March 18, 2018

   About two months ago we started planning a Spring Break trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, our favorite hot spot.  We poured over listings for house rentals, looking for the coolest pool, knowing that our kids would only want to swim all week.  We looked forward to shopping and eating at different places than our boring Amarillo usuals.  Many times leading up to the trip we'd ask each other, "Is it Spring Break yet??"  Last year we stayed home because of Brynn, which made us anticipate this trip even more.  Finally it was time. 

Our first night, waiting for our table at a most delicious pizza restaurant we discovered a couple of years ago.

  Our second day there we celebrated Brynn's 1st Birthday.  She celebrated by throwing up at 5:00 A.M., but was actually fine the rest of the day.

Enjoying her birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory

   Although Brynn wasn't able to enjoy the pool on her birthday, the rest of us sure did.  Prepare yourself.  I took a lot of pictures that day.

 Fighting over Cheryl, the unicorn.  Sydney named her.

 Sadly, the only picture I got of Jeff.  Look how good his leg and arms look!  Shelbi's not hiding from the camera.  She had chlorine in her eyes.

Erik loves a good trick-shot

Walking on water

The putting green behind the pool

  I know that's a lot of pictures to post for one day.  Remember when I said that Brynn woke up vomitting on her birthday?  That was just the beginning.  We dropped like flies after that, the boys being the only ones who were spared.  I needed to see all those pictures to try to fool myself into remembering it as the awesome vacation we were hoping for.  Truthfully, I don't remember ever being sicker. 

We had another half day of pool fun before the storm hit.

  See that sunken kitchen at the end of the pool?  I was going to grill hamburgers in there one day for lunch so the kids could swim up to the bar and eat. The bridge is where we planned to pose as a family for a great picture commemorating our trip.  It would have been like "Weekend at Bernie's" trying to pose Bailey for a picture.

 Our view of poor Bailey for the last three days of the trip.  She was pretty much unconscious, except when we'd force sips of water into her.

Brynn made herself right at home.

  I feel the worst for Shelbi.  She didn't get sick until the ride home. So she had to hang out with all of us sick-o's, missing out on the hoped for shopping trips and eating out.

  Saturday evening, it was just nice to be home.  We were mostly better by then and happy to have our own space back.  We're already thinking we need a make-up vacation.

  Sunday was part two of Brynn's birthday celebration.  We didn't take any of her gifts with us to Arizona because that would be ridiculous.   Also ridiculous: trying to wrap awkwardly shaped gifts for a one year old.  We covered them with blankets and let her pull them off.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby girl!