Our last morning in Arizona

 Listening to the sea shell.  Can you hear the ocean?

 Our last morning in Arizona, and finally a great picture of Elena, Grandma and Grandpa.  Sad to leave, but until next time...

On another note, the new Tucson is doing well.  We averaged 28mpg going up to Prescott and 29.5 coming back down.  Over the 350 mile trip, altitude climbs 4,000 feet.  I snapped this photo while we were going downhill near a town...it was great to see 43mpg.

Memorial Day

Elena saying hi to Great Grandpa Grossi.  Notice her headband?  She requested to wear it, so cute when she does something with her hair.  She won't let me do anything except comb it.

 Elena and Great Grandpa Newman having fun playing with her animals.  Playing with animals and blankets is fairly new to Elena.  She picked it up just before 25 months.

 Elena was happy, I just didn't get that photo.  I had two cameras, I think she might have been done taking photos.  But she had fun playing with Great Grandma and Grandpa Newman.

 Ah, there is a cute smile...and look at those big feet!!

 More play time with Great Grandpa!

 This is such a cute dress.  Thanks, cousin Maggie, for the hand-me down!

 Buttons are still a big interest to Elena...

And she loves to be tickled.  Sometimes she even asks to be tickled.  It was so cute to see Great Grandpa Grossi having so much with Elena!

Reading Time in Arizona

 Have I mentioned in any of my posts that Elena loves to read?  Well if you haven't picked up on this favorite activity, here are just a few moments of Elena reading with Great Grandma (above), Grandpa and Grandma (in the pictures below).

 And a pinch of flower smelling...we don't just stop to smell the roses, all flowers are adored.

 Elena wasn't feeling too good, as you can tell she looks a bit hammered.  She is teething and possible compounded with a head cold.  Teething has never been a good time for us.  Mark the calendar, her first 2 year molar broke skin during our Arizona visit.

"I Howl, I Growl" is a book from Grandma and Grandpa about the animals and critters living in the Southwest.  Elena enjoys reading it and making the animal noises.  During our drive, we stopped for a potty break (we did use pull ups during the drive for naps, but Elena kept it dry except for nap times).  We brought her little potty, popped the trunk (small suv hatch back), shifted our bags and set Elena down on her potty.  We began reading the book when she looked up and realized we were surrounded by cactus which was also in her book.  She was so excited.  I think she talked about the cactus for an hour after we were back on the road again.

Pool Time!

 Friday we drove to Arizona in the new car.  It was a much better ride than the old Pontiac.  The weather was hot when we drove over, hardly played at our half way point park.  The swing seats were too hot to sit on (who thought it was a good idea to make baby bucket seats black and put them in the desert with no shade?).  And the slides were missing--a bit disappointing but it was really hot (near 100) so we packed back in the car and ate on the go.  Elena was a great trooper on the 7 hour drive.  We also recently flipped her car seat from rear facing to forward facing in the new car.  She loves riding this way and will say "wheeeee" as we pick up speed.

 Did I mention the weather was hot?  Saturday morning (as in 9am) we suited up and were down at the pool spending time in the water, the temperature was perfect.  Grandma joined us in the pool and taught Elena "motorboat, motorboat" and tried to teach her how to kick.  She'd rather spin her legs in a circle as if she's riding a tricycle.

Grandpa snapped this photo.  We were practicing blowing bubbles and going underwater.  She dunked 4 times before she told me that was enough.  I brought her floaties which tie around her chest not attach to her arms but she didn't like to be confined.  So we let her be free, as the free spirit she is.