Arnizona: The Desert

Mommy and I got to visit Arnizona last weekend to see Aunt Kari, Aunt Denise, Grandma and Grandpa de Jong, and Mommy's friend Liz. Arnizona is far away in the desert and REALLY hot. Mommy was just glad to get away from the clouds and rain in Seattle, but we did lots of fun stuff while we were there.


We went to the Children's Museum with Mommy's friend Liz and her daughter Lauren. We got to paint this cool blue castle.



We put on a puppet show.

Lauren and I made a good team. She drove the car while I pumped the gas.

The museum had my favorite thing--a grocery store with carts just my size!

I also got to bake a pizza.


Mommy and Liz have known each other since their freshman year at BYU--that was a loooong time ago!

Aunt Kari and I played a Toy Story memory game that she gave me as a present. She was pretty good at remembering where the matches were--but I was better.

Aunt Kari showed me how to get Riley to shake.

I also got to play different instruments Aunt Kari has collected during her plane trips around the world. I played this xylophone and those drums in the background.

I also showed off my skills on the ukelele.

For some reason my aunts and Grandparents loooove to hold me any chance they get. So when I climbed in Aunt Kari's lap while watching a movie, she made Karin take a picture so she could always remember it.

Aunt Denise gave me a super fun piggy back ride. She runs a lot faster than Mommy does.

It wasn't too hot to go outside as long as we were out there before 9am. Aunt Kari let me throw dirt balls against her back wall. I love dirt balls. (Just ask Daddy.)

Have you ever laid in a hammock? They are so comfy.

But a little hard to get out of.

The only time we headed outside during the HOT afternoon was to go to a splash park. It was so cool.

They had a fun little water slide to go down.

There was also a party going on at the park with lots of rides. Aunt Kari and I rode in this dragon's belly and Aunt K made it spin really fast.

I also got to ride a bulldozer!

And eat my first shaved ice. This pic was taken long before I finished eating it. My mouth was totally blue by the time I was done.

Taking Riley for a walk--at least, that's how it started out. Half the time it seemed like he was walking me because I had to run to keep up with him. Of course, this was before 9am.

I don't have pictures of the last cool thing we did. Aunt Kari works at the airport and while we were waiting to get on our plane, she took me for a walk--into the aiplane's cockpit! There were buttons all over and the steering wheel isn't round like in a car. Instead you use your feet to move it around. And...the plan was wearing sunglasses!

I loved everything about Arnizona--even the cactus! I really wanted to stay there, but Mommy made me come home. I can't wait to go back.