Meanderings from a Higher Elevation: Arizona Trip

As I've already shared, this summer we've been out of town or had visitors more than we've been home! It's been really crazy busy but also a lot of fun making memories with our families and together as our own family.

My Uncle Dennis and Aunt Marilyn gave us a time-share a couple years ago. Because we hadn't used it there was a fee that needed to be paid every year to keep it. With us getting pregnant and then having a baby a vacation wasn't something that could happen. When we realized it had to be used by the end of August we decided we were not going to let a vacation at a very nice resort go to waste!!

We had lot of options as to where we could go but obviously the farther you go, the more the airfare costs. I wasn't going to bring a 6 month old to Mexico in case anything happened...I do not trust their doctors. Vacations look a lot different with a 6 month old anyway so we decided to go to Scottsdale, AZ. Yes, in July, the hottest month, we decided to go to AZ! Jason hasn't taken a true vacation in a long time and we were excited to have some lazy days at the pool to just enjoy each other and spend some quality time with Lucas. And that is exactly what we did!

The first day we went to church which was our friend, Jaimie and Jake's church when they lived in AZ. We loved it so much I wish I could bring it back to Colorado with us...LOVED it! Then we went to the mall so Jason could get his phone fixed (it wouldn't charge our first night there.) It was fun to shop and walk around with Lucas. After that we met up with my cousin, Gina, and her family to watch the World Cup game. The next 3 days were spent at the pool every day and dinner out at night. Gina had suggested a Mexican joint that I fell in love with. They had a salsa bar and amazing quac! (and Sangria!) We also had sushi one night which was also delicious. There was a movie at the pool one night that we didn't go to because Lucas was already in bed, but that didn't stop me from getting the bottomless bucket of popcorn! We went to a wine tasting at the hotel one night which was very tasty. We made several trips to Wal-Mart (and in Scottsdale this Wal-mart was like not other Wal-mart I've ever been too #classy...yes I just hash-tagged) and one to Target for much needed baby food and other groceries. We even got to meet up with my mom's friends, Jeannie and Ed at yummy Portillo's! I haven't seen Jeannie since 2009 or 2010, so that was a special treat.

The coolest part about our resort was that while the it was HUGE, we got one of the best rooms as far as location went! There were 2 different pools, a big pool and a smaller pool, but there were only about 7 rooms in the entire resort that were close enough to the smaller pool that a baby monitor would work all the way to the pool! We got one of them! So every time Lucas went down for a nap, Jason and I could still sit by the pool so the hotel room would be quiet enough for Lucas and we were able to be out in the pool! How cool is that? God is so good!

We were supposed to have a baby sitter thanks for Tuesday and Thursday night which was going to be so great and much-needed! I had worried that it wouldn't work out because where would the sitter sit once Lucas fell asleep but our hotel room was actually a suite so he could sleep in our room and she could be in the living room! However, I was a complete idiot and gave her the wrong week and her phone was broke so I couldn't get a hold of her. After we figured that all out she figured out a way to come on Thursday night..yay! Until I woke up Thursday morning and had a terrible sore throat, stuffy, achy and weak. We went to pool in the morning, the I laid on the couch the rest of the day and by Thursday night I definitely wasn't up for a date! I was just thankful to go to bed early! Friday was very low-key for me I don't even think we went to the pool but by Friday night I felt really well so we went out for burgers and a beer! Unfortunately it was just a fluke thing because on Saturday morning I felt worse than I had on Thursday and it was time to leave...which meant a plane ride with a 6 month old who while he was very good on the trip to Chicago...he was now bored with flying! I was miserable flying home and then was sick for another week!

But the trip to AZ was one I will never forget. It was great for Jason and my marriage, great for us a a family to spend quality time with Lucas. It was so fun watching Lucas swim for the first time ever. I love Arizona so it was so good to be back! It was nice to be able to dine out at some new places. It was just over-all a very fun and nice vacation for our little family of 3!

Thank you Uncle Dennis and Aunt Marilyn for the time-share! We made memories that will literally last us a lifetime!