Day 10-12: Phoenix, Family and honest to god HOTNESS.

Early on August 4th, Monday morning, David hauled John and I down the mountain to catch our flight to Phoenix to spend three days with my wunderbar cousin Kat and her fantabulous family, including Husband Steve, Daughter Bella and Son Joaquin.  Some of you have heard me brag about these kids all the damn time and with no shame whatsoever.  I love these people.  Kat is one of my cousins who is really a sister (in addition to Cousin Kelly) and we all at some point began calling each other Fran.  And there's a ridiculous voice that comes with it.  Then Bella became Petite Fran and the ridiculousness was passed down to another generation.  As Steve and John observed to one another, watching the Frans enjoy one another is a spectator sport, and it is generally best just to avoid us if possible.  Entirely too much giggling over NOTHING.  Love it.  Miss it.  Want more.

Our first day in town was spent participating in the Ongoing Lego Construction Project that is currently installed in the living room....

swimming at Grandma's pool....

and stone cold chillin'.  After swimming we got to stop for Sonic, so I finally got to enjoy a delicious grilled cheese and Cherry Limeade.  Happy!  The heat in Phoenix is mind-boggling and whenever possible we stayed indoors.  

Except for a quick shopping trip on our second day to Last Chance in Phoenix, which is the last stop for items from Nordstroms.  Dansko clogs for $30.  Happy!  This family also has a Nintendo Wii and our second day was mostly spent bowling and playing tennis and golf.  Totally addictive, that thing is.  I want one now.  Like burning.  John says we should probably get a couch first, and I agree.  Grudgingly.  There was also more Lego,  during which Joaquin is fond of humming/singing selections from the Indiana Jones scores.  Always in key.  He wants to be a Lego designer or a train designer, but I'm pretty sure the kid has a future in music.  On our second night, Kat made Chicken Tikka Masala (unreal in its yummitude), John made another cake experiment (also delicious) and we watched some Olympics and some MST3K's Mitchell, which is a tradition.  Whenever Kat and I get together, Mitchell must be viewed.  Hilarity invariably ensues.  This was Bella's first viewing and she seems to certainly be one of us.  For she did giggle mightily.  We were also treated to an incredible desert thunder and lightning storm, which we were certainly not expecting.

Third day featured a delicious lunch and a trip to the Phoenix Art Museum....

where my favorite piece was a installation called "Fireflies", consisting of colored lights strung from the ceiling in a pitch black, mirror walled room.  

John found it completely disorienting because he thought we were in line for the bathroom when I dragged him in there, but I thought it was gorgeous.  Bella then had to go to her new middle school and pick up books and do other admin type stuff, and John got to page through her new science book and Latin workbooks and give them his approval.  Thanks, John.  Can't believe she's starting 7th grade!!  That evening we watched Bella's favorite show, Project Runway and nattered about all manner of things.  Good times.  Great conversations.  Awesome kids.