Driving Day

Yesterday we drove. And drove. And drove some more. We traveled from Phoenix to San Diego through the desert. At one point it dropped almost 30 degrees in less than an hour! The scenery kept changing as we drove...

This was Danny's favorite part!

Last day in Arizona

Yesterday we drove down to Amazing Jakes and played a few games, ate a little bit, and then drove back home. This place was really fun when we were here last time - about five years ago - but now it has a new nickname for us - "Not so Amazing Jakes"!! We realized it was geared really toward younger kids. Sad how our kids are growing up and out of certain things...

The highlight of the day was Tara coming and doing a family shoot of us in the desert. She is amazing! We hiked up a trail to get some amazing views and a desert atmosphere.

Ryan getting some shots of his own...

A "sneak peek" at the photo shoot... someday I will post the best shots of the day.

Our day in pictures

Left the house...

Went to lunch at a cool, Mexican restaurant...

Enjoyed some food...

Went to a few gift shops...

Danny and Jacob went to a shooting gallery and shot handguns...

Admired Jacob's amazing accuracy...

And then the Daukas's came over for a swim and smores, and we called it a day. Can't believe I am saying this, but I am LOVING this Arizona, dry heat.

Day Three

This evening we went out to dinner (just Danny and I) with our dear friends, Chris and Tara. Good food. Wonderful, refreshing fellowship. We really miss these two and their family...

Earlier in the day we went to the famous In-N-Out Burger! You can't visit AZ without going there at least once. After that we went and played a round of laser tag. Even me!

Ryan has been finding ways to occupy himself during the down times...

Day Two

We didn't do a whole lot today. Spent most of the day relaxing at the house, but we did slip out in the late afternoon for a movie and dinner. We went to a more "local" type of restaurant and felt like we had stepped into the West for sure!

This picture is the view that you see as you step out of the grocery store... all I could say was "wow". This ain't the view outside MY grocery store!!! haha

Awesome movie about "awesomeness"!!

Day One Trip Out West

We left for a three week trip out West, starting off in Arizona. We arrived Friday night, recovered on Saturday, and today we visited some dear friends - the Daukas family. Had the amazing privilege of hearing Chris preach! Great start to our trip!

The view from the back of our rental home... absolutely gorgeous.

Even though I don't enjoy cooking on vacation, I think I might enjoy it in this kitchen!

Jacob - Yet another A+

This was Jacob coming out of his last Biology class with Mrs. Ellis - he was very laid back about the whole thing, but MOM was freaking out! This was the day he took his final exam, and the last time I would pick him up at Mrs. Ellis' house! I know. I am overly sentimental. But it was a big moment for me, picking him up from his last class and watching him finish up his first year of high school...

Not to mention that he once again pulled off an A+ for the second year in a row in science!! Biology is no easy subject - but he aced it - all due to his incredible talent for memorizing and remembering facts! So proud of how HARD he worked during the year and for his amazing grades!!