Arizona

We made it! We're here! We left Kansas the Sunday after Christmas and arrived in Arizona on Tuesday. We split it up into 3 days so we wouldn't go crazy in the car. And by that I really mean so Josh wouldn't go crazy, 'cause I'll be honest, Eli and I are not the best long-car-ride companions. But we made it!

Eli and Josh on our front porch in Kansas. The car is all packed and we are heading out!

For the most part, Eli did not sleep very much in the car, and when he did it would only be for 20-30 minutes so he would most likely wake up cranky. He asked for his bear and his puppy and his blanket every time and I would have to lay the blanket out over him, even if it was already hot in the car.

The day after we arrived to Arizona it rained and then snowed up on the mountains. Snow! In Arizona! Aunt Carrie said she doesn't remember ever seeing snow on the mountains around Phoenix. You can just barely see it in the picture, but it's there!

A few days later, after warming up a bit, we went to a park with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Alan and Grandma Sue. They had a train you can ride. Eli was so excited! When he is in new situations, he doesn't talk very much and doesn't interact or smile. But I promise, he loved riding the train. 

Sitting, waiting for the train to go. Eli took my phone and took pictures of Daddy and Grandma 'Soup'.

After the train ride he thought he just had to ride this car too. I promise, he loved driving the car. :)

We asked him if he wanted to ride the jet ski (we had one ticket left, so why not?) and he said yes, so Josh helped him on. He was very serious about riding it. We cheered him on every time he passed by! He couldn't hide his smile as he passed us...

But then he would turn away as he came near us! My two year old is embarrassed of his family! What will he think when he is 16? 

We stayed with Grandma Sue for a little over a week after we came to town, until we were able to move into a apartment (and get internet!). I love we were able to find something close to the hospital! I've never been this close to work before (unless you count when I was 14 and worked at the little league baseball field two blocks from our house), and I love it. We also have a great park just a block down the street. Eli loves the slides! 

This is actually a park we met Carrie and Alan at on Sunday afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny 70 degrees, and apparently eveyone had the same idea, but it was still lots of fun! He went down ALL the slides (and they had a lot!) more than once, and they also had a pond with ducks! 

And a fountain. He wanted to 'get in', but I promise we didn't let him!

Watching the ducks. 

His favorite slide was this big one. Josh had to lift him up to get to it, but he would slide down and run back to Josh to have him lift him up again and again!

After the park, we headed over to Bass Pro to see the big fish! This was awesome. He sat in front of the tank and watched the fish for a good 10-15 minutes (super long in Eli time). 

"Fish" 

After watching fish, we walked around the store. So many things to see! He 'drove' a gator, 'slept' in a tent, followed animal foot prints and saw lots and lots of animals!