Sunday, July 22, 2012

Tombstone, AZ


Hubby and I woke up super early with the kids, and we were both feeling completely exhausted!  I need to figure out how to get my kids to sleep in.  Anyway, we were trying to think of a way to get some rest, and we laughingly thought that if only we could strap them into car seats for a couple hours...and thus the plan to visit Tombstone, AZ was born.  


We got everyone ready, and then loaded up and drove.  It was surprisingly peaceful.  The kids read, or play DS, or watch movies.  The smallest two napped and relaxed.  As we were driving and almost there, J said "Dad, do you think they will have the real Boot Hill?" and about 5 minutes later we drove up to it.  It was cool!  Such an interesting little town.  I am so glad we took the time to make the drive and visit.  The temperatures were surprisingly more cool there than here in Phoenix too!

We had a lot of fun seeing the old west sites.  And now for the picture-pa-looza . . . I apologize in advance . . . but I love taking pictures. 

Boot Hill Cemetary - McLaury Brothers

My cute family
 
 


The mines that J begged to go into . . . look close and you can see the old miner dude on the porch

Random shot on the main street . . . with some dude getting faux hanged . . . 

My kiddos watching a gun show . . . with horrible acting . . . 

by these two cowboy legends!


 
Drinking a little sarsparilla . . . they all thought it was yummy!

Dead Mic 

Posing with a mine cart

Shoot out at the O.K. Corral

Chillin' on Main St.

Ice cream break
Me at the O.K. Corral

Mine Tour . . . J wearing his glow in the dark helmet

Exploring



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Canada Trip - Heading Home - Day 7

We woke up nice and early . . . my kids don't know how to sleep in.  We had some yummy pancakes and then the kids wanted to take a boat ride before we had to leave... I am so glad that we took the time to visit my uncle Rick and aunt Sheila.  It was fantastic to see them!







Our flight back did not go quite as planned.  We were there super early -- so we got some Harveys/Swiss Chalet for lunch.  The flight out of Ottawa was delayed and so we arrived in Detroit a half hour late.  We made a run from C gate to A76, the very last gate in A terminal, and we missed our flight because there was no one there to let us on. The flight was still on the ground.  It sucked.  Then they were trying to tell us the next direct flight would be Friday, and they were out of hotel rooms (It was late Wednesday).  There was no way we were going to live in the airport for two days with four kids.  

After waiting in a line for 2 hours, maybe more, this awesome dude hooked us up with a flight into Salt Lake, where he said there was a hotel room waiting for us, and a flight the next morning bright and early.   When we got to SLC, they awesome chick there got us vouchers for hotel, cab, breakfast and even hooked us up with diapers for the babies because after our LONG ordeal, we had actually run out.  I was so thankful and we managed to get a few hours sleep.   

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Canada Trip - Saying Goodbye/Hello - Day 6

We spent the morning hanging out with my mom and packing up.  Then we took some pictures of the kids with Grandma, said goodbye and headed on our way to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hastings Highlands, ON.  It was hard to say goodbye, but my mom is going to come visit us in AZ over Halloween.  We arrived at their house around dinner time.  It was on the lake and it was just beautiful!  So much fun visiting my family all across Ontario.

 Girls Picture - My momma, me, and E and M

Boy Picture - My mom, Mic, E and J

Beautiful view on our drive across the province

Love all the green

 
A quick boat ride on the lake after dinner - The kids first time


Love my little family . . . 


Sunset on the lake while we were in the boat - GORGEOUS!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Canada Trip - Toronto, Ontario - Day 5

A trip to Canada would not be complete without a pit stop at Canada's Wonderland.  I had not been there in over a decade and I thought it would be fun to take the kids.  I convinced Val and Dan to go with us, and it was a totally crazy, but fun time.  Theme parks are always fun!  So when we first got to the park, there was Charlie Brown, standing in the perfect spot to get the mountain and fountains in behind.  E met him and the first thing he did was hit his nose, and Charlie Brown walked away . . . hello, *awkward* . . . but the rest of the crew managed to catch him again and get this cute picture . . . minus E.


Posing in front of Dragon Fire (this was the first roller coaster I went on as a kid)

M and E watching Leviathan (a new one that goes 380 feet up and drops at an 80 degree angle)

The littles started to get tired of waiting for the big kids to do their rides, so I took them over to Planet Snoopy to play.  On the way there, they stopped to splash in some puddles and give Sally a hug!
 
M and E loved this ride.  We had to go twice each time so each of them could have a turn being the driver

A trip to Canada would not be complete without poutine (french fries, cheese curds and gravy - basically a heart attack in a bowl)  

Mic having his first bite of poutine

Lunchtime . . . Love my sister!

Brave little E goes on Blast Off all by himself

Lucy's tugboats - lots of fun!


Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Lucy 

My sis Val and Mic

Me and my sis (and the stand up roller coaster we were waiting to go on in the background)

Drowned rats -- after White Water Canyon and Timberwolf Falls plus standing on the bridge

 
Flavourator - Like teacups, only faster and more cool!

My tired family at the end of the day

Dan and my sis Val