Well....that meant that the house got pretty neglected, so the next week we had fun cleaning and organizing the storage room (I am sure Zach won't agree with the word "fun" in the same sentence as "cleaning".). It was so nice having Zach home. He is such a good helper. He did do some cleaning, but mostly just kept Parker and Chloe entertained while I organized.
We decided before break that one of the things we wanted to do was to go to the zoo! There was one day that first week that the tempurature was finally down into the 80's. After months and months.....and months!! of triple digits (no, I am not used to this AZ heat yet!), it was so exciting to be able to be outside and enjoy the weather! See how excited Parker is that morning while eating his breakfast!!! I had to include this picture because, well....I just love it! He is such a cheezer and you can just feel the excitement from his cute face!!
Zach brought along 2 buddies, so that made 5 kids to keep track of all by my lonesome! (It is not to hard when you have 3 well-behaved 9-11 year-olds and a double stroller to strap the other two into.) 
Zach brought along 2 buddies, so that made 5 kids to keep track of all by my lonesome! (It is not to hard when you have 3 well-behaved 9-11 year-olds and a double stroller to strap the other two into.) Here are some of the kids favorite animals we saw. 
Can you see the 3 blue frogs? There is a baby one on top of the mom. They were really cool looking!
Hello, Mr. Monkey (I think he's a monkey). You are quite strange looking, aren't you! But you were very nice to pose for a picture!
I always used to love riding the carousel as a kid! Honestly, I am not sure what makes them so much fun, but my kids just love them - just like I used to! Zach and his buddies decided they were too big and cool for the carousel and decided to go spend their cash inside the souveneir shop while Chloe and Parker rode round and round! On the way home we stopped for an ice cream to top off our FUN day!
The last day of fall break, a friend told us about a really fun park up in Scottsdale. So, with more fabulous weather to get out and enjoy, we decided to make the drive and check it out! IT was super fun and we stayed for many hours!! We call it the Railroad Park. This is what you see as you enter the park! I know Zach would have been going complete nuts had he been about 2 or 3 years old to see such a cool REAL train! To top it off, the park is free and then you just pay a small amount for tickets to ride on things! 
Inside the train car!! That was fun to walk down the small skinny isle and look into the little bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, sitting rooms and control room.
Just outside of the train was a little museum that had actual rail equiptment that the kids could play on.
Next up - the carousel!! This time everyone wanted to ride! Parker was much more excited this time around...although you can't really tell in the picture. 
There was this fun miniture train to ride on. It took us around the whole park, through a tunnel and even had a real horn that chugged! So much fun!!! Yes, Chloe is fighting with Zach in this next picture to stand in the corner! Boo. She is even sitting with me right now as I am posting this and just said, "Mom, I am pushing Zach in that picture because I wanted to stand there! Thanks for putting that picture of me pushing Zach!" haha) 
Next, we hit the playground! Lots of fun, although it didn't last too long because everyone was getting hungry for lunch. So after playing on the slides for a bit, we sat down for our picnic lunch.
"YUMMY!! I like my lunch!!!"
After lunch the kids played in this little old western town. Chloe loved to pretend that she was Cinderella going to the ball and that Zach was her Prince. And Zach, being the fabulous brother that he is, played along....for a few minutes anyway! 
We ended our day with one last ride on the train and then headed home! It was another FUN day!!
After making our deliveries, we headed to the store to each pick out a flower for our flower pots that reminded us of 
Chris enjoying his dinner! (sorry Chris for the funny face you are making....caught ya at the wrong time!) 
Chloe let me borrow a flower hair bow to clip in my hair. It was fun to wear it and be matching with my girlie in remembrance of my angel girlie. 
Last, we pulled out 
As the hormones began raging and the grief of loosing Karleigh seemed almost unbarable at times, I struggled with trying to sort out all the different feelings I was having. Would this baby replace Karleigh? Would Karleigh be sad that I was not always thinking about her? Would I be able to love this baby like I loved Karleigh and Zach? Would I be able to care for this new baby with all the saddness I felt? I felt SO lost, so hopeless and so sad.
We couldn't decide on a name for Chloe. We always gather a bunch of names and then once we see our little ones in person, then we can decide who they look like. I distinctly remember though that I knew her middle name was supposed to be Hope. I talked to Chris about it, and he agreed. I didn't know why. I didn't know even all the definitions and meanings of the word Hope. But I knew that even though I couldn't understand how it was possible at the time, that this new little baby growing inside of me would bring my family and I, Hope.
I have had different definitions of the word Hope that have all sounded and felt like they could be "the answer" to describing how this little Chloe Hope could change our hearts and bring the needed healing into our home. It was no accident that she was born when she was. It was no accident that her middle name is Hope. I have often said that she came with a big load to carry right from the very beginning - to help her mom, dad and brother heal. But she has done it beautifully and flawlessly. 
In conference, President Uchtdorf, gave a fabulous 
"Hope has the power to fill our lives with 
