Arizona Trip

DISCLAIMER

This blog is where I record a limited depiction of my feelings, family, and faith. My blog was recently under intense scrutiny, and so I feel this disclaimer is necessary. I try to tell my story as openly as I can, but this blog represents a cropped and narrow-viewed version of my story -- like all social media -- it is NOT the full story. Many events happen behind the scenes that are not recorded or written about, due to the sensitive nature of others involved. Life has many layers. Many layers can be shared and many cannot, and this blog is simply a layer of my life that I allow others to view, but it is not an accurate depiction of all the layers of my life.

December 06, 2015

Arizona Trip

We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving. We traveled with my parents, and visited with family for the week. It was a wonderful break. We ended up finding a house to rent not too far from my brother's house, and the home had a pool! It was super fun, and quite a treat in the middle of winter!

The house we rented made the trip extremely enjoyable, and it was very relaxing. There were a few nights that I took the kids out and we swam under the stars. The pool was heated, though it was still quite chilly; but when you are from Alaska, cold is all relative.

It was nice to be able to relax, play games, watch movies, swim, run in the warmth, and just be together after the extreme excitement we had just the week before (that will be my next post).

There is something kind of magical about Arizona in the wintertime. I was born in Arizona, and so it stirs up memories for me when I travel there. We moved to Alaska when I was 4, but I have visited there a lot, and I have some very vivid memories from my early childhood in Arizona. When I smell certain smells -- just the Arizona air -- it wakes up something deep inside of me, and brings my childhood to the surface.

I also have really fond memories from a trip Charles and I took there before we were married. He recorded a lot about his feelings during that time in his journal, about our trip to Arizona. (We were chaperoned at all times.) He really, really, liked me, and it was cute to read. We had so much fun on that trip... Ahhhh... memories.

Now the most recent trip is but a memory to be stored up and cherished in my heart. There is something about traveling that makes time stand still, and the troubles of the world seem to fade away and seem less important.

Good times, lots of good times...

We did a lot of swimming

William giving the thumbs up

Pretty plants in the yard

Henry enjoyed lounging on the stairs. He became more brave with time, but he preferred to relax on the stairs, where he felt safe.

Palm tree

Cactus fruit

I just love the way the Arizona landscapes look

Ouch!

Hanging out with family

All these cute boys wanted to be by Aunt Amy

Hanging out at my brother's house

Henry always finds a way to entertain himself

Pool time!

Lunch time. Notice the bag of White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels... I got a bunch of bags to bring home with me, but none of them made it. I forgot to hide them. They no longer have them in the Idaho Costco! They are one of my favorites. But they are gone, all gone. So sad.

Johnny and a bunch of boys

Henry really loved the house we stayed in, there was so much room to run free

My niece, Kimmy, is going on a mission to Russia, in February. One of the reasons we gathered as family was to go to the temple with her. It was so awesome. On one of the days, the kids went to the temple together to do baptisms. What a precious time for them!