Monday, April 20, 2009

SPRING BREAK

This year for sping break we headed to Arizona to spend time with my sister Emily and her family. While not one thing turned out the way we originally planned, trip ended up being one of the best we have taken for many reasons. We headed out on Friday afternoon. The plan was to be on the road by 1 PM. When does that ever happen?? After stopping to check out all the kids from school, stopping to say goodbye to Abuela and Abuelo, and having to go apply for a replacement SS card for Alyssa, it was 4 before we got on the road. We went only 5 minutes before we hit terrible traffic due to an accident that required 2 life flight helicopter to land on the freeway. It took us 90 minutes to go about 3 miles. My "glass half full" thoughts on this very long delay.....we wern't the ones in that terrible accident!!! We ended up not getting into Vegas until 11 PM. We were just too tired to look around so we headed to bed. We had to be up pretty early the next morning in order to make it to Phoenix for the baseball game and the kids had talked Dave into a breakfast buffett so we were up checked out by 8 AM. Here is the funny "Mom" story! Have any of you heard of a "Saturday" champain brunch? Well they have them in Vegas. For a split second there I knew how mom felt all those years ago. Here we are in line and Dave says, "Hum, champain brunch on Saturday?" I felt my stomach drop. We had already promised the kids we would go and we were pretty hungry so I just sighed and tried to ignore the $80 ticket for greasy buffet food. The kids loved it as I sat there thinking of Mom...not konwing if I wanted to laugh or cry!!! It seems like to said the same thing about her expeirence. After breakfast we headed to Phoenix, stopping at the Hoover Dam. This is the first time the kids have been there. They really enjoyed looking at it. We did learn something new....Tyler is a little afraid of heights. We had no idea!





We arrived in Phoenix with enough to eat dinner....thanks Em.....and head to the Dimondbacks game. Our first experience at a professional baseball game. We are hooked! The kids just loved it. Actually, I am not so sure if it was the game itself or all the junk they got......food, souvenirs, etc! For me it was seeing my extended family for the first time in many, many years!



My cousin Bobby and his little boy Bobby. What a cutie and about the most mild mannered baby I have ever seen. I don't think I heard him cry once all week!!



Most of you know my uncle passed away right before we left for Arizona. We ended up attending his funeral while there. That was a little hard. I had not seen Carl for many years but he is family all the same and I was so worried about my Dad. Most people don't ever have to experience finding someone who has died.....let alone twice in 6 months! I am very grateful I did not have to go through that. Anyway, the Toombs family are big baseball fans....especially Carl. He LOVED the Arizona Diamondbacks. We had all planned on going to the game that Saturday night. We decided to go ahead and attend the game and the Diamondback organization paid this tribute to Carl and his family. It was really nice and REALLY emotional!

The Toombs side of the family.

Me and my Grandma Toombs



We decided to go swimming on Monday afternoon. It was in the 80's and that is pretty darn hot for us Utah people. I am pretty sure that it was snowing that same day back home....YUCK! Alyssa enjoyed the sun so much she began to look for houses. Since she has has no luck getting us to move, she has decided to seriously consider ASU for college!



The kids High School Musical impersonation!



We were able to go up to Pinetop, Arizona and stay in a resort for two days. It was a lot colder then usually for this time of year but the pool was heated and we were a little used to cold weather so we played outside anyway. Brandon is not great at tennis! He kept hitting the balls over the fence into the woods and making me go chase them. How does that work??? He told me it was my turn since he has to chase them for his older brother and sisters. He thought that one through for sure!

Em and the kids.....we loved the heated pools. Especially since it snowed on us!

I have a special spot in my heart for little Dylan. I will never forget being with him after his accident. He is doing so good but does have one more major surgery in Aug. That won't stop him....he is a little go-getter!





One little surprise was our drive through Zion's National Park. Dave had to fly home on Monday to work so I had to make the drive home alone. I am not great with directions so I printed map quest and started out. I was following the directions exactly.....even setting the mile counter each time a made a turn or highway change. I make in onto the 9 and see a sign that say entering Zion's Nation Park. I paniced for a second, checking my map to make sure I had gone the right way. It did not say anything about Zions but I was on the right road. I get to the booth and had to pay $25 to get through. Oh well......we did not have a choice anyway so why complain? It turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. We ended up taking almost 2 hours to get through. We stopped and took a lot of photos and hiked up one of the cliffs......which Tyler was a bit freaked about since we had now discoverd his fear of heights. It was so beautiful. We have decided to go back for fall break in October and hike the narrows. I can't believe we have lived here 18 years and have never gone!
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7 comments:

Kim said...

You guys sure know how to have a good time!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great trip! You will have some awesome memories to last a life time. We are big fans of pro baseball here too! There is nothing like watching your favorite team live. Go Mariners!

Mrs. KIR said...

WOW, sounds FUN!!!

Kim Rose said...

It is about time you updated your blog. Great pics! We should plan Zions for a family reunion. I have heard so many great things about it. So happy you got to stay with Em. I know it meant so much to her. Love you!

The Flynn's said...

I love all the pictures. It looks like everyone had a great time. I think your next road trip needs to be to Georgia. And don't laugh, it'll only take 2-3 days...you can do it! Think of all the cool stuff you'd see on the way.

Cori said...

Your photos and travelogue are awesome - thanks! We went to Zion's a couple of times when my parents lived in Cedar City. Well worth the trip anytime.

Mason Family said...

Love all the pictures! I'm glad that you guys had a great time. Love and miss you guys.