Super Soaked

Landon is so excited, the water season has begun!!!  Splash pads and swimming pool….nothing stops him from getting water logged daily.  Love this time of year too, the weather reminds me of why we have lived in our entire life!!

Landon and Liam were the only ones at the splash pad when we arrived…but not for long.  Jessi and I had brought so many water toys that all the kids, big and small were drawn to our area to share and partake in the water fight that Landon and Liam initiated!!

 

Each kid had their fair share of getting super soaked!

 

These two are full of fun and sometimes a little mischief!  They can argue like brothers, compete like rivals, yet team up like the best buds that they are!!

The pool is in full swing!  The only ones daring enough to swim in the freezing water is the kids. Its a great excuse to stop our busy days and relax in the sun.

Creative Eating

Thinking outside the box……Landon is just not a fan of the most important meal of the day. I try to serve breakfast (and even his gummy vitamins) a little less traditional most mornings to entice my little guy!!

   

Dinosaur Day

Landon has entered his Dinosaur phase.  He talks, walks, plays, and wants to know everything about the Dinos.  Dinosaur Train and Dinosaurs Attack has become a fast favorite in our house, as he watches the shows he will look up Dinosaurs in his handy Dino book kept close by.  He plays Dinosaur Train online, sets up prehistoric towns, and knows more about these creatures than I can fathom.  Make no mistake, he still loves his fire trucks and emergency vehicles, this is just the newest addition to his play and knowledge set.

We hit up the Arizona Museum of Natural History today for their great Dinosaur display.  Landon was thrilled and has been talking about it all week, anxious to see fossils.  The excitement in his voice and step we when entered the museum was contagious.  He went room to room to room and back again taking it all in.  The displays were a great tool to gain even more knowledge and understanding of the animals and appreciate the grandeur of size.  We panned for gold, dug for fossils, and assembled puzzles. Certainly think this will be a frequented museum for us!  Landon left with a new Dinosaur play set and a dog tag necklace saying “Paleontologist in training”, which he wears proudly. 

 

Spring Training Game

Take me out to the ball game!!! More like, take Landon out to the ball game.  My Dad planned this special afternoon today for us at the Spring training game for the Milwaukee Brewers and L.A. Angels.  Snacking on hot dogs, nachos, red ropes, and snow cones while playing in the grass was the perfect afternoon combination.  Top it off with Mexican food after and we need to be rolled to bed.

 

We relaxed in grass, people and baseball watched, and got into a massive water bottle war.  This was yet another perfect day to add to 2012!  Landon and I had a blast!!  Thanks Dad and Claudia!

Renaissance

 

St. Patty’s Day at the Renaissance Festival!!  Guinness and giant turkey drumsticks, quite a combo.  Landon and his bud, Liam, played it up, pretending to be knights in shining armor with swords.  The excitement of jousting, music, and playing on the rides, was a perfect day for the Z’s. 

Vegas I Do’s

Mr.and Mrs. Anthony and Kori Esparza!!!  Woohoo!  My brother and his new wife tied the knot in Las Vegas, March 8th, at Emerald at Queensridge.  The entire weekend was jammed packed with so much fun,  I coined it as “the best weekend ever”!!  First off, I have ever few photos of the weekend itself; we were having such a blast that the camera came second and since we were all in the wedding party, carrying a camera was not an option.  I certainly regret that now, as I wish I had more photos to show and recap the beautiful weekend. The photos above I took from my cousin’s FB page and am stuck with the sizes.  Gonna have to wait for the professional shots to post more. 

A snapshot of the weekend:  Scot and I brought a nanny or a Child Development Engineer, Amalie, to be an extra pair of hands for us during all the wedding events.  Family came in from New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon….it was almost a family reunion, as we hadn’t seen some in years. everyone stayed at the Red Rock Resort, which was absolutely beautiful and perfect for our nights going it.  We went thru the rehearsal, drinks in the lobby bar, dinner, chatting as fast as we could with everyone, dying to catch up in our short amount of time.  The wedding day was INCREDIBLE!!!  A favorite moment is relaxing in the spa with Kori, chatting in the Jacuzzi and lying around in robes.  She was the ideal bride, if she was stressed you didn’t know it, just ready for her day.  Anthony and the guys headed to their spa time, as well.  The groom was cool, calm, collected, happy, and they were both so attentive to all their guests….quite an amazing pair.  I just love them both so much.  Following the spa, was all about the bride: hair, makeup, room services, champagne, and the big moment of  putting on her gown, the usual.  I loved being able to have some quiet times with my brother, Vince, his wife Melissa, and Landon and us getting time to spend with their 2 little ones, Chloe and Keegan. 

The wedding was picturesque at sunset.  The happy tears flowed down faces, especially mine, the smiles were huge, the love was abundant.  As for the reception…..food, drinks, dancing, dancing, and more dancing!!  We partied the time away until it was the bride and groom’s departure into a bubble blowing crowd of cheers.  The night didn’t stop there….we headed to Red Rock’s bowling alley, the bride still in her gown, following by playing craps in the casino before retiring to bed. 

Sleepy eyed and excited we came down the next morning for a champagne brunch to continue our chatter with family and wish Anthony and Kori a lifetime of happiness into their amazing new chapter of  life!! Sunday was a tearful goodbye to everyone, but the days we spent were overwhelming with love and amazing memories!!

  Family and friends for the rehearsal dinner.

My Mom and Jimmy with the newest member of our family, Keegan. 

 

My Dad with Keegers!

Landon earned the title Ring Security aka the Ring Bearer.  Uncle Ants and Aunt Kori got his this shirt which he wore proudly.  UNFORTUANTELY, I don’t have a shot of him in his tux, definitely need to purchase one from the photographer. 

 

Getting ready with the bride and can you believe her shoes!!!  The shoes are covered in Swarovski crystals.    I brought her something blue to wear on the bottom of her shoes.

  Landon’s first trip in a limo…don't’ be fooled by the look on his face, he LOVED it.  At the reception end he was bummed that we had to travel back to the resort in a shuttle, as he was requesting his “special car”. 

The girls….Tricia, the M.O.B. (mother of the bride), Kori, and Rebecca. 

No candid shots of the wedding.  Here’s a little of the after party.  Posing with my bro-in-law, Tucker and the bride at the bowling alley.

Melissa and Vince!!

The morning after…..Anthony and Landon and tables of family!!   

I am dying to get more photos from others that were able to catch different shots and I will keep posting to relive the great time!!

Campfire

          Nothing better on a cold evening than to bundle up, gather around a small fire roasting marshmallows!!  Taking advantage of some quiet time at home with friends and family!!