Arizona Trip Day 4

This about sums it up for Kieran.

Actually, by the time we got back to the Beckstead's house on Thursday evening, I was beginning to feel dizzy, sore throated, and feverish. Friday (and basically the rest of the trip) I was fighting horrible sinus, cold, and fever issues. Talk about a bummer.

The cousins had a blast creating a Lego "Civilization-type" game on the pool table. From what I understand, they built their own bases and attacked each other and there were rules and procedures as all games have. Totally kept these wild monkeys from driving us grownups too crazy. ;-)

Arizona Trip Day 3 -b

Our ride home to Mesa took us via Sedona and it was worth any additional minutes! Man, those views cannot be beat! While I drove, Brennan snapped picture after picture on my phone.

As we pulled into Sedona itself I breaked and parked right away. This little tourist town just begged to be checked out.

Arizona Trip Day 3 - a

Thursday morning we reached the Grand Canyon National Park. We pulled into the parking lot and BAM, right there was this "Javelina/Collared Peccary". (We thought it was a warthog at first.) Brennan jumped out the car and careful took some photos. To my knowledge, no one else around even noticed it, they were so focused on looking at where to park.

After looking for some additional warmth (like hats) in the store, we walked down the path to see the sights.

Kieran was, in hindsight, probably not feeling well. But he was miserable unless I was holding him, which made me a little miserable because he's kind of heavy and me in a jacket trying to carry him in a jacket is not the easiest thing. He was never satisfied with the WAY I was holding him either. I will never take a three-year-old to the Grand Canyon again!

Yeah, it was a little windy that day.

I could put him down at the viewpoint, thankfully. But he wouldn't stay with me. He has his own mind, this one.

It was a pretty cool place though. I would like to visit again with older kids and nicer weather and do some hiking or other activities.

Arizona Trip Day 2

We arrived on a Tuesday and the next day kept outselves out of the Beckstead's hair by heading out towards the Grand Canyon. I had learned before the trip that the Grand Canyon in cold - even snowy - in the winter. I hadn't previously known that. The swiftness of the temperature change was astounding though. As we left Mesa that day the kids complained about the heat. In the car, I could see the kids with pink, sweaty faces and had to run the a/c. About an hour later, there was snow on the ground. By the time we got to our hotel 2 hours outside Mesa, it was a LOT of snow and quite freezing. That night it reached, I think it was, 12 degrees. Wowsers!

For cost and other purposes I decided to stay in Williams, AZ which is about an hour away from the park. We rolled into town in the evening and nobody was really all that hungry, so we went out for some malts.

I didn't know it before, but it turns out that Williams is the last stop on the old route 66 and very much plays that up. As we drove through the town that Wednesday evening I felt like I was visiting Radiator Springs in it's heyday. :-) SO fun. 

As usual, I always try to select hotels with indoor pools. The hot tubs are the greatest appeal though.

Next day: Grand Canyon or bust!