Anthem Park, AZ

We went to visit my sister Heather in Arizona for Christmas. She lives in a nice neighborhood where you can get a great view of the stars at night (no city lights to worry about). My sister and her three kiddos, my brother Aaron and his wife Emily and their three kiddos, my parents, and our family with our three kiddos all stayed in her three-bedroom house. I wasn't sure exactly how it would work with 17 of us, but it was SO FUN! I loved giving our kids the chance to get to know their "other cousins."

(Not the best pic of us, but I think we're related)

While we were there we tried to spend as much time outside in the sun as we could. One afternoon we went to a place called Anthem Park near Heather's house. It has a playground with slides big enough for the "big kids." I had a great time playing tag and hanging out with my family.

This is us playing tag. Doug (underneath) is "It" so Heather, Aaron, and I are running for our lives.

The girls having fun on the frog/ lizard creature.

David not quite sure what is going on and why I'm asking him to stop.

Papago Park, AZ

While in AZ, my brother Matt wanted to go on a hike. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks of climbing a mountain as fun so not everyone went. Based on my current medical condition, we compromised and picked a little mountain with a hole in it that was easy enough for David and Rebecca to do without complaining.

Papago Park is one that I have enjoyed going to since I first moved to AZ. (I was almost attacked by wild geese one time-- I gave up my bread so they didn't kill me). My brother Matt and I have climbed to the top several times over the years. I wasn't quite up for it this time, but Matt still showed off for everyone.
It was fun going with my parents and brother and his family. Lucy is just younger than Rebecca and is full of energy. She had fun trying to follow David around on all of the sharp drop-off areas. So fun! No one fell over the edge and no one cried, so I think it was a grand success.

(P.S. My Christmas pictures disappeared but miraculously resurfaced when I was ready to give up on blogging- hence the long gap between posts- sorry).