Unconventional February 14th

We have done flowers and fancy dinners in the past, but this Valentine's Day we took a different route. No babysitter and no booking a restaurant a month in advance. We took a family hiking trip!

We went to Saguaro National Park and did a fairly steep climb up to a stupendous view. Paul took his turns walking, but Lee carried him most of the way.

Paul gives this hike "One thumb up, but only accidentally."

Lee took this video to capture the 360 degrees of amazing desert around us:

Paul was a champ. He did some walking and climbing (with help) and he even fell asleep in Lee's arms on the hike back down! If only he'd been willing to stay asleep as we put him in the car!

Thanks for reading our adventures, and stay tuned for a very serious travelogue blog in the next couple of weeks...

The Great Outdoors

We will very soon be losing our cool weather here as we move towards springtime, so the Phillips clan have been busy hiking while the weather is still pleasant.

Paul really loves being in the great outdoors but we have to keep pretty close tabs on him because most of the plants here are trying to kill him. With the help of a toddler leash we were able to keep him safely on designated hiking trails.

Paul was absolutely fascinated by running water. The creek at Madera Canyon provided him with endless entertainment and temptation. He learned that stepping into the creek was extremely cold and not at all what he had anticipated.

I introduced this fun game to Paul and he liked it so much we couldn't convince him it was time to leave.

Arizona Christmas

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, and this was our first time hosting Christmas in our own home. Obviously we had a lot of preparations to make. We had to crank the Christmas jams.

And put up our Nativity and Bethlehem village...

Then we were ready to celebrate! On Christmas morning we let Paul take a look at the gifts under the tree and in his stocking while he brushed his teeth.

Last Christmas Paul was too little to care about anything but sleep. This year, he was very into presents and stockings, though he seemed to like Lee's presents just as much as his own.

Paul is very attached to Lee's new cocoa mug.

His wooden cars are pretty cool, but not as good as the mug.

As is usual, Grandparents really know what to get for their grandbabies. This year Grandma Jamie outdid herself and found a toy more fun than the box it came in:

In addition to the shopping cart, he got a cool new sword and Lee got some Legos to set up so Paul can knock them over.

He also got some toy food to go in his shopping cart, but it was very confusing for him to have plastic food...

Our family was extra spoiled with service related gifts this year. Earlier this month, Lee's parents helped us do this to our backyard:

We are looking forward to some non-rainy days so we can use our fire pit again.

The hummingbirds around here are very well fed.

We are treated to a pentatonic symphony everyday.

And starting right after Christmas, my parents helped us do this to our first floor:

We painted every inch and it makes the house feel brand new (and not the "gently used" it felt like before.) We did "scarlet past" (red) in the kitchen and "clouded vision" (grey) everywhere else. It makes for a pleasant change.

And now for a final cute picture and video of Paul before we say adieu.

Ninja Turtle shirt and hat. This kid has style.

Happy New Year!

Our First Visitors

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Dave came to visit last week, our first house guests in our first home! We tried to make sure they had plenty to do--mostly fun things--while they were here.

While we were trying to make our house ready for visitors, Paul discovered the following amazing toy and made a big mess:

One of the first things we did with our company was drive to Tubac for the Luminaria. Beautiful lights, music, and Paul got to meet Santa Claus!

That is a real Saguaro skeleton, filled with Christmas lights.

Paul insists he has been quite good this year, and he's so cute I just can't disagree.

No jackets necessary!

We visited the Pima Air and Space Museum and it was pretty fantastic. Hundreds of planes, including some more hands on activities, and lots of floor for Paul to wander around on.

Pilot in training!

Baby astronaut.

This is the same kind of plane that Grandpa Lietz flew in as a flight engineer. Isn't that a cool bit of family history?

Lee and a missile which I cannot identify for legal reasons.

 We started a little home improvement project with the help of our hard working visitors. Paul tried his best to be underfoot and in the way at all times, he thought digging with this spade was just about the best game he's ever played.

Paul and Grandma Karen workin' in the yard.

Did you know that we live a mile away from a Cold War Era Missile Silo? It has been maintained as a museum, and the missile is still here (it isn't loaded, obviously.) but we got to take a look at one of the largest missiles ever made: the Titan II.

The missile is about 7 stories tall.

Sadly, we had to say good-bye to Grandma and Grandpa Phillips on Friday, but we are sure glad they came to spend the week with us!

Birthday #1

I can't believe that our little man has been with us for a whole year. It is hard to imagine how he will change and grow in the coming months and years. Paul came downstairs to see a birthday surprise all set up and waiting for him:

Thanks to the Grandparents and Aunties/Uncles who sent Paul presents!

We tested his present opening skills. There is a lot of room for improvement for next year.

We eventually got his presents out for him and dressed him up in his new birthday clothes. He liked all his presents except the new sneakers. He does not like wearing shoes one bit.

Paul makes sound effects when he holds this plane because Dad showed him how.

New birthday clothes!

Later on in the evening we had a little party for Paul. We all ate nachos and cupcakes and of course we sang Happy Birthday.

Every baby does their cake a little differently. I confess that I was rather surprised by Paul's approach.

After a fun evening full of friends and frosting, Paul was full, exhausted, and ready to call it a night.

I call this one: "Frosting Hang-over."

I have learned that balloons are the best party accessory and that I can eat a lot of nachos. Good things to know as we prepare for many more birthdays to come!

Paul's First Halloween

I cannot get enough of how cute Paul was in his Halloween costume, so I am going to share a lot of pictures. Hope you appreciate them as much as I do!

 We went to a kind of country fair at Buckelew Farm where we visited a petting zoo, ate some kettle corn, and got some pumpkins. We went on a tractor ride out to their pumpkin patch and chose our own perfect pumpkins.

Paul didn't pet the animals, he just poked them.

I got a baby pig to eat out of my hand

Just picking our pumpkins!

Our family fall photo.

 I made some seriously amazing sugar cookies, they tasted even better than they looked, so special thanks to Kate Grant for giving me the recipe! We decided that the cat cookie cutter, when turned upside down, looked like Ichabod Crane.

Ghost, Moon, Broom, Ichabod Crane, Tombstone, Pumpkin, and Candy Corn.

 We went to the Sahuarita Spook-tacular where we did some trunk-or-treating. There was also a Haunted House, which was fun...except that Paul was very tired and after the first clown jumped out to scare us he started crying. He didn't stop crying till we got out. It was pretty hilarious...and sad.

The coolest trunk at the trunk-or-treat.

There was also a pirate ship trunk. We felt very at home there.

Paul has the best grin in the history of photography.

Be impressed by the plumage on that parrot! I made it myself.

We have the coolest decorations.

Paul loves his little pirate sword.

Our very cool carved pumpkin.

 We went to two trunk-or-treats, so we didn't take Paul trick-or-treating. He really liked wandering over to see who was at the door and at first he cried when the big kids left without him. When our doorbell stopped ringing, we did a movie with friends to finish off a fabulous Halloween.

Two good lookin' buccaneers.

We have a seriously photogenic little bird.

Paul wanted me to eat his spoon. Anything to get him to smile!

Paul does not want a cracker, he wants a tootsie roll.

Just to finish of the post, here are a couple cute videos of Paul playing ball with his daddy.