We're Going on a Trip on our Favorite Rocket Ship... (part 1)

Ok, so it wasn't a rocket ship and we couldn't even all go on the same airplane, but the Arizona clan of Beavens got out of the desert for a bit this summer! Jeremy and Abby went to Michigan City Indiana for a Beaven Family Reunion and then on to Osh Kosh, WI for the Pathfinder Camporee. (I will be trying to beg borrow and plead photos from these events as Jeremy only has video from their trip!) Marshall, Amelia and I traveled the Eastern Seaboard for the better part of August. It was fantastic! We had so much fun reconnecting with friends, family and loved ones!

The flight was the first one for Amelia and Marshall was too young to remember any of his. They were super excited and very cute. The other passengers, thankfully, seemed to be quite amused at their squealing and giggling. At one point, Marshall, having his turn with the window seat, looked out and asked me where the Polar Bears were... I was a bit confused until I looked outside and saw that he was looking down on the puffiest clouds that sure enough, looked just like an Artic landscape! Right after we landed and were taxiing down the runway, Amelia was looking outside and asked "Where's Aunt Lorry?" I explained to her that Aunt Lorry would love to be waiting for us in the grass strip next to the runway, but due to this post 9/11 world we live in, she'd have to wait for us inside. :) As we made our way through the maze of the airport, I looked outside at the gray clouds and remarked to the kids that maybe we'd get to see rain while we were home. Without missing a beat, Marshall asked "who rain is". Now either we're visiting too many people these kids don't really remember or only seeing rain 3 times in the last 9 months has made him forget what normal weather patterns are!

Marshall looking super excited during a layover in LA!

Amelia sleeping somewhere over Indiana

Our first few days in Pennsylvania were basically spent fighting jet lag. I suppose 3 hours shouldn't make much of a difference, but the first morning we woke up there, I thought that the hall light had been left on all night long and was shining in my face. Turns out it was just a ray o' sunshine invading the room! I thought for sure that it was 2am and was wishing someone would be kind enough to turn the light back off! I found my sisters coffee pot to be an invaluable experience every morning. Marshall and Amelia had a fabulous time playing with Caleb and Noah. Cousins can truly be the best kinds of siblings!

The Boys Bonding

The lone girl picking posies at Grandma's house

Marshall and Amelia enjoying each others company

Sweet little Angel, my Grandmothers dog. Just enjoying the evening outside with the kids.

A Pennsylvania tradition, catching fireflies

A very unhappy Amelia

The cause of her misery? A baked sweet potato. You know my motto, right? You don't have to like it, you just have to eat it! :)

Amelia sleeping, Grandma's living room, Dover PA.

The second part of our trip was a beach wedding in Ocean City, MD. My best friend who I've had for more years than I care to admit that I've even been alive was marrying her sweetie and I couldn't miss it! It was in fact, the reason for our trip east. I was able to talk my almost 3rd trimester pregnant sister and her boys into going along. We were able to visit with Holly and her family a little bit the evening before the wedding. It was so nice to see her sons and daughter. The wedding couldn't have been nicer. I was able to visit with friends and coworkers I haven't seen in what feels like forever (Yes, there was a time when I was gainfully employed!) , the weather was gorgeous, the sunset beautiful and the food excellent! We wish you the best, Mark and Holly!

Holly with her sons Josh and Zach

Mr. and Mrs. Pinamonti

Trying to see the action around all these tall people

We tried to get a few beach pictures with the kids, but the best we could get was them taking a windblown picture of us!

Amelia and Sweet Emily, Holly's daughter


Amelia sleeping, Ocean City, MD