Escape to Flagstaff PART 2

Here are the pictures from my sister's camera of our trip to cool Flagstaff. These pictures crack me up because one of the things we knew we must do with Charlie and Liberty is dress them us as pirates! LOL. They weren't that thrilled with it - but it made for a funny photo shoot because they look ready to make the mommies walk the plank!

Escape to Flagstaff

With the extreme heat advisory warning in Phoenix, we decided to escape up to the high country and stay with my sister for a couple nights! Hello 85* high and 56* low! It was my first road trip solo with Liberty and our first time staying at my sister's house - it was a TON OF FUN! Liberty just played and played and played with cousin Charlie, ran around OUTSIDE (what a concept!), and even got to see both her grandparents (BONUS!).

Pinetop Golf Tournament 2011

Each year in July we go to Pinetop to remember my Uncle Willie and see all his family/friends at a memorial golf tournament. My cousins Natalie and Robby are growing up so fast and I love that Natalie is a mini-Angie and Robby is a mini-Willie. This year we rented a cabin with my parents and Kelly/Doug/Charlie. It was great to be in Pinetop again and see the *almost* entire extended family. My camera didn't have any battery left so Kelly was nice enough to let me play paparazzi with her camera - man we've got cute kids!

Off to Flagstaff we go...

We went to Flagstaff to celebrate my dad's retirement! (WOOHOO for 37 years in the Fire Dept Chief Wheeler!) and to celebrate my nephew Charlie's #2 birthday! (WOOHOO for 2 years of being adorable!)

Didn't get any pictures of the retirement party (boo) since we were chasing around Liberty (the dance floor was calling her). I did however play paparazzi at the Thomas the Train birthday bash.

Pumpkin Photo Shoot with Helsels

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Pumpkin Patch with Helsels

We went to the Desert Botanical Garden's GREAT PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL along with Liberty's Aunt Kelly, Uncle Doug and Cousin Charlie! We went in the Monarch butterfly exhibit (1,000+ butterflies!), rode the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch, picked our pumpkin and really enjoyed the day! A few funny things that happened: Cameron put the baby sunscreen on himself (don't recommend it), a random lady asked to take a picture of Liberty at the pumpkin patch and Charlie was more interested in the water bowls than the petting zoo animals.

Fun time had by all!

Up to Flagstaff to see Patrick

Patrick had his mid-deployment leave and he visited Flagstaff. We went up to see him, Michaela and Baby J. We had the whole Wheeler-side family together!

Pinetop Golf Tournament

Each July my entire family gets together for a memorial golf tournament in remembrance of my Uncle Willie. While we don't golf, we still like to see all my 8 (soon to be 9) cousins, and other relatives we don't see very often. Our nephew Charlie was adorable and Liberty made her debut. Plus it always rains and that's a nice change of pace. This was our first overnight trip with Liberty - she napped for the 3 hour car ride to Pinetop and back, and continued to sleep through the night. What an angel:)

A Whale of a Good Time.

My mom and sister came to visit for a day. My mom wanted to decorate Liberty's bathroom so we set out to Target and tackled it that evening. The Whale/Fish theme turned out SO CUTE and Liberty loves going in there and seeing the colors now. I'm sure she'll love it for years to come - thanks Gma! Liberty also swam a little with cousin Charlie. It was a really fun visit.

Christmas in Flagstaff

Christmas in Flagstaff was so much fun this year! Our nephews Jameson (10 months) and Charlie (8.5 months) were really into opening all their gifts. We ate like kings at both the Wheelers and Wyatts, tried to enjoy the snow/freezing temperature, and got to see Patrick for probably the last time before he is deployed to Afghanistan.

Labor Day in Flagstaff

We were in Flagstaff for Labor Day weekend to celebrate Charlie's bapitism and my mom's birthday. And there is no stopping Auntie Becky from taking a photo shoot of the nephews!! Can't believe my nephews Jameson (6 months) and Charlie (5 months) are getting cuter by the day.

Nephew Charlie at 5 weeks old

While in Flagstaff for the day showing my sister property I took these pictures of Charlie.  He is starting to smile! However, when I changed the flash settings he did not appreciate it and you can see in the pictures he puts his serious face back on.  We had him going for awhile.  In a few more weeks I bet he'll be laughing.

Memorial Day Goodbye to Patrick

This Memorial Day we got to visit our baby nephews and also spend some quality time with Patrick before he leaves for Ft. Benning, GA.  He's in the Army now and we had a farewell BBQ in his honor on Memorial Day.  Here are some pictures from that fun day!

Kelly's NAU Graduation

Kelly walked at her NAU graduation while Doug held 10 day old Charlie.  We had a party for her following the ceremony - Charlie stole the show of course.

I'm an Aunt - again!

My sister Kelly and her husband Doug welcomed Charles Andrew Helsel into the world on April 28th, 2009.  I drove up to Flagstaff and got to see Charlie on his birthday!