Cousins 2014

Justin and Caroline came for a visit back in April. So we naturally took them to Butterfly Wonderland since Arizona is known for its butterflies. :) Here the kids are posing before heading into the 3-D movie on Monarch butterflies.


Justin and Caroline showing off their pearly whites.


Lauren and Caroline are trying to pet one of the stingrays. It must have gotten close.


Caroline demonstrating one of her katas.


Justin doing one of his medal winning ones. Okay maybe not but it still looked cool.

Science Center with the Cousins

My family was in town back in March to visit including my brother and his family. Here they are at the Science Center. Lauren is off to the side not wanting to be in the picture.


Cole getting set to launch a ball.


Caroline and Lauren enjoying the water fountain.


Amazingly Cole is the only kid at the water sand box exhibit.


They opened up this new digital technology area. Here the kids are enjoying interacting with the screen.


I guess they don't have these down in South Africa. Can you tell which one is my brother?


Another group pose minus someone....


Caught Lauren hiding.


So that's an Angry Bird.

Ready for takeoff

Everyone is watching the remote controlled helicopter on its maiden flight. The helicopter had a few brief flights before crashing into the ground and damaging the rotor.


Here the kids have converted to good old fashion paper airplanes.


Cole getting ready to launch his...


and Lauren recovering hers.

Ipod touch versus iXL

Not to be outdone, Lauren pulls out her iXL.

Phoenix safari

After the weather cooled down a bit, the kids checked out the Phoenix Zoo.


Lauren is excited to be taking a picture of the parents.


Cole is getting a little more hands on help from Justin.


"Mickey mouse"


Another group shot of the kids.

Look who's in town

Justine and Caroline and the whole family came to visit back in the beginning of April. Only got around to blogging it until just now. The cousins had a great time at the Children's Museum of Phoenix.

 
 Lauren and Caroline are doing some extreme couponing.

 
 Cole really should eat more.

 
 "I really need to eat more."

Crayola factory visit

During our vacation in PA, we decided to meet up with my brother and his family at the Crayola factory in Easton, PA. Although technically it's not the factory but more of a museum. They did show us how they make crayons and markers. Here's a picture of some sand art outside of the factory.


Lauren and Caroline at lunch.



Justin and Lauren after they finished navigating their boats through the locks. Inside the crayola factory but just upstairs is the National Canal Museum.


Here Caroline and Cole are pushing their boats through the locks.


Lauren is learning about pulleys.




All four cousins pose for a photo op. Cole was a little preoccupied.


Afterwards, we all went to get ice cream next door at the purple cow creamery.


And one last try to get all the cousins looking at the camera.

Footloose

Lauren is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Bride.


Before the food arrives, a little tic tac toe to stimulate the mind. Lauren had her hands full with Daddy's cousins.


"Remember, we all have to fall down at the end of the song."



Lauren and Cole loved dancing at the wedding. They just couldn't get enough. Lauren especially loved dancing with the bride and groom as many times as she could.

From Africa to the desert

Lauren's cousins from South Africa visited Phoenix for the first time so we planned a trip to the Zoo and the train park. Here the kids are relaxing in Lauren's new room. I forget if this was before or after they started jumping on the bed. :)



Caroline on the endangered species carousel.



Lauren is enjoying the ride. She really loves riding the carousel.



"Caroline, don't look now but the paparazzi are here."


The next day we went to the Farm at South Mountain for some delicious brunch....



...and later we went to the train park. You can see Justin here sitting next to Lauren who is in disguise.



Caroline is showing her pearly whites before the train departs from the station.