Jordan, Katelyn, Jill and I all flew to Arizona for a long weekend to go visit the Greats. I kept calling them this. It was my Dad (Grandpa) and his three brothers (Great-Uncles), their wives (Great-Aunts) and my grandma's two sisters (Great, Great Aunts). Katelyn and I flew out Thursday night together while Jordan was at the Y-Princess Father/Daughter dance with her Daddy. Jill flew out Friday morning with Jordan. Jill and Jordan had a great time flying together. Aunt Jill even bought Jordan a Dr. Seuss book titled "My Book About Me" which Jordan worked on filling out while on the plane. Jordan loved it.
Jordan and Jill arrive in Arizona. Katelyn was very happy her sister finally arrived. I thought we would have a great Mommy/Daughter trip by ourselves and all she did was ask about Jordan. I was very surprised. When I picked her up at school, she asked me where Jordan was. At the airport, she asked me again if Jordan was coming. When we landed in Arizona, she told me she missed Jordan. I was sincerely amazed how many times she brought up her sister. I could tell she really missed Jordan being with us. So great! I missed Jordan too so I understood :)
One of the first things the girls asked their Grandpa to do is to pick fruit off of his fruit trees in his backyard. They absolutely love doing this. The fruit trees are amazing covered with oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
Grandpa and his granddaughters
Grandpa, Katelyn, Jordan and Jill out in front of the huge cactus that sits in front of my Dad's place. I really enjoy seeing the gigantic cactus everywhere in Arizona.
After picking fruit and later in the day, we went for a walk around the lakes on the gulf course. The girls love this because they can run and run and run. So free. It was beautiful weather too.
Walking with Aunt Jill back to my Dad's place.
Jordan spending time with her Grandpa. She misses him when he is staying in Arizona.
The girls with Grandpa and two of his brothers -- Uncle Lonnie, Jordan, Katelyn, my Dad, and Uncle Dale.
Last time we were in Arizona Katelyn would do this on the railing. She did it again this year and was still small enough to do so. She is so strong.
Sweet Grandpa! He gave each granddaughter a Valentine heart filled with chocolate. They loved them of course.
The next day we were back outside picking fruit again.
Grandpa helping Jordan
Grandpa then helped Katelyn pick one higher up as well.
Jordan and I squeezed all the lemons she had picked and made our own lemonade. It wasn't as great as my Aunt Nancy's but pretty good for a first attempt. Jordan had so much fun squeezing, adding sugar and water, and mixing it all together.
Aunt Nancy, Jordan, Grandpa, Katelyn, and Uncle Hal (Grandpa's other brother) The girls' Great-Aunt Nancy gave them the cutest shirts (Katelyn is wearing hers) along with coloring books and colored pencils. She is always so good to the girls. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful loving Aunt and my girls are blessed to have her too. Love those Uncles as well!
My Great-Aunt Vickie was celebrating her 83rd birthday and we were fortunate enough to be in Arizona for the birthday party. She is my late-Grandma's youngest sister out of five kids. Jordan was so sweet visiting with her Great, Great-Aunt.
Jordan with her Great, Great Aunt Laurabelle. I teared up when I saw Aunt "Bunny". She has been living in Washington for many years now and I did not know her family had recently moved her back to Arizona. When we walked into Aunt Vic's birthday party and I saw Aunt Bunny I became overwhelmed. I never thought I would see her again plus I never imagined my girls meeting her. I was truly choked up and so happy to see her. My Grandma passed away in 1986 (I believe -- it was while I was in college) so it has been about 25 years ago. I am thrilled that my girls get to hear about her some and have a connection with her through my Grandma's sisters.
My Dad with his Aunt. She reminds me so much of my Grandma.
Jordan and Katelyn at the party.
The brothers with their Aunts! My Dad (Lynn), Lonnie, Laurabelle, Hal, Vickie, and Dale
Aunt Vickie with her birthday cake.
Four Generations!
Four Generations again!
Aunt Vickie and her nephews
I love the sparkle in her eyes. My Great-Aunt Vickie is so kind and sweet. She has outlived both of her children and her husband. Her first son died in a plane accident at a young age as his fiance and him were flying to Las Vegas to get married. Aunt Vickie's other son, Mark, passed away June 2004 at the age of 47 -- sudden heart attack. He left behind four sons and a wife all living in Missouri along with my Aunt Vic. His wife, Donae, moved the boys and my Aunt Vickie back to Arizona. Donae has since remarried a remarkable man who also has a son. Together they have five boys and Donae's new husband is so accepting of the whole extended clan. He treats Aunt Vickie like a Mother and said the kindest things about her when I was there. Again this also almost making me cry. He basically said he loved Aunt Vickie and she was part of their home. Amazing to me. The birthday party was thrown at their house and while there speaking with Aunt Vickie's grandsons, it suddenly hit me these young men (Dylan, Griffin, Connor, and Sawyer) were my second cousins. I had always just thought of them (because I had not met them before) as Aunt Vickie's grandsons only.
Katelyn snagged up one of the dogs at the birthday party. Typical Katelyn!
My Aunt Vickie opened one of the birthday presents from us :)
This is my second cousin, Sawyer, who Katelyn clunged to most of the night when she wasn't holding the dog. She loved him. She spoked to CHH on the phone after the party and told him she was marrying her 3rd cousin! Where she gets it from I have no idea!!
3rd cousins!
Jordan with her Great-Uncle Lonnie leaving the party.
Leaving Arizona. It was a fantastic family trip. It was wonderful traveling with my sister as well. This is our special time together too. As always, I am so fortunate to be part of such a warm loving family. Love the clan!!
Jordan and Jill arrive in Arizona. Katelyn was very happy her sister finally arrived. I thought we would have a great Mommy/Daughter trip by ourselves and all she did was ask about Jordan. I was very surprised. When I picked her up at school, she asked me where Jordan was. At the airport, she asked me again if Jordan was coming. When we landed in Arizona, she told me she missed Jordan. I was sincerely amazed how many times she brought up her sister. I could tell she really missed Jordan being with us. So great! I missed Jordan too so I understood :)
One of the first things the girls asked their Grandpa to do is to pick fruit off of his fruit trees in his backyard. They absolutely love doing this. The fruit trees are amazing covered with oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
Grandpa and his granddaughters
Grandpa, Katelyn, Jordan and Jill out in front of the huge cactus that sits in front of my Dad's place. I really enjoy seeing the gigantic cactus everywhere in Arizona.
After picking fruit and later in the day, we went for a walk around the lakes on the gulf course. The girls love this because they can run and run and run. So free. It was beautiful weather too.
Walking with Aunt Jill back to my Dad's place.
Jordan spending time with her Grandpa. She misses him when he is staying in Arizona.
The girls with Grandpa and two of his brothers -- Uncle Lonnie, Jordan, Katelyn, my Dad, and Uncle Dale.
Last time we were in Arizona Katelyn would do this on the railing. She did it again this year and was still small enough to do so. She is so strong.
Sweet Grandpa! He gave each granddaughter a Valentine heart filled with chocolate. They loved them of course.
The next day we were back outside picking fruit again.
Grandpa helping Jordan
Grandpa then helped Katelyn pick one higher up as well.
Jordan and I squeezed all the lemons she had picked and made our own lemonade. It wasn't as great as my Aunt Nancy's but pretty good for a first attempt. Jordan had so much fun squeezing, adding sugar and water, and mixing it all together.
Aunt Nancy, Jordan, Grandpa, Katelyn, and Uncle Hal (Grandpa's other brother) The girls' Great-Aunt Nancy gave them the cutest shirts (Katelyn is wearing hers) along with coloring books and colored pencils. She is always so good to the girls. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful loving Aunt and my girls are blessed to have her too. Love those Uncles as well!
My Great-Aunt Vickie was celebrating her 83rd birthday and we were fortunate enough to be in Arizona for the birthday party. She is my late-Grandma's youngest sister out of five kids. Jordan was so sweet visiting with her Great, Great-Aunt.
Jordan with her Great, Great Aunt Laurabelle. I teared up when I saw Aunt "Bunny". She has been living in Washington for many years now and I did not know her family had recently moved her back to Arizona. When we walked into Aunt Vic's birthday party and I saw Aunt Bunny I became overwhelmed. I never thought I would see her again plus I never imagined my girls meeting her. I was truly choked up and so happy to see her. My Grandma passed away in 1986 (I believe -- it was while I was in college) so it has been about 25 years ago. I am thrilled that my girls get to hear about her some and have a connection with her through my Grandma's sisters.
My Dad with his Aunt. She reminds me so much of my Grandma.
Jordan and Katelyn at the party.
The brothers with their Aunts! My Dad (Lynn), Lonnie, Laurabelle, Hal, Vickie, and Dale
Aunt Vickie with her birthday cake.
Four Generations!
Four Generations again!
Aunt Vickie and her nephews
I love the sparkle in her eyes. My Great-Aunt Vickie is so kind and sweet. She has outlived both of her children and her husband. Her first son died in a plane accident at a young age as his fiance and him were flying to Las Vegas to get married. Aunt Vickie's other son, Mark, passed away June 2004 at the age of 47 -- sudden heart attack. He left behind four sons and a wife all living in Missouri along with my Aunt Vic. His wife, Donae, moved the boys and my Aunt Vickie back to Arizona. Donae has since remarried a remarkable man who also has a son. Together they have five boys and Donae's new husband is so accepting of the whole extended clan. He treats Aunt Vickie like a Mother and said the kindest things about her when I was there. Again this also almost making me cry. He basically said he loved Aunt Vickie and she was part of their home. Amazing to me. The birthday party was thrown at their house and while there speaking with Aunt Vickie's grandsons, it suddenly hit me these young men (Dylan, Griffin, Connor, and Sawyer) were my second cousins. I had always just thought of them (because I had not met them before) as Aunt Vickie's grandsons only.
Katelyn snagged up one of the dogs at the birthday party. Typical Katelyn!
My Aunt Vickie opened one of the birthday presents from us :)
This is my second cousin, Sawyer, who Katelyn clunged to most of the night when she wasn't holding the dog. She loved him. She spoked to CHH on the phone after the party and told him she was marrying her 3rd cousin! Where she gets it from I have no idea!!
3rd cousins! 
Jordan with her Great-Uncle Lonnie leaving the party.
Leaving Arizona. It was a fantastic family trip. It was wonderful traveling with my sister as well. This is our special time together too. As always, I am so fortunate to be part of such a warm loving family. Love the clan!!