Happy Birthday Madison

Since we went to the Grand Canyon on Madison's birthday, we decided to celebrate the following Sunday with some close neighbors and friends.
We had a little ice cream bar and opened gifts. It was simple and perfect. I really wanted to do something more elaborate but it just wasn't in the cards this year. Hopefully when Madison has the ability to hold onto memories I can come up with something awesome. Until then, I think low key is the way I might play it.

 

This was my sad attempt at making the cupcakes fancier than they were. The thing is I don't even feel bad. It is what it is. Some talents we have, others we don't. I can live with that

The party went really well and Madison had a great time, until we gave her a cupcake. I mean it could have been the hat that she hated, but we took that off and she still hated the cupcake. She literally spit the frosting out. Once Madison got her berries, she was a happy camper. #lifegoals #cleaneating

We can't pick on Madison too much though because Kelsey was the exact same way. I don't know where these children come from. This frosting licking mother of theirs is VERY confused.

Here is Kelsey at her first birthday.
        

The rest of the evening was spent surrounding Madison and telling her how wonderful she is.  I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty awesome party to me.

Happy Birthday Madison. I can't believe that you are one! We love you so much and you bring us so much joy and happiness. 

The party list included:
Aunt Kay
Papa and Grandma Nelson
Edie Bizjak
Rich and Kristy Randell
Jordyn and Kathryn Randell

February Randoms

February was huge but it had a few random moments too.


Evening bike rides

 Visit to the golf course owl

 Cleaning out the fridge meals

Kelsey is really into playing with her toys lately and I totally love it.  I am totally loving her imagination. Sometimes I miss the other things she used to do, like mommy and dress up, but right now her new game is toys and its adorable.

In between the Grandparent visits we went to the Arabian Horse show in Scottsdale while Ethan was on a camp out.  Kelsey actually didn't love it and Madison had a fever that I didn't know was coming so it wasn't our best trip.

We got a care package from Harper and loved it! 

Ethan took Kelsey to the airport with the scouts one Saturday. She totally loved it

February was a big month! Good luck March. You have big shoes to fill

The Grand Canyon

Since the day we found out we were moving to Phoenix my question has been, "When are we going to the Grand Canyon?" Well, when my parents came to visit we made it happen! Hollar!!!

Ethan got off work a tad early on Friday, we loaded up the car and headed up. Its only about 3.5/4 hours away but we decided that we were going to stop and have a sit down dinner some where along the way. This made the trip end up being about 5 hours or so but dinner was totally worth it. We ate at a place called Rock Springs Cafe, the cutest, most down home, chicken and waffles place I have ever been. They are famous for pies but we were all so stuffed from our chicken and waffles and beer battered catfish that we had no room. The waitress was shocked when we said no thank you! It was just the funnest little stop.

Notice the cowboy hat toppers?!

Pickled eggs anyone?

 Kelsey was very hungry

After we ate, we got the girls dressed in their jammies and they were able to fall asleep in the car. We got to the hotel around 10 and had a really good nights rest. While we were unpacking the car, we heard a pack of coyotes get their dinner. They had to have been less than a 100 yards away. It was scary but cool all at the same time. The hotel itself was actually really nice especially considering the price. I was really pleased. I mean I don't love hotels, but this one didn't gross me out. That's saying something.



The next morning, we got up, went out to breakfast at a little Mexican place (that made the BEST breakfast burritos!!) and then headed for the gates. I thought I knew what to expect, but the Grand Canyon truly is amazing. There is almost a reverence there that is indescribable. I don't mean people were being religious, but it is so big and everyone is so awe struck, that everyone just sort of whispers. It was kind of awesome.

Selfie Stick!!! Purchased specifically for this event

  Rooster really was there. She just wasn't allowed to get close to the edges so she really wasn't in very many pictures. She was there though. I promise!

We didn't know how safe the Grand Canyon was going to be so we convinced Kelsey to wear this bracelet. Turns out its crazy safe so she didn't need it but we convinced her so well that she wanted to wear it. 

 Well until I took her hiking. Then it was quick to come off

We visited visitor centers, drove around to the different look outs, stopped at a few ruins, and walked along the rim. Sometime after lunch both girls fell asleep in the car which ended up being really perfect for us. They both slept for 3 hours so we all just took turns standing by the car while the others walked to the different look outs. At the last look out, and my second favorite (the Castle) we saw a razor back pig. We decided to wake Kelsey up for that I'm really glad we did. The pig was really fun to see but the castle was amazing. You could climb up into it (which Kelsey kept asking which princess lived here) and the view from the top was the view you would expect to see of the Grand Canyon. It was so much fun.

Some cool ruins 

 

The "castle" with the amazing view

 
The really cool pig we saw

 

The makeshift panoramic view from the castle. 

After the castle we stopped at one last look out before our last visitor center and I really think this look out was my favorite.

The last stop we took that had a visitor center, was my favorite view of the Canyon. I don't know if it was because the sun was setting so the colors were amazing or because the Canyon was that much greater in that part but it was stunning.  I was really worried that pictures wouldn't do it justice (which they don't) but my dad was able to capture a few shots that give some perspective as to how magnificent it really was.

Dad was quiet the photographer

Once the sun started setting we took the long drive back home. We stopped in Flag for some dinner, where we changed the girls into their jammies, and headed for home. I am so grateful that we got to see the Grand Canyon. Everything worked out perfect from the car rental, to the food, to nap time. I'm glad my parents were able to go up with us too, but mostly I'm glad I got to cross something off my bucket list. My bucket list is not very exciting but its fun to cross stuff off. Next stop... Josh Groban concert!!!