Spring Break 2105

Spring Break 2015 has come and gone and once again, we reflect with gratitude to be able to visit Grandma and Grandpa in AZ. 

Stella and Grandma cuddled up playing solitaire on the iPad. 

Sunday was a highlight for me. We went to mass and then met up with all my AZ fam at an adorable Italian place that was Aunt Ann's favorite. The kids has a blast together! Why I didn't get a pic of the adults is beyond me!!! (you can see a few reflections in the mirror....haha!). 

We went to our 1st spring training game ever on Tuesday.... So much fun. I was reading the courtesy airplane magazine on our flight down and found out about this cool park right next to the Cubs Spring Training facility and just had to check it out. Super cool! Splash pads, ziplines, climbing walls, etc!

The game was really fun!

Lots of swim time in the pool. 

We love to hike new trails when we are in AZ. We hiked a local trail this day and did the most difficult route, it wasn't too bad. Camelback was definitely harder last year. 

Taking Steve's bike for a spin in the 'hood. 

How in the world is Stella 10???!!  Her main gift was her desk, but she also, was surprised with tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert next Oct!!! She (and I !!!!) are super excited! TS is her absolute FAV! Tickets went on sale last Nov, almost a full year before the concert (crazy!!), so I've been sitting on this surprise for awhile. (I might be more excited than her! Haha!!)

P inherited a labeler from Grandpa, which meant that Pmhad to label everything!! Including me! LOL!

It was a rainy day in the desert the morning of S's bday so we went to an indoor pizza/arcade place. 

With grandma and grandpa. 

Blowing out 10 candles!

Last day took the kids off roading in the neighbors Gator type ATV. Super fun!

Plane ride home. This cracked me up. He made a label for his iPad! Love this boy!

And.......nothing else says "welcome home" other than a garden gnome with st paddys days beads arounds it's neck (and sporting a woody) . Hahaha! Seriously cracked us up last night. Love our friends. (we put this gnome on their door steps almost 10 months ago, without the beads and note,.....guess it was time for us to get a payback!! Haha!!)

Birthdays!!!

Sara turned 40 (!!!) on the 6th and Stella turns 10 (!!!!) on the 19th! 

Wowzers!!!! 

The saying is true, time flies when your having fun!!

We were able to celebrate Sara last night at Blue Moon in WDM, a dialing piano bar. It was a blast! She had a great group of friends show up to ring in a new decade with her!

Great pic of Sara and Wes!

Uncle Mark enjoying the fish bowl drink. 

We never get our pic taken together and if we do Mike's eyes are always closed! Turned out good (for us!)

Love these ladies. 

Sara got called up on stage and they played Jessie's Girl for her. She had to play the cowbell and walk/dance across stage a bunch of times. She was awesome!

Blurry b/c she is playing the cowbell! The pianist was very impressed with her cowbell skills! 

Today we threw a surprise party for Stella! It was soooooo much fun! I have videos of the girls hiding when Stella (Mike) pulled onto our street and the girls were getting in their hiding spaces and then of when Stella walked in and the girls yelled "SURPRISE". Totally awesome. She was NO clue! Seriously the best kid party we've ever had. P is already asking for one....maybe when he turns 10!

I planned a bunch of Minute To Win It games and a scavenger hunt outside. We were blessed with amazing weather! The kids loved just being able to run wild outside after all this crappy cold weather we've had. 

I think this was the favorite game. Ping Pong Peanut Butter. Kids stood on the other side of the island and had to bounce a ping pong ball on the island and try to land it on a  piece of bread covered in PB. 

Throwing the ping pings. 

Stella isn't a big fan of cake. So instead of cake we served her favorite dessert, S'mores pizza from Papa Murphy's. It was a hit!

After blowing out her candles

And a few random photos. 

Porter class put on mass a couple weeks ago and he had a speaking part, reading the prayers of intentions. He knocked it out of the park. I was SO proud of him! He's shy and not big on being in front of a crowd, but he did fabulous speaking in front of nearly 750 people. 

Dad was sending me text about how nice the weather was while they were on a road trip a couple weeks ago that we decided to show him that it was swimsuit weathered here in Iowa, too!! They both ran around the house in their swimsuits also. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what the heck was going on. LOL!

Stella's teacher was pretty sick and missed a week of school. Stella absolutely loves her teacher this year. So last Sunday she made Mrs. E banana bread, all by herself!, and we took it to her that afternoon. 

Good pic of my boys. :-)

Dowling girls made it to the state basketball tourney. Most of Stella's bball team went to the game on Friday to cheer them on. Unfortunately we lost to the Waukee Warriors! It was still a fun experience. 

Stella had her last bball game yesterday. She's loves bball and had a fun season!