Phoenix

Uncle Dalton took us to the Sea-Tac Airport on Saturday, and Aunt Jenny picked us up on Thursday. Greta did really well on both flights! She kept busy, slept a bit, and did lots of people watching. Here she is with Aunt Jenny after a long day of traveling home--we're halfway there, in Seattle! When we arrived in Seattle both Matthew and I thought "We're home"...it still feels like home to us there. But we had to continue up to Vancouver. We hope someday to make Seattle our home again.
I thought this was a cute shot of Greta and one of Aunt Jenny's cats checking each other out!
Greta practiced being a cowgirl in the great southwest United States!
Please take me out of this ridiculously large hat!
Having fun with Grandpa Paul! At first Greta would cry after only a few minutes with her Grandpa Paul, but as our time in Arizona wore on the two of them really bonded and got to know each other better. By the end of our trip Greta didn't cry with him anymore! They especially loved getting down on the floor together and head-butting :-)
Matthew in his homeland with his baby girl. We went to a park in Arizona...much different than what I had in mind as a "park". Here we were told to beware of scorpions, tarantulas, and rattlesnakes! We didn't stay long...
Playing in Grandpa Paul's water fountain in the backyard. When she's older she will love to also play with his backyard tortoises!
Grandpa Paul helped cook Greta's first carrots. She liked them the first time she tried them in Arizona...but since then she has pretty much spit them out when I've given them to her! (I guess grandpa's carrots are just better - MPB)
Greta met many family members in Arizona. Here she is with her Great Aunt Jean, and her first cousins once removed: Kimmy and Katy--at Grandpa Paul's house. These ladies all loved holding Greta! (of course...)
Greta's Great Aunts and Uncles planned a get-together for all of us while we were there. We went to Aunt Sue and Uncle Jerry's beautiful home and had a terrific dinner. Greta got to meet many more Great Aunts and Uncles and her Papa's cousins and their children. It was a wonderful evening in warm Arizona. We spent a lot of time outside chatting, and Greta loved watching the many children there play.
Here's Greta in the high chair Aunt Sue has used for babies for many years!
We took a day trip to a small mountain town called Jerome. There were lots of interesting shops there and we had a great time wandering around. On the 3 hour drive home, though, Greta was very tired and had a hard time going to sleep. She did some screaming for a bit which kept all of us on edge! We were very glad when she finally dozed off.
One day we went to Sun City, where 2 sets of Greta's Great Grandparents live. Here is Greta with her Great Grandpa Pulsipher. 3 Generations! Charles is a photographer and he took much better pictures than I did, but I do like this shot of the 3 of them altogether.
Greta quickly took to Great Grandma Pulsipher. Dorothy got right down on the floor to play with her, and they seemed to become good friends right away! Here is Greta playing with a knitted coaster Dorothy had made...I think she was surprised Greta like it so much.
Great Grandma Jewel (on the Bradsher side) let Greta play with a shiny spoon! She was very sweet about making sure Greta had something interesting to mouth. Greta spent lots of time snuggling with Jewel on her lap, and then showed off her tricks on the floor.

All in all our trip to Phoenix was pretty enjoyable. It was a little stressful at times, being so far from home and having so much traveling to do, but we all weathered it really well. And giving Greta and her extended family members a chance to get to know each other made it completely worthwhile! Plus, we had a comfortable place to stay while we were there. Grandpa Paul even let us take over his bedroom--he slept in the living room for 5 nights! It was very generous of him, and we felt so loved and welcomed.

However, there really is no place like home. We've been traveling so much these last 6 months that now we plan on staying in Vancouver for awhile. No more overnights ANYWHERE for the next couple months!