in Gatlinburg, TN on November 3rd, so we decided to make a road trip out of it.  We borrowed the big van from Matt's parents and loaded in with Andy and Nicki Bullock to make the 10 hour drive south.  The Smoky Mountains were gorgeous.  We really enjoyed both our trip out and the time we spent there.  The venue was amazing - we all stayed in log cabins in the mountains, with fantastic views.  Our cabin was so huge that it had all of Matt's college friends staying in it (known as the Wolfpack).  People came from far and wide, so it was a fun reunion.  We got to experience some beautiful sights in Great Smoky Mountain National Park and of course enjoyed Brian and Erica's wedding intimate and beautiful wedding.  Thanks to Donna and Emil for watching Luke and Spumoni!

Brian and Erica at the rehearsal dinner

There were wrap around porches on every cabin with superb mountain views.

Three of the four roommates from college - Matt, Eric & Mark.  Justin, the 4th roommate, just had a baby girl in CA so couldn't make the trip.

Katie Brinker and Nicki Bullock

View from the back porch

Front of our cabin

Road trip to the National Park - Nicki, Lisa, Mark, Matt, Katie

Matt, Phil, Mike, Mark

Wedding ceremony.  It was a warm, sunny day - they lucked out!

Our group's cabin from the back.  It was three floors!

Walking into the reception.

Al fresco dining with mountain views, so awesome!

Ken and Adam

The reception was in Brian & Erica's cabin.  Game room up in the loft.

View of the rest of the party from the loft.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - a "must see" according to TripAdvisor! 

The tour is about an hour - but the "roaring fork" is the best part of the drive.

Settler homes to walk through - how crazy would it be to raise 10 kids in that  little house?

Water Mill remnants

Halloween

This year Luke was really into trick or treating.  It was adorable.  We weren't sure what to expect, but after the girl at the first house gave him some candy for his bucket, he got the idea!  He would say "next house!" and point to where he would want to go.  A few times he would point home and say "home - eat candy!"  but then we would suggest another house and he would like that idea better.  We tried to get him to say the appropriate things at each house.  Technically, he did it, but just not at the right time.  He would whisper "trick or treat" when walking up to the door, but then was extremely shy once the door actually opened and would say nothing.  Then when the door closed he would say "tank you".  Ha!  The cold evening required us to switch from the traditional silk Chinese outfit that we had planned for him to wear to the warmer firefighter costume (thanks Drew Conklin for lending the raincoat and boots!).  

We allowed him a piece of candy and he was hooked! "It tastes so good when it hits your lips!"  He woke up the next two mornings asking for more candy - uh oh - candy monster!