Arizona Adventure: Phase 1

Whoo-hoo, only 4 days since my last post! I can't believe it!! Anyway, here's the travel journal:

Day 1 -

Small Airports Rule!

Left home around 12:45 p.m. - what a great time to leave! We were able to sleep in at home, have some breakfast, finish packing, just have a leisurely morning - it was awesome. Jumped on the plane and a short 2 hours later we were on the ground in Phoenix. We flew a charter into the small Phoenix airport, which is definitely the way to go - you get off the plane outside, walk a few steps into the terminal where the baggage claim is right inside the door, walk a few more steps to the rental car counter, and then a few steps right outside the door to your car. Very slick and very fast!!

The Purple Caddie from Texas

Here's our one complaint: HERTZ. We reserved a full-size car, which to them is a Honda Accord, and it was FILTHY, old and STINKY. I mean this vehicle was in seriously bad shape. So we paid for an upgrade (didn't have time to argue with them about it, the kids needed to GET TO THE POOL) - however I am going to be sending a letter when we get home. Anyway, here's what we got:

The color in the picture isn't so hot, but this Cadillac is PURPLE - with Texas license plates. Yep, nothing like being very noticeable! But, this car rocks!! The driver's seat has a massaging function in it, and the passenger seat has air conditioning in the seat! This was the best money spent yet!

Anyway, we located our resort, had dinner at Chipotle and then spent the evening in the pool. A very good day 1!!

Day 2 -

Had a "cheap" breakfast at Starbucks up the road (you can imagine how expensive the food is here if we're calling Starbucks cheap!) and then we were in the pool by 9 a.m.

My little fish . . .

These kids can't get enough of the pool - and I had the best time capturing their fun in megapixels:

Noah doing a cannonball . . .

Jack heading into cannonball formation . . .

Noah doing a belly-flop (purposely!) . . .

Jack in a flying leap . . . .

Cacti (or is it cactuses?)
Ever since we arrived here, Jack has maintained the the cactuses are all fake. What a goof. Anyway, we've had fun examining them -

(Yep, Jack really got poked - now he believes they are real).

I want this particular "bush" (shrub? succulent?) for our landscaping at home:

Anyway, we left the pool around 11:30 and then headed downtown to the science museum for the afternoon. Very cool place and the kids LOVED it. We stayed until it closed, then had a little supper, and then the kids settled into bed for a movie. I'm off to bed now with my BOOK (I can't remember the last time I got to read a book that wasn't Magic Treehouse or Boxcar Children!) Check back for Day 3!