Beat the Heat

Desert Ridge is a section of Phoenix very near our home, and it has a really great shopping complex with a SplashPad and lots of restaurants.   During these hot months, a lot of establishments have little misting nozzles suspended outside which continuously spray and cool the ambient air, allowing people to sit outside comfortably without getting wet.  They're heavenly.

The other day, I had the opportunity to introduce Tiffany and Krista when we all met up at Desert Ridge for lunch and fun at the SplashPad.  It was great to get together with a couple of friends and lots of kids -- reminded me of life in Rochester.  I think it was good medicine for all of us!

Tiff and Hudson (11 mo)

Krista's and her family moved from Rochester this summer too.  Her husband Albert is doing his residency at the Mayo Clinic here in Scottsdale.  We met up once in MN before moving, and she has been wonderful to have nearby.  A quick, dear friend for sure.

Nolan stared and stared -- first at Tiff, then Krista, then at all the kids on the SplashPad, then at our food....  He was really taking it in.  It was nice to be outside in the middle of the day without totally roasting.

It was a happening place!

Those Guitierrez kids (and mom) are great SplashPad coaches

Krista's sweet kids

Ellie (3)

Jacob (6) and Bella (8)

 Hudson was the best!!

After a bit, we all retreated back to the table for a watermelon break. 

 Me and my due-for-nap babe.

What a fun day.  I hope we all get together a lot more in the future!

Ode to Khaki

This dog.  I swear, she's like a toddler.  A hard-headed, obsessive-compulsive, scheming, agile little toddler.

But she's awesome with Nolan, and darn it if she doesn't make for good stories.

We love the stinker.

And sometimes she deserves her own blog post.

Obsession #1: The pool frisbee.  

You've seen the video.  She'll risk life and limb to retrieve it from the pool and then often hops into one of these chairs as if we won't find her and take it back.

Obsession #2: Lizards.

If I didn't physically force her to come inside, she would stay out hunting lizards among the shrubs until she had a heat stroke.  

When we arrived, she spent many, many days sitting at our back sliding door just like this.  Cooling off but biding her time, just waiting for that one daring lizard to stroll past.

A true hunter doesn't lounge on soft surfaces while on duty.

Obsession #3: Naps (WHEN OFF DUTY ONLY)

 ... and sometimes in the oddest places.

Luckily this was dirty laundry.

 

Scarlett was nearby, giving a lesson in normalcy.

Obsession #4 (the most recent development): The giant bush.

This bush is as tall as our backyard fence wall (taller than me) and conceals our pool equipment.

But it's no match for the super climber.  She works her way up into the belly of the bush, one branch at a time.

These were taken at chest height!

She might be full of scratches and scrapes, but I guess it's worth it to get on top of the pool equipment.  What in the world.....?

Obsession #5: Nolan.

She loves her boy, and has remained a faithful "nanny" - continuing to prove patient and super gentle.  Her redeeming quality, for sure!

Bath time buds

She's tutoring Nolan in crawling...

If anyone else reaches for her toy, she grabs it and tries to play tug of war -- but with Nolan, she brings it to him and just lays it on the ground out of his grasp, allowing him to stretch for it.  When he reaches it, she rewards him with a nuzzle.  It's actually pretty incredible.

Oops!  Sometimes she gets away with a real kiss.

She's a nut, but I'm (mostly) glad she's ours.  Keeps us on our toes!

Kois & Stewarts

Esther Koi and Kelly Stewart are wives of two of the partners in Mikel's new practice, and they have both been so hospitable toward us - reaching out to have coffee or come over to play and spend time together...  It's so kind - and it's wonderful heading to someone else's home for a while.  That was such a big part of our life in Rochester: going to play or relax in a friend's living room, so it's great to spend time with their kids and get to know them better.

We went to Esther's beautiful house a couple of weeks ago.  Esther was my first get-together-with friend in Phoenix; she invited me to have breakfast at a bakery in town just after we arrived.  I remember thinking it was so nice to get out for a chat!  She even donated a bunch of ADORABLE baby boy clothes and shoes to Nolan, as her son Kendrix had outgrown them.  Esther is a natural, generous hostess, and her kids are adorable. (Nicole and Rachel S., they are just about the ages of your kiddos, so you know I felt right at home!)

Kaylee (4)

Kendrix (2)

& Kalista (6 mo)

What a fun mom!

Kendrix was cute with the babies.  He kept piling more and more and more toys within their reach until Nolan and Kalista were practically buried.  I didn't get a great shot of it, but you can see that Nolan thought this crew had awesome stuff - and he made himself right at home playing with all of it.

Thank you for having us, Koi family!  We look forward to many more playdates.  

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The Stewarts have been incredibly hospitable.  We stayed in their lovely home when we came to house-hunt back in May, and now I feel like I'm home when I go over there!  Since our arrival, they've gone out of their way to make us feel welcome - inviting us to their church and even attending another church with us here in town.  Kelly and the kids have had Nolan and me over several times.  She is so laid back.  I am lucky to have her!  Hanging out is easy at the Stewarts' -- Kelly's even just let me lug the booster and all the stuff over to feed Nolan dinner a time or two (which turns out to be great entertainment for her kids!)  

Joseph (10) is always super sweet with Nolan.  He has adorable freckles and the longest eyelashes I have ever seen in my life.  Nolan thinks he's mesmerizing!  And Joseph just sits there and lets him paw those beautiful lashes.

The new super-happy-scrunchy face.  Usually comes with a snort.

Poor Lauren (13) had 8 baby teeth pulled just a few days before we paid our visit.  We were all trying to decide who now has more teeth: her or Nolan.  ha!

The big kids put on a good show with the baby toys.

We are already very blessed by both of these families.  

The Lord is good to provide us these friendships so quickly!