If you were looking for inspiration to throw a spring party, check out this blog.

Ahhhh....hold on while I catch my breath.

Our Spring Break STAY-cation!

Last week, Cade said, "Mom, let's not go to California again. Let's go someplace different for Spring Break." I'm not sure that he meant Phoenix and Camp Verde, but that worked for us!

On Monday afternoon, Casey and I loaded up our stuff (including our kids) and headed southwest to The Arizona Grand Resort for 2 days of watersliding and lazy-river floating. On the way, we stopped at the theater to see...

And after the movie, we checked into the resort and spent the rest of the evening at the pools, followed by pizza in bed while watching back to back Ultimate Cake Challenges on TV.

The next morning, we ate breakfast at the resort cafe, went on a walk around the grounds, and then went back for more of this...

When the kids had had their fill of sun and water, we packed up and headed to lunch at the Farm at South Mountain, just around the corner. If you haven't been...run, don't walk. I have been there several times, but this was Casey and the kids' first time. They were sold. Cade- on the egg salad, Casey- on the carrot cake!

That was Tuesday. On Wednesday, we woke up bright and early, packed a picnic lunch (including green chips, green grapes, and green Oreos to celebrate St. Patrick's Day), and picked up Grandpa Peterson for the drive up to Out of Africa in Camp Verde...well worth the drive! The kids were loving how close they were to such amazing animals, like tigers, grizzlies, giraffes, and Boom Boom the Rhino. They even got to pet a 4-foot monitor lizard!
Sofia, my own Dr. Doolittle, was in animal heaven.

 

 

I was even able to convince Casey to fork out a little extra dough so that we could do this...

(Can you see the strings of slobber connecting his tongue to my hand? Lovely.)

All in all, our Staycation was a success.
Now, what do I do with these kids all summer?!

It's never too late to plan a party, right?!

I just ran across the most adorable, FREE printables to throw your very own Oscar party. Thank goodness for the uber-creative and generous minds that blog! To print your own, go here and here.

My ballots are printed and ready to go.