Glendale Day 1

Today was our first full day in Glendale. What did the kids want to do first? Go and visit their very best friends Natalie and Maejae!

So very first thing this morning, we went and picked up the girls and went to the mall. Max and Maejae went to play at the play place with Austin, while Natalie and Makenna and I went to Build-A-Bear. These two little girls are SUCH best friends and have missed each other so, so much since we moved to Michigan. So we decided for a birthday present for Natalie and an “I miss my best friend Natalie so, so much” present for Makenna, we would let the two little girls make identical bears at Build-A-Bear to remember each other by.

First the girls picked out their stuffed animal (they chose identical puppies).

Then they took turns stuffing their puppies:

(They had to test their puppies to make sure they were stuffed enough for perfect hugs.)

Then they prepared their puppies’ hearts to go into their puppies. They each put two hearts in their puppy—one heart for Makenna and one heart for Natalie because they are “best friends and love each other.” : )

After the puppies were stuffed, they were bathed:

And finally the girls picked out matching dresses for their puppies:

After naming their puppies (Makenna chose Copper like Uncle Cody’s dog Copper!) and paying for them, we returned to the play place and the girls got their puppies dressed.

And the two new puppies were all set!

The two little ones were also excited about their little puppies we picked out for them:

Next we played at the play place for a while and then went up to the food court for lunch:

We finished up our trip to the mall with a ride on the little carousel:

After we left the mall, we went back to our hotel to get changed and I took all of the kids to the splash pad to play (Austin had to go and take one last test).

Afternoon snack time:

“Warming in the sun” time (seriously, it was 104 degrees outside! Why were they so cold?!?):

Ha ha, look at Max’s little plumber’s crack ; )

After a FULL day of playing, we were all SO tired! Natalie and Maejae went home and Max and Makenna and I returned to our hotel. Soon Austin got home from his test and we went to get dinner at my FAVORITE Arizona restaurant (Café Rumba) and then did a little shopping (somehow I accidently left my black dress shoes in Michigan. Score for me—I got to get new shoes!). Now we are back at the hotel, EXHAUSTED! Time for bed time for the kiddos and laundry time for the mom! : ) It was a great first day in Arizona!