Started a new one didn't want to be too wordy that you would fall asleep reading one entry:)
Lots of driving on Route 40 with an ocasional detour on to Route 66 on our way to Albuquerque. Didn't quite make it and settled for an uneventful night in Gallup, NM at the Comfort Inn.
Wed., the 15th: Made it to Albuquerque and settled into the Country Inn and Suites for a two night stay that would end in a trip to the airport to pick up daddy! I have decided I'm not a huge fan of NM, even with a trip to the state fair. They had the yummiest tri tip steak sandwiches and a few exhibits that were interesting but that was about it. Also, there is no grass. I never realized how much I really liked grass. I called it the West Virginia of the southwest but I think Em was more accurate calling it the New Jersey of the southwest. Anyway, it will probably be our last trip there.
Thursday, the 16th: Pajama day, man I love these. Ally perked up so much after a whole day in the hotel. We stayed in our pjs, swam the afternoon away and then everyone but Ally went to dinner at the Souper Salad, shopped at Borders, and went car wash hunting. As Rich was coming the next day and is more paticular about the car than I am however, I was having trouble seeing through all the bug guts on the windshield!
Friday, the 17th: Airport pick up at noon and then to Rich's first "Guy" stop, The Standard Diner. So yummy, his best pick yet that we've been to. I had Country Fried Tuna with Wasabi Guacamole. According to the little ones they also had the best buttered noodles ever. Seriously, not sure how you judge that and don't tell Armando he will be crushed as La Cucina held that title for the longest time! We stopped for the night in Pueblo, Colorado. We tried the Cambria Inn which was nice but unbeknownest to us doesn't except pets of any kind. We are in the west we thought every hotel took pets, they love their dogs here. Anyway, Jojo got loose, we were on the first floor and she was busy making friends in the lobby bar while we had to chase her down. Not fun we were busted and fined $250.00. We spent more that night than we would've at the Ritz! Lesson learned, no worries!
Saturday, the 18th: A quick breeze through Colorado Springs, I wish we had more time and we are coming back for a family vacation for sure. Who knew CO had so much to offer??? We met Em's friend Emily at Chick Filet for lunch then headed to Compassion, which was closed on Saturday, and Focus on the Family, which closed 15 minutes after we got there. Ugh, I was not very happy. We also made a post office run, a ritual that we get to do quite often on vacation for Rk Grounds business. If the kids ever want to go into the building of post offices they will have a wide variety of which to draw from on our many excursions with daddy.
Finally made it to Denver checked into the Embassy Suites, a Hilton, and went to meet Rich's cousin Denise and her husband Kevin for dinner.
Sunday, the 19th: Em took a shuttle to Grace Chapel and we met an old friend, Jenny Banz, for breakfast. Went to pick up Denise and went to 13th street mall for an afternoon of Pinkberry, people watching, Barnes and Noble and strolling. Dinner at a place that claimed to have the best ribs in Colorado. They were good but to make that claim I might have to try a few more:) It was so good to hang out and get to know Rich's cousin we had a lot of fun together hanging with family.
Monday, the 20th: Preparing to leave the hotel and make the long trek through Kansas. We have heard it's awful and boring. But it's the sunflower state, how bad can that be????
Monday, September 20, 2010
A whole week of catch up
We left Vegas and headed to Flagstaff, Arizona. One the way we stopped at Road Kill, (diners, drive-ins, and dives), a first for us and Guy was right my meal was yummy and the drinks were gigantic. Of course, Josh did not care for our choice and preceded to have one of the biggest stand offs in our families history. I wasn't sure we were ever going to get to Flagstaff that night. Needless to say after talking to my sister and keeping an unusual amount of patience we all did get in the car and we did arrive in Flagstaff. Another redesigned Motel 6, not as good as the one in Montana but still better than some I've seen.
Sunday the 12th in Flagstaff, we went to Mountainview Baptist Church. They had an outdoor prayer service that morning. I was a little apprehensive when we pulled up but what an encouragement to pray with believers you've never met for their concerns and the concerns of our country. After that we headed back to hotel to pick up our four footed friend, grab a quick lunch at Olive Garden and drove up 180 toward the Canyon. It was the most beautiful drive. I could easily see living off that road close enough to Flagstaff yet far enough in the middle of no where. The kids weren't quite taken a back as I was the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. I have to say I think the west entrance might be more breathtaking, not as many people and a more direct, less commercial viewpoint. They did find it pretty, and at times I think they may have been secretly plotting to throw each other or even me off the cliff. They also thought it was big fun to get as close out over the edge as they could, full knowing my irrational fear of them falling.
Monday the 13th we went to Slide Rock, which has been the biggest hit of the trip so far. It's a state park with a God made water slide. They spent all day til the closing of the park at 5 not wanting to leave and wanting to return the next day:) Although, in the morning they had sore muscles, ripped bathing suits and scratched up bottoms. It was the type of day you remember forever, the weather, the scenery, and all three kids with full smiles.
The 14th we left Flagstaff with a quick stop to another diners, drive-ins and dives. Guy was a little off on Brandy's, the coffee was awful the pastry was hard, I'm sure I ordered the wrong thing that time but I was envying Josh and Ally's Little Ceasars at that moment. Anyway, back on topic, back to Route 66 with stops at Winslow, Arizona and Hollbrook to look at the teeppee hotel and to get some Seattle's best coffee, which was way better than Brandy's! Then the kids appeased me with yet another stop at a National Park. I just love them and can't get enough of them! Petrified Forest National Park was interesting considering it's not one of the biggies and I had never heard of it before. But, ask my kids, if there is a brown sign I'm wanting to stop:) Anyway, Ally and Josh opted for a movie in the van(their lose), and Em joined me at the visitor's center. She even watched the movie with me and scored big points. Was it because she is wanting to go to CFAW on the way home or because she wanted to be with me??? I'm choosing the latter:) We also got to see the painted desert and an old inn that is now a historic landmark. Man the rooms were tiny our family of five would've had to rent out the whole hotel and without Hilton points that would be tragic! Over and over Em and I could be found singing...there is no Arizona, no Painted Desert, no Sedona, if there was a Grand Canyon you could fill it up with the lies he's told her... I'm quite sure there was a more God honoring song to sing after seeing so much of his unique creation but that one was stuck.
Sunday the 12th in Flagstaff, we went to Mountainview Baptist Church. They had an outdoor prayer service that morning. I was a little apprehensive when we pulled up but what an encouragement to pray with believers you've never met for their concerns and the concerns of our country. After that we headed back to hotel to pick up our four footed friend, grab a quick lunch at Olive Garden and drove up 180 toward the Canyon. It was the most beautiful drive. I could easily see living off that road close enough to Flagstaff yet far enough in the middle of no where. The kids weren't quite taken a back as I was the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. I have to say I think the west entrance might be more breathtaking, not as many people and a more direct, less commercial viewpoint. They did find it pretty, and at times I think they may have been secretly plotting to throw each other or even me off the cliff. They also thought it was big fun to get as close out over the edge as they could, full knowing my irrational fear of them falling.
Monday the 13th we went to Slide Rock, which has been the biggest hit of the trip so far. It's a state park with a God made water slide. They spent all day til the closing of the park at 5 not wanting to leave and wanting to return the next day:) Although, in the morning they had sore muscles, ripped bathing suits and scratched up bottoms. It was the type of day you remember forever, the weather, the scenery, and all three kids with full smiles.
The 14th we left Flagstaff with a quick stop to another diners, drive-ins and dives. Guy was a little off on Brandy's, the coffee was awful the pastry was hard, I'm sure I ordered the wrong thing that time but I was envying Josh and Ally's Little Ceasars at that moment. Anyway, back on topic, back to Route 66 with stops at Winslow, Arizona and Hollbrook to look at the teeppee hotel and to get some Seattle's best coffee, which was way better than Brandy's! Then the kids appeased me with yet another stop at a National Park. I just love them and can't get enough of them! Petrified Forest National Park was interesting considering it's not one of the biggies and I had never heard of it before. But, ask my kids, if there is a brown sign I'm wanting to stop:) Anyway, Ally and Josh opted for a movie in the van(their lose), and Em joined me at the visitor's center. She even watched the movie with me and scored big points. Was it because she is wanting to go to CFAW on the way home or because she wanted to be with me??? I'm choosing the latter:) We also got to see the painted desert and an old inn that is now a historic landmark. Man the rooms were tiny our family of five would've had to rent out the whole hotel and without Hilton points that would be tragic! Over and over Em and I could be found singing...there is no Arizona, no Painted Desert, no Sedona, if there was a Grand Canyon you could fill it up with the lies he's told her... I'm quite sure there was a more God honoring song to sing after seeing so much of his unique creation but that one was stuck.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Day 22, Yet another day in Vegas
Rich's flight was cancelled:) However, he goes out the next day from Vegas:( So we spent another day in Vegas, got two rooms at the Hilton, and headed to New York, New York.
Morning we say goodbye...still hard even though we got an extra day. We went to the Pawn Stars store from the History Channel, a family favorite.
Morning we say goodbye...still hard even though we got an extra day. We went to the Pawn Stars store from the History Channel, a family favorite.
Vegas
All of my senses are on overload. How anyone can spend a great deal of time here is unclear to me! With all the beeping and flashing of the casinos and the smoke and the never ending quest to feed a family of five for under $60.oo. Oh, and to shelter your nine year old from all that is around him all the while he ask why anyone would be interested in such things. I pray he keeps this mindset forever!
Distracted
As I was blogging before my sweet husband came to surprise us to celebrate Day 20! Em and I had a wonderful breakfast just the two of us while the little ones slept in. It's so hard to sneak one on one time when your on the road, so I'm thankful for stolen moments here and there.
While Rich spent time with Josh, the girls and I hopped the shuttle and went to visit Paris, Bellagio, and the Venetian. After a few hours of walking what seemed like for hours we were exhausted. So, we went back to the room grabbed our tennis shoes and headed to Freemont Street(which was totally Em's favorite) and Circus Circus(which was totally Josh and Ally's favorite).
While Rich spent time with Josh, the girls and I hopped the shuttle and went to visit Paris, Bellagio, and the Venetian. After a few hours of walking what seemed like for hours we were exhausted. So, we went back to the room grabbed our tennis shoes and headed to Freemont Street(which was totally Em's favorite) and Circus Circus(which was totally Josh and Ally's favorite).
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Morning of Day 20
Whoa! I can't believe it's been 20 days. Sometimes it seems that long and sometimes I am still shocked we have been gone so long! I'm excited to see what the next 20 days hold but not quite ready for the journey to be over!
Today the little ones wanted to sleep in so Em and I went to breakfast togethe
Need to stop there was a surprise knock at the door....
Rich just surprised us!!!!
Today the little ones wanted to sleep in so Em and I went to breakfast togethe
Need to stop there was a surprise knock at the door....
Rich just surprised us!!!!
Cont. of day 19...
Best sights on the way here but for different reasons...
1) There is a small part of 15 that you are in AZ and you drive through these gigantic rocks where the road is carved right down the narrow middle. It's like nothing I have ever driven through!
2) All over Utah you see these developments with the LDS church right in the middle of them. Wouldn't it be great if we could take that concept and place Bible believing churches in the center of each development? Anyway, I'm getting off topic, we passed a camper community right after we crossed into Arizona with a LDS church right smack in the middle of it. It was unusual because there were all these campers and trailer type homes with the same layout church we saw in the neighborhoods in Salt Lake.
3) The kids reaction as we came over the hill and saw all of the lights of Las Vegas. Priceless and just what Rich and I always imagined their reaction would be:)
4) Josh had a celebrity sighting and had the courage to go up and actually talk to him! Who you ask??? Wait for it...Arwin Q Hawkhouser (aka Brian Stepanek) from the Suite Life of Zach and Cody. For those of you without the 8-12 crowd it's a show from the Disney Channel. And according to Em he has also done an Advil commercial or two:) He was very kind to Josh and chatted with him for a few minutes about where he was from, etc. If you see Josh ask him about it as it is one of his proud moments:)
Update on Hilton: We did get a room upgrade for our $33 rate:) Woohooo, I love my Hilton!!!
1) There is a small part of 15 that you are in AZ and you drive through these gigantic rocks where the road is carved right down the narrow middle. It's like nothing I have ever driven through!
2) All over Utah you see these developments with the LDS church right in the middle of them. Wouldn't it be great if we could take that concept and place Bible believing churches in the center of each development? Anyway, I'm getting off topic, we passed a camper community right after we crossed into Arizona with a LDS church right smack in the middle of it. It was unusual because there were all these campers and trailer type homes with the same layout church we saw in the neighborhoods in Salt Lake.
3) The kids reaction as we came over the hill and saw all of the lights of Las Vegas. Priceless and just what Rich and I always imagined their reaction would be:)
4) Josh had a celebrity sighting and had the courage to go up and actually talk to him! Who you ask??? Wait for it...Arwin Q Hawkhouser (aka Brian Stepanek) from the Suite Life of Zach and Cody. For those of you without the 8-12 crowd it's a show from the Disney Channel. And according to Em he has also done an Advil commercial or two:) He was very kind to Josh and chatted with him for a few minutes about where he was from, etc. If you see Josh ask him about it as it is one of his proud moments:)
Update on Hilton: We did get a room upgrade for our $33 rate:) Woohooo, I love my Hilton!!!
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