Spring Break Trip to Arizona

We loved our family trip to Arizona this past week! One of the many good things was that everyone stayed healthy. I went out armed and prepared but we never had to administer a single dose of Advil or clean up a speck of throw-up. This was significant as that hasn't been the case in the last 2 or 3 trips.

Our first days were spent in Sedona. We had spent some time here 4-5 years ago and knew we needed to get back there. I love red rock and this place has plenty of it. We stayed in a cheap (for Sedona) hotel but spent most of our time out exploring. The weather was cool but perfect for hiking.We choose the Devil's Bridge trail which was supposed to be only 2 miles long but the dirt road leading to it was closed so we had to hike it adding another 3 miles to our total hike. The dirt road to the trail head wasn't a problem but the dirt road back, we had to push the kids along a little. Trails with rock stairs and narrow turns leading this way and that are much more enticing for children. Ask Reagan, she did great on the actual trail. I could barely keep up with her as she made her way up the mountain side.

Gearing up for our hike

 Dirt road hiking isn't the best with kids but it was worth doing for this hike.

 After a 1 1/2 miles, we reached the trail head.

 Once we started the ascent, I got in a workout trying to keep up with our 5 year old. Kids love climbing rock stairs!

 Our reward-Devil's Bridge. I let Eric take Taylor out on top of the bridge while I stayed close to the other three kids.

 On our way back down

 

Snack time under a rock overhang on the trail.

 We took a little side trip to see under the bridge as well.

Beautiful scenery on this trail!

 Lyndsee rode on Eric's shoulders about half of the hike.

On Sunday, we headed for Tucson making a stop in Cottonwood, AZ to go to church and have a picnic. We also stopped in Phoenix at my Aunt Janet and Uncle Boyd's house. We had a really good visit with them while having chicken tacos and ice cream. It was so nice to catch up a little with my aunt who has been living in Phoenix now for 20 years! It was also a convenient stop to help break up our drive and have a place to eat and relax for a couple of hours. After our visit there, we headed another couple of hours south to Oro Valley near Tucson where we stayed for three nights in our timeshare there.

Tuesday morning we slept in a little and then went out to breakfast at a yummy place called "The Good Egg" to fuel up for some more hiking. Sabino Canyon in Tucson is very popular. So much so that you have to park at the visitor center and take a shuttle up the canyon. We rode the shuttle all the way to the top of the canyon and then walked down, stopping to play in the water that runs generously through the canyon and stopping part way down to picnic. It was surprising to see so much water in the desert.

After our afternoon at Sabino Canyon, we went back to the resort for some swim time, pizza, and just hanging out. The kids didn't want to sleep in the bedroom that night and all piled into the wall bed. They sonked out quickly but just like I thought would happen, I was up at 1:00am separating them because they were fighting for space in the bed.

Tuesday would be a BIG day. We would be driving about 60-90 minutes south from Tucson to tour Kartchner Caverns and visit Tombstone City near by. I wish I had pictures of the caverns but we couldn't bring our camera inside. Our kids LOVED the cave and found it very fascinating (with the exception of Lyndsee who clung tightly to either Eric or I the entire time). It was their first time in this kind of cave and they found it very adventurous. I loved it because unlike Timpanogos Cave, it was discovered in my life time and we were able to watch a movie prior to the tour with the guys who discovered the cave. To hear their story was really cool! After the cave, we headed to Tombstone City. This entire town is on the Registry of Historic Places. I knew about the wild west history of this town but I wanted my kids to get excited as well so I had Will read an historic fiction about 2 kids who visit the town and hear first hand from a ghost about the things that happened there. Will was really excited to go there as a result and of course we had to eat lunch at Big Nose Kate's Saloon because that is where the characters in the book ate lunch.

O.K. Corral

 Allen Street

County court house and Arizona State Historic Site

We watched a re-enactment of the gun fight between the Earps and the Cowboys at the OK Corral.

 Then we topped off our day with an ice cream cone.

Despite the length of this day, the kids handled it well. These places were definitely worth the drive time!

On Wednesday we headed to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Musuem. This museum is very well done and helped us learn more about this different desert we were visiting. We also learned how to properly pronounce Saguaro (sa-WAR-o). 

They had a man-made cave that resembled Kartchner which was fun for the kids to explore and actally be able to touch the formations. I had a hard time finding a picture with the kids eyes open due to the flash in the dim cave.

Cool girl with a cool cactus.

Saguaro cactus make me smile. They are so human like.

Following the desert museum, we stopped at the Saguaro National Park visitor center where the kids earned their junior ranger badges and then took a dirt road scenic drive through the park. Some of the saguaro can get pretty gnarly looking!

We continued our drive up to Phoenix where we checked into our condo and got ready to go to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. 

This picture is the only pic from the pageant. Lots of people and hard to see the stage even for me but I was glad we went. It always feels good to gather with the saints and those celebrating the good news--the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Our kids were so funny because they thought it was so exciting that we had a garage at this condo complex. I was excited because we were on the edge of the South Mountain Preserve and we were able to connect with a trail for hiking right in our backyard.

 I was even more excited to see this cactus in bloom!

 

 Lyndsee was a great little hiker.

 Making their way up the mountain for a rewarding view.

Some more pretty pretties.

 This view is looking towards Tempe and our condo.

 My kids loved that they had the Disney channel throughout our trip for the times when we were just hanging out.

After our hike, we went swimming. That evening we went to dinner at the coolest family restaurant called

Organ Stop Pizza. Thanks to our friends, the Scoresby Family who took us here. So, so fun for the whole family! My favorite was when he played "Phantom of the Opera". Organ playing is almost a lost art so this show was very original and entertaining. You've got to check it out next time you're in Mesa!




Loved our trip, loved the weather, loved hanging out with my family and watching my kids discover the beauty of this earth! Thankful that we were kept safe and had such a wonderful time!

Our Bucket Filler

Will was recognized by the teachers at his school as a "bucket filler" at Smalley Elementary. He received a certificate and the bright green shirt he is wearing. Will is an extremely bright and intelligent child but it means even more to me that he is nice and considerate of others. He fills my bucket every day!

Overnight Camp Trip to Death Valley

We have been to Death Valley a couple of times but never to the park's north end. So...after my parents came to town to see Taylor's play, they went to Death Valley to explore and we joined them Friday night for a quick one night camping trip.

Gas prices at the one station in the park. Glad we filled up in Pahrump!

 Pictures from Scotty's Castle

This last picture is from Ubehebe Crater. It was VERY windy up on the crater's ridge.

Taylor is "Little Mermaid"

 What a show! Last week we had the button popping privilege of seeing our daughter show off her talents in her role of Ariel in "Little Mermaid" She was incredible (if I do say so myself)! I could tell she was having so much fun up there on stage. When she sang her solo, I got teary-eyed and cousin Anna, Nana, and Papa admitted to feeling the same way. Can't wait to see where Taylor's talents lead her! She has already been invited by the director to join the more advanced class called "Stars" for this upcoming semester where they will be doing "Annie". Here are some pics from the musical:

 Ariel and her friend Flounder

Taylor and her friends Reese, Lilly and Madison who came to support her. They were so fun to watch because they were so excited to be there and they all watched in anticipation whenever Ariel was with Prince Eric, wondering if they would kiss. Then they all looked at each other with huge grins when the happy couple hugged. You have made us very proud Taylor!

Nice, Long Weekend in Oceanside

 My kids were lucky to have a four day weekend on President's Day weekend so we decided to do a trip to Oceanside where we would meet up with Aunt Erin and Uncle Adam's family.

On Saturday, we went to one of my must-sees in San Diego, the Mormon Battalion Historical Site in Old Town San Diego. You learn so much about the Mormon Battalion and the things they experienced on their journey west and their influence once they arrived on the coast. The kids always have fun with the presentation as its so interactive.

The kids could spend hours panning for gold

 Making bricks is serious business

 Hanging out in the covered wagon are Reagan and Noah. I loved watching them together the entire trip.

 Make sure you check this place out next time you're in San Diego!

After the historic site, we walked up the street to the Acapulco restaurant. They made an incredible table side guacamole. Yum! I want some now just thinking about it. They gave all the kids these hats too. As a parent, I was like "cool--now I don't have to buy them a souvenir!"

 In front of the Whaley House (no ghost hunting today however.)

 We made a stop at the San Diego Temple to visit the grounds.

 Aunt Ernie being goofy.

Sunday we went to church, relaxed, and walked down to the beach. Taylor ended up getting a slight fever and Reagan would throw up while Eric and I were watching TV at night. Why oh why do my kids seem to ALWAYS get sick when we travel? I couldn't sleep well and wondered if we would get to go to Legoland in the morning. Miracles do exist! Taylor perked up nicely when dosed up on Advil and Reagan must have overdosed on junk food because she was as good as gold in the morning. We would meet a guy near the ticket booth that morning who if we joined him in the purchase of our tickets (he needed at least 10 people in his group), we could get everyone in for only $21 each! We wondered if this was a hoax and we also couldn't believe the ticket booth would end up letting us do the transaction using two different credit cards. But it happened and we were ecstatic to have saved such a wad! We just hope the Shifletts will forgive us someday for not making sure they got in on the deal. ;)

 Uncle Adam and Megs

 Reagan having a good time with Daddy

 Yes--I understand the rules to driving.

Reagan and Lyndsee

 Isn't this what this place is all about?

 Will and Taylor like posing with the characters. Lyndsee won't because she's afraid of them and Taylor just isn't interested anymore.

Getting on a big kid ride.

I have to write this down before I forget!

Tonight we were at our ward Christmas party. The bishop plugged in the microphone next to the table we had staked out and asked Will if he wanted to test it. Will got all shy and didn't claim his opportunity which surprised me because he loves speaking into microphones. He realized over the next few minutes that he had passed up a valuable opportunity and mentioned it the bishop the next time he walked by. The bishop told him that when the party was ready to get started that he would let Will welcome everyone so be thinking about what he would say. Several minutes later it was time to get the party started so the bishop handed Will the mic and this is basically what he said in a loud clear and fun sounding voice: "Welcome everyone to the ward Christmas party where we've come to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. And now I'll turn the time over to the bishop to see what he has to say". Everybody chuckled and I was floored. I felt myself turning red not from embarrassment but from pure surprise. He had said all that without any hesitation whatsoever. You would have thought it had been scripted. Anyway, I love to see my kids in moments of confidence and testimony.