FAMILY TRAVEL: ARIZONA PART 1

As expected, we took loads of pics last week while on vacay, so splitting things up into two photo dumps along with slightly repetitive recaps since we didn’t do much other than swim and eat (sleep and repeat). No complaints here tho! After the year we’ve had, it’s just what the doctor ordered. Here’s the documented mems of the first few days of our trip!

DAY ONE:

After arriving at the Arizona Grand, we unpacked (the only thing I’m OCD about in my life) and went straight to the water park. The rest is a blur. That’s what happens when you stay up past midnight packing and leave the house at 4am to catch your flight. Luckily I wasn’t the only tired person so after a little sun and swimming, bedtimes were early and easy!

Tilly at 12 is pretty magic… the year of kiss-y faces, leg kicks, backbends, handstands, trust falls, and changing outfits 5x a day. Lots of photo evidence to follow.

Is there anything better than a poolside siesta? Nope!

The next day when we got to the pool Poppy said, “Can we do that thing where I fall asleep on you outside, again?” Unfortunately she never slowed down long enough to fall asleep but the request to do so was almost as sweet.

DAY TWO:

Johan and I used the gym and walked to Starbucks while everyone else slept in and vegged. One of the perks of vacationing with older kids is that mom + dad can sneak in some QT! Then we made a Target run for pool noodles and goggles (essentials!) and spent the rest of the day at the hotel pool before going out to a dinner at Pizzeria Bianco for the best salads and pizza!

When the kids pose themselves for a pics, lol. ^^^

I can’t with these kids!!!! The luckiest!

LOL. This pic of Griff and Tilly. Griff made it his mission to “ruin” every pic and Tilly wanting to do all the poses.

Then there’s Poppy and me.

Don’t think many kids go to this restaurant so the server and hostess seemed a little unwelcoming at first but in the end everyone was really sweet and dinner was incredibly enjoyable and yummy. They even came out while the kids were finishing their dessert to offer more sweet cream for their chocolate pound cake.

Griff staying on mission and recruited his big brother, too.

Feeling inspired to build a permanent lemonade stand in our backyard for the kids to set up a snacks and refreshments all summer!

YUM! Salads are my love language.

Currently working on a menu plan for May based on a lot of the food we ate in AZ.

DAY THREE:

We went back to the water park for the morning, spent an hour in the lazy river, grabbed in-‘n-out for a late lunch, and played at the pool outside our room for the rest of the evening. Heaven.

I might look harmless, but I mean business, lol.

The boys playing RUNAROUND ping pong!

One of my favorite dinners of the trip! A grocery store cutie platter by the fire. Need to recreate this all summer long…. Yoder has a new project on his honey do list, and it looks a lot like that fireplace. LOL. Kidding… kinda.

There’s something magical about being on vacation and aside from the change of scenery and break from the mundane, it probably has a lot to do with the lack of laundry, cooking, house projects, and yard work. It would be unproductive to try and mimic that for daily life, but I’m definitely on the hunt for more moments at home that feel like vacation. Less distractions, stuff, clutter, screens, and media. More clarity, workflow, boundaries, time outdoors, and connection.

More soon!

xo, Rae

P.S. — Will also work on rounding up outfit links in a separate post!