Everyday moments aren’t so ordinary when you live miles from family. Though we did visit some attractions in the Valley, most our time with my dad, mom and sisters was spent savoring ordinary life at home.

My family played with the boys, read to them, sang to them, and cared for them–in between all the hugs, kisses, squeezes, and tickles. Silas was sure to introduce them to his imaginative world of superheroes, including “Hulk Smash.” Grandma eventually decided to don her alter ego and become “Curler Woman” so she could take on Hulk in an epic battle. I think Curler Woman won.

Our almost-two-weeks together were filled with visits to the park, shopping, cooking and baking lots of yummy food, playing games, watching TV, a morning at the bowling alley, and trips to the library for Baby Time and for Arizona Rick the Magical Balloon Making Cowboy‘s storytime (he blew our minds with his balloon creations!).

As always, there was lots of music around the house. Cooper liked listening to Grandpa’s guitar, and we invited several friends over to play instruments with us. These days I don’t play my mountain dulcimer often, but it was fun to have lots of people to make music with.

The highlight experience was our Saturday morning trip to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. My dad is obviously a train buff as his signature hat is an engineer’s cap. He had an extra one for Silas to borrow too! With the railroad park’s carousel, miniature train, playgrounds, and historical exhibits, it was the perfect destination for our crew. The boys rode the train several times, and the memories of them at the park with their grandparents are priceless to me. This picture of my mom walking off the train platform with both the boys is one of my favorite moments of the whole visit.

During my family’s stay, Cooper’s second tooth came in. But, more impressively, Grandma taught him to do the army crawl. With Grandma as a cheerleader, who wouldn’t want to show off a little bit?

I loved having all my sisters together and always having someone to talk to!It’s a loooooooong drive from West Virginia to Arizona, but we’re so happy they came!