Visit to Phoenix

We had been trying to visit Kyle, Tiffany and kids since early November, but nothing ever worked out until late April. Kyle was in finals at Thunderbird, it was Easter and it was his birthday. This is what we saw when we knocked on the door. The Kids spent a lot of time making this welcome sign for Judy and me.

Charlie warmed up right away.

The next morning it was time to see that the Easter bunny left. Charlie found his.

Ellie found hers with a new swim suit in it.

Sometimes it is other things that is more fun to play with, like the messy grass stuff that filled the baskets.

Reviewing the loot.

I love my PlayDoh. And he played with it every day.

I'm a cutie and I know how to pose!

Erik is already to go to church.

And then Charlie was more interested in making movies than going to church.

Gramma and Grampa with the three youngest Larsen grand kids.

Charlie loves to eat. He has several bowls of cereal and other things for breakfast. How does he stay so slim?

Today I woke up with this beautiful smile on my face.

In Phoenix it was in the mid to upper 90s every day we were there and it was still April. And everyone tells us, "But it is a dry heat!" Well I don't understand that. It was still hot. So it was time to join the other moms and their kids at another apartment pool, with beach. Ellie is ready to swim. Ellie is showing us her stork pose.

Erik opted to play in the sand first.

Charlie was busy making sand sculptures.

Erik had his floaty car with him.

Charlie had his floaty arm thingies on but still played in the sand.

Ellie is a pretty good swimmer for her age so look for the video at the end of this post.

Since Kyle was celebrating his birthday by taking final exams, we decided to go to Costco and get a four layer gooey chocolate cake - just as much frosting as cake. And it was gooey. And it was a hit.

Even Superman liked it. Mmm mmm good.

Can I have some more?

After all Kyle's finals, we visited The school at which he has spent the last year, Thunderbird School of Global Management where Kyle is earning his MBA.

Children's museum was on the schedule but little did we know that it was also on the schedule for several schools. Crowded. And the big weather display was closed. Disappointed.

We went to a demonstration of how food enters and leaves the body. Ellie volunteered to help the staff person. It is kind of a gross subject but fun.

Teacher's pet.

Charlie wanted to be somewhere else.

At Ellie's suggestion we had a backyard picnic. Thank you Ellie. The temperature had cooled and we were in the shade and we had great company. The outdoor restaurant was separated into a kid's section and a grownup's section.

Mom and the organizer.

There was also goofy time.

Ellie, the photographer, snapped this one of the outdoor seating area.

After dinner it was time for the entertainment, by Ellie the bubble blower.

Hot, Hot. Charlie's favorite words

Erik wanted a turn at blowing bubbles. Wow, look at that stream of bubbles.

Then dessert. Charlie loves it.

One parting photo with 4/5s of the family, Charlie was taking a nap. Kyle was off to Los Vegas for a guy's get-together. So we said god bye a day early.

Ellie swimming. Good job.

Charlie wanted to do some chair spinning.

This turned out to be the favorite past time for the kids. They spent a lot of time getting dizzy chair spinning.

Charlie loves to dance

Ellie loves to dance