"We're Off to AZ"

Well, truth be told we already did and are home safe and sound. 

Crew and I visited my sister Alyssa and family for a week this month. She had a beautiful little boy in April and I have been inchin' to hop on a plane and hold Baby Rigdon. 

We divided our time between a half dozen stellar parks and green spaces, her community pool and a few shopping hot spots. We also had the opportunity to spend a few evenings with Uncle Ben and Aunt Madison who are also in Phoenix for medical school right now. 

The week was so relaxed and chill; just what the Dr. ordered. Even better is that both families will be back in Utah in about a month to see us again. 

See below for picture overload!


We're off to Arizona! from Maura Lansford on Vimeo.

Riding the Park Trolley

I can't believe how big he is getting

Crew and I pretending we were riding the Dinosaur from Toy Story

Relaxing and watching Scout or Peter Pan.

Alyssa and the man of the hour, Ridgon

All cleaned up for church

Crew loved to "check in" on the baby every so often

Feeding the Ducks turned into feeding himself

 

Love this girl!

Nordstrom Clearance Store...um yes please!

Crew was enamored by the cactus and was quick to remind me that they will "pitch our fingers!"

Nearly daily workouts with my favorite gym buddy!

Potty Dance

We are officially in the throes of potty training at the Lansford house. An episode at the library last week put me over the edge and convinced me that we need to bite the bullet and get our little one trained. 

We are only three days in, and have the "hiccup" of Crew being at the sitters for half of the day now, but I remain resolute that we can get this done. 

On the up side, Crew is a good sport about "Potty Practice," loves his big boy underwear and putting stickers on his Lightning McQueen potty chart and does really well when he needs to go and he is already on the potty for a regularly scheduled practice.

Our accidents keep falling in between regularly scheduled times on the potty. Any suggestions, fellow Moms?

Adding a sticker to his Lightning McQueen Chart

Cashing in on a reward for a successful potty time!

Easter Weekend

I am so grateful for this past weekend and the opportunity to reflect on everything that is good, wonderful and just plain beautiful in my life. 

This time of year can get gloomy and totally drive you batty if you let it. If you disagree, don't tell me, let me live in denial that everyone struggles a little while waiting for Spring to commit to arriving. :)

Luckily for us, we were blessed with completely gorgeous weather for Easter Weekend. 

Saturday morning we kicked off the weekend eating chocolate chip muffins and dying eggs with Crew for the first time. He didn't like waiting for the colors to get deep, so to be honest, he spent most of the time playing with playdough. 

He was, at least, willing to pose for this sweet photo with the "eggies"

My family celebrates Easter morning with a picnic breakfast on the family room floor. Mom would spread out the blanket and fill it with our dyed Easter eggs, mini cinna buns and lots of yummy fruit.  We recreate that but opt to use the coffee table as a buffer for the living room rug. And since both my boys HATE hard boiled eggs, we borrow a breakfast casserole from Cole's mom to round out the menu and make everyone happy. 

Easter always seems like a great excuse to bulk up on our church materials. Crew loved the Jesus books the Easter bunny brought him.

I am sad that we didn't take time for a family photo but Cole managed a few special shots of the lil man.

Watch out, ladies!

Then it was off to Grandma Janice's house for an egg hunt and yummy dinner. 

a little bit o' pixie dust

Despite the title, this is not another Disneyland post. However, our trip definitely resulted in a full on Peter Pan "stage" for our little man.

It's so cute and has continued, going on, three weeks now, so I wanted to be sure and document the details. 

Right after our trip, Crew started referring to himself as Peter Pan. He even insisted that we use a British accent as to sound more like the movie (i.e. Peeta Pan). 

A week later, my in-laws were in town and somehow within the week, my mother-in-law was Wendy, Uncle Chase was Captain Hook and I was Tinkerbell. Towards the end of the trip, Crew rounded out the rest of the assignments making Baylee "Darling" (Mrs. Darling), Cole the Crocodile and Taylor a mermaid or Tiger Lily (he seems to flip back and forth on any given day). Rylee got stuck being Nana the dog. And while she is fighting it like crazy - like Chase clarifies below, what the little prince says - goes. 

 

I have no idea how long this will last, but I am truly loving it.

the Happiest Place on Earth: Day 3

Wednesday was our last day in the park and there were so many rides and characters that we still wanted to do and meet!

We started the day at a Character breakfast. This was take or leave for me but Cole and Crew loved it.The food was tasty and Crew loved getting individual time with each character. Favorites were Daisy, Mickey and 

Pretending to be scared. A new trick of late. :)

Really excited to have breakfast with his Disney friends

Just finished his surf dance with Mickey and the other kids.

Loved Minnie and complimented her on her dress and her polka dots

Every 20 or 30 minutes, Mickey would take a break from taking photos with the kids and do a song or game with everyone. Crew was timid the first time but by the time the second one rolled around, he was ready to get his groove on.

Disney Character Breakfast from Maura Lansford on Vimeo.

Then we were off to explore Tune Town. We road our first and only real roller coaster that Crew was tall enough for. Wondering how he did? Wondering how I did? You will get to see both in the video below.



Crew First Roller Coaster from Maura Lansford on Vimeo.

Dumbo was a huge success; we ended up at that ride a couple more times that day.

You can never have too many photos with the man himself, right?

So impressed with Mickey's "projects," which is what he calls tools right now

Checking Mickey's mail

Minnie's Bedroom; the line was long and I was ready to lay down too. :)

Watching the cake rise and fall.

Buzz Lightyear ride was our longest ride line. Out came the babysitter.

Drivin!

And then nothing like wrapping up the day with souvenir shopping, more characters and a repeat of the Disney parade.

Waiting for Pooh Characters.

After asking to "jump" with Tigger.

"You like to eat honey!"

And of course, one last ride on the trip favorite "Peter Pan."

Oh Disney, how we loved you. :)