We are members at the Desert Botanical Gardens, a fabulous place that I highly recommend you visit if you ever find yourself in Phoenix.  This morning after lounging over coffee and lingonberry oven pancake, we headed out to the gardens.

It was beautiful, the cactus in full bloom their vivid colors popping amidst the multiple shades of dusty green and parched soil browns of the landscape.  I took many photos but none really did justice to simply being in the moment.

The birds were dancing their Spring inspired dance and we got to see many a nest being tended to by a doting feathered parent.  After nearly two hours the boys were tired and we were all hungry.

We headed to a once favorite brewery and restaurant of ours from back in the day when Husband and I lived here pre-kids.  The place was still wonderful although the feel was different being twenty years older and having our boys with us.  I don’t recall ever playing tic tac toe there before – or being referred to by a server as ma’am…

Cody and Husband deep in thought during a Tic Tac Toe game. From the smirk on Cody’s face, I would say he is winning.