As we were packing, Jaxon had to have a picture with his sister.
I also was able to finish Gemma's stocking before we left- like I said, it was in record time: about 2 weeks! I am very proud, especially those stitches that look like ringlets on the princess' head. Those were tough!
Ari let me open a birthday present the night before we left! I'm in HEAVEN- a waterproof ipod holder! Now I can jam with my tunes, while I'm swimming my laps. This is an invention I've been waiting my whole life for. LOVE technology! The earphones act as earplugs too! So cool, it's ok. . .be jealous! I'm on an exercising weight loss kick right now and am LOVING it! 20 pounds gone so far! This is me getting ready to take on Michael Phelps, ha ha! 
Not that this is going to help- but I figure as long as I'm burning those calories. . . .:)Here's my annual Texas Mint Chocolate Sheet Cake- Ari has perfected it!
The kids were so cute when we sang happy birthday! Kodee kept saying "want happy birthday cake!" BTW, Jaxon's in a hat phase right now:)
Miss Gem all ruffled up with my favorite orange flower of hers- now this flower is the perfect size for her little head and body! She was wearing the boys old baby jeans and we thought she needs some girl baby jeans, so we went on an Old Navy run in Mesa.
Joanna got to meet Gemma for the first time! We were so glad we finally were able to get up to the valley to visit Jim and Joanna- seems like it's been forever!
For my birthday dinner we went to Kabuki- it's a sushi joint in the Tempe Fashion District. One of my favorite restaurants. I love their seared tuna sushi and beef teriyaki. The boys LOVED the edamame/tofu soup that is their house soup. Jaxon was drinking up everybody's. WHAT??? :) They loved the chop sticks too and their noodles!
Mmmm MMM good. Now if I can just remember to take the tag off the shirt right after I buy it next time:) Ariel made sure to make fun of me for it! She came along with us for the fun. My Karate Sucker Punch juice was awesome too! Dont worry- very non alcoholic.
So of course we leave town for the first time as a family since. . . Christmas?? Oh wait, Tucson in spring, so - well we RARELY leave so you get the point. Well Ryan calls me up and says he's in T Town, of course we're gone! He was down for Lamar's baby's blessing, so he met up with us at Cafe Rio on his way to the airport! The kids loved his beard and kept petting his face like he was a puppy. Kodee and he especially have a unique bond:) Gemma was all watermeloned out (outfit I mean).
We are your cool Thatcher kids grown up. . .ha ha.
Boys got matching hats at Old Navy- they LOVE them!
We also got them matching suits at Old Navy. They had such a blast at the resort- with the wave pool, baby pool, lazy river, slides, pool upon other pools, sprinkler fountains- it was the perfect place for them. We avoided the hottest/sunniest parts of the day and went and saw Cars 2. I can't believe how ghetto the Safford movie theater is compared to the AMC in Mesa. Sad that it was way cheaper to go their too. A little ColdStone afterward was the literally the "Icing" on the cake. Bless you Oreo Creme Filling Ice Cream!!! MMMMMM
As I mentioned before- Ariel was able to come up with us for a day and help us with Gemma and the boys. They so loved having her around! It was nice to be able to play with them and not worry about the baby. Thanks Ariel. 
Jaxon is such a great swimmer now that we didn't even worry about him in the pools. He's a champ!
This was the part of the lazy river Gemma didn't like so much- so we went and got an umbrella at walmart to shield her from the streams of water. Worked like a charm!
Our little Diva catching some ZZZZZ's poolside. She loved it, and we love the suit Ariel bought her with the "built in" diaper! So brilliant!
Daddy/Daughter lazy rivering away! It was funny because when we got there we realized we forgot Kodee's swim diapers. The first night he was ok and didn't do a doodie. But the next morning when we went out- oh man! He got on my lap on the lazy river, and then he hugged me and laid on my chest while we went around. I was thinking- awww such a cute boy, then I felt this growing lump in my left hand where I was holding his bum. That's right- he was poopin' away. I felt like I had to hold it in my hand through the suit so it wouldn't get everywhere. Needless to say my hand smelled like Kodee poop for the rest of the day no matter how often I washed them. Such a dad am I. If you listen closely to the video down below where Jaxon is running from the wave pool he's screaming "I gotta poo!!!" Something about the water triggers their poo reflex. Sorry, TMI, but WHAT'S THE DEAL!!!?? Even as I write this Gemma just let about 10 big squirt successions right in a row. Feel better sis?
Jaxon loved the "Bath tub" by the pool outside of our hotel room. We let him go down and swim all by himself while Kodee was getting to sleep. So grown up he is!
This brother is one protector of his sister! He knows where she is and what she's doing every second of the day. You can often find him sitting with her or playing with her.
A miracle happened! As I was getting Sonic for breakfast one morning, two bracelets magically appeared on my side mirror on the car. I immediately called Emily, and she and Izzy came on over to the resort for a day of fun in the sun. It was so much fun to hang out with her and visit! I love how she and Ari our best friends! Lucky for me to have a friend from my single days that has bonded so much with my wife!!
Ari- sweetest, most beautifullest, lovely and of good reportest wife of all time. That's right, I'll quote the thirteenth- watch out!
Em and Iz with Gem. That's a lot of abreeving.
French Fry anyone!? The resort food was not bad at all.
Sprinklers by the fountain! Sub zero - but perfect for cooling off in the heat. Might have been the boys favorite part. Kodee would run straight from the sprinklers and then dead fall into the pool.
Gem was so cute- and not hard to deal with at all! She would go from face like this. . .
to this in seconds. But if you picked her up, she was fine.
Mom and the boys on the way out of the park.
Our family! Summer 2011- are we really this big of a family now? I can't believe it!
Stopped by to see Kim and Jim on the way out.
Can you believe how grown up Kayla is!!!?
Jim had a special bond with Gemma- she couldn't stop laughing while he was holding her.
Such a little cutie pa-tooty! I think we'll keep her!Gemma had her two month check up yesterday. She is 12 lbs. 10 oz. and 24 1/4 in. long. Uncle Richard says she's very healthy and a perfect baby. She had to get her shots, and has been out ever since. She's literally been sleeping for 48 hours with nary a cry.
All in all it was a mighty fine vacation! (Even if it was for just three days). Here are some of the video high lights at the park. I can't believe I talked Ari into going down the "black hole/bonzai slide" it was so scary and SO HIGH! I went down it first and swear my body left the slide for a couple of seconds and was free falling. When you get up there it seems like your just as high as all the sky scrapers over in downtown. 
2 comments:
WOW! That looked like a TON of fun. I've always thought someone should invent a waterproof way to listen to music while swimming. How exciting that it's on the market now. You lazy river poop story made me laugh so hard I was crying. I totally agree water makes kids poop. I've had to clean out the bath tub so many times because 2 seconds after they got in they decided to poop. Sorry your hand smelled all day, that's a bummer.
Hello Jordan and Ari! Sounds like you guys had a blast, and the ringlets look AMAZING!
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