Arizona Adventures

Shortly after graduation, we loaded up our ABF U-Pack Relocubes and sent them on their way to Ohio. (On a side note, we thoroughly enjoyed this way of moving and would highly recommend it to anyone, with gas prices it was cheaper than a U-Haul and much more convenient). Once our stuff was in route to Ohio, we headed down to Arizona to visit my extended family.

Arizona was just what we needed. We didn't really have many "adventures", but we had plenty of time to relax and refuel. We stayed at my grandparents house, and I think for 3 days or so we didn't move off the couch unless we had to eat or chase Jay. Between finals, graduation, and moving, we were worn out!

After a few days, we regained our energy and started doing things. We cooked dinners for my grandparents (my grandma works way too hard and needs a break every now and then), fed the horse, and hung out with family and friends for the rest of the week.

Chad and Jay watching Coco eat

I got adventurous and started a quilt for "baby sister" with my Grandma's help. Every time we visit my grandma talks us into using some of her mounds of fabric to make a quilt, and this time was no different. Usually we all tie the quilt together, but this time Grandma started teaching me how to quilt by hand. I have a whole new appreciation for all the hand quilted quilts she's made for me throughout my life. Quilting takes forever! I'm still working on the quilt I started in Arizona, but hopefully it's finished by August! I'll be sure to post pictures of it when it gets done.

We were glad to get to visit the Lewis family again and Jay loved hanging out with their kids. We even got to see all kinds of Arizona wildlife. Rachael's parents found (and squished) and scorpion for us to check out, and little Hunter picked up a lizard/gecko type thing to show us. I'm so glad the Lewis family lives so close to my family so we can continue to visit them regularly over the years!

Jay, Hunter, and the Gecko creature

We had a fabulous Baker family gathering and ate way too much (a frequent occurrence when we have these family parties) and got to catch up with everyone. Uncle Randy was kind enough to check out our car and make sure it was safe enough to make it to Ohio. He's the smartest cookie when it comes to cars. Last time he told us we had about 10,000 miles left on our front tires, and sure enough, after a little over 10,000 miles a front tire blew out in rural Oklahoma. Ever since we take what he tells us very seriously.

We took Grandpa's advice and stopped by the Mesa Temple visitors center on our way out of town with my cousin and her husband. They had a display of photographs taken with characters from the pageant put in poses to show different parts of Christ's life. I was skeptical at first, it sounded kind of weird to me, but these photographs were amazing! I wish I could remember the photographer's name so I could search for prints in the future. Does anyone know his name? If you get a chance to see the exhibit at the Mesa Temple visitor's center, don't miss it!

Jay and Evan

Jay and Paula

Jay and Grandma Baker

Next Adventure: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Las Vegas

Last weekend, we went to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament with some of Chad's family. BYU lost the championship game, but we had a blast watching basketball, swimming, and visiting Jay's new favorite place M&M World. (It's candy with letters on it, you can't beat it in Jay's eyes). We also got to visit our friends Mike and Emily and Jay got to play with their son who is about the same age as Jay.

No trip would be complete, however, without one event that increases every one's stress level by 300%. On this short trip it happened to be a poison control scare. Our hotel room(s) had two separate bedrooms connected by a common area. Jay walked into one of the bedrooms and shut the door in order to "take care of business" if you know what I mean, so we opted to let him be alone for a few minutes. When we went into the room a few minutes later, Chad discovered a blue pill on the floor that was obviously covered in Jay slobber. When Chad asked Jay about it, he just referred to the pill as "blue candy" (which by the way is amazing seeing as he really does not have a grasp of his colors...blue is typically his default color pick, so maybe it wasn't that amazing). We quickly studied the capsule and tried to identify what kind of pill he had half ingested, but found no identifying numbers or letters on the pill. Although Jay seemed to be doing fine, we opted to call poison control not knowing what this pill could do to him.

Then the stress level rises. The poison control man on the phone could not identify the pill either, so he told us we needed to go straight to the ER. When he found out we were from out of town, he advised us to just call 911 and have Jay taken in the ambulance because he was afraid we would not be able to find the hospital. I then lied to the poison control man and told him my husband knew his way around and that a 911 call would not be necessary (does he think we're made of money? Use an ambulance as a taxi, no way! We can read map!).

I would be lying if I said that we didn't look at going to the ER and as huge inconvenience. We both have had ridiculous ER experiences where they keep you for hours just for "observation" and really don't do anything to help you. Don't get me wrong, I care about my child's health first and foremost which is why we got in the car to head to the ER anyway.

Low and behold, as we pull out of our hotel, we see a CVS pharmacy right across the street. Since Jay was still doing just fine, we decided we would take a detour and stop by the pharmacy to see if they could identify the strange blue pill with a little person stamped on it in white. Sure enough, the pharmacist identified the pill as DetrolLA, a bladder control medicine for old people. More importantly, the pharmacist said that though he had chewed on and smashed the capsule, Jay didn't actually break the capsule to get the medicine out. Therefore, in her professional opinion, we had nothing to worry about.

When we got back in the car I immediately called poison control back to update them on our status. (If you've ever called poison control, you know that when you call they open a case on you and they keep track of you and call to check up on you etc.) First, the poison control person yelled at me for going to a pharmacy before the ER. When she finally let me explain what we discovered she cleared Jay and said we didn't have to take him to the hospital. Yay!

Wow, I probably sound like an awful mother for trying to get out of going to the hospital. I feel like we're just level headed adults with common sense and used our brains to solve a problem, is that bad? I did do the right thing and call poison control in the first place. Hopefully the old person who is missing his or her bladder control medicine is doing alright too.

Here are some pictures of the trip:

Jay focusing on the game

Yes, that tub of popcorn is bigger than Jay's head.

M&M World

Taking a ride in his new boat in the hotel pool.

Shortly after devouring his new found love, chocolate chip pancakes.