Phoenix Vacation

Okay, this is a very quickly-written recap of our time in Phoenix. We had a great time, and saw all of our family and lots of friends. It was a wonderful three and a half weeks, and then we retreated back to the cool north in time for the most glorious late summer/early fall. Here is a recap of our vacation, in photos. 

Claire enjoying her window seat on the plane. 

Snacks were a god-send. Did you know that planes won't even give out glasses of water anymore? Crazy. 

 This is what Vlad does in Phoenix - works on his laptop in Barnes and Nobles at Starbucks all day long. It's his office away from his office.

The girls sporting their new outfits and backpacks for church. 

 THe boys being boys.

We went to Sedona with the whole family. Dad rented a house there, and it ended up having a great backyard with a play structure for kids and some heavy-duty-fun toys. I love this pic because it's just exactly like the girls - claire is the wild woman tearing  here and there, and katya is hanging on for dear life. 

THey had a great tub, obviously enjoyed by *most of* the family. :) 

Carissa, affectionately known as "Aunt Preessa" (a name dubbed by Katya), holding Claire. They crashed during a movie. It was so precious. You can see why the kids all love her to death.

My brother's birthday was in August, so we had a little birthday bash. 

 Bath time with all the grandkids was a blast. We're big on baths in our family. Audrey and Owen never knew what hit them!

Owen, not sure what just happened, but quite certain that he didn't really like it. 

 Audrey, on the other hand, had a blast. Claire was official water-dumper, and Audrey thought it was hysterical.

 There are so may babies in this family!

 Aunt Rachel scrubbing Katya's head. Baths were a joint effort...a union of family interests.

 beautiful audrey

 just don't try to take her out of the tub. she doesn't like it.

Aunt Preesa. 

 These two little boys, Oliver (right) and Emerson (left) were born only a few months apart, and it was their first time laying eyes on each other.

No, Oliver's not worried. His eyes are always huge like that. 

 More pics from Sedona, You'd think I'd have taken pcis of the world-famous mountains, but no. Just my kids playing. :)

 one of my favorites to date. the light was awesome in this room.

 Katya and her new favorite person in the world. Oliver. She ADORES him. "Ah-vih-vuh"

 We all adored him. I, for one, couldn't stop singing "Oliver" from the movie "Oliver Twist." The I read the lyrics and they were so awful, that I determined to make up new lyrics. But I never got aroun to it, so I resorted to humming. I just...couldn't...stop.

It was  a fun trip, and we love and miss you all. *For full photo shoots of both of my brothers' families, go see them on my photography blog (click the "My photography" link above and wiggle your way through.)

TTFN