Road Trip

I flew down to California to join Cheryl, Kessler, and Wesley on a road trip to Arizona. The first night, we stayed at Kyle's house. Emily was up in Flagstaff attending summer classes to get her masters degree in speech pathology. (They are on a path to divorce, but papers haven't been filed yet.) 

The kids really enjoyed the pool, along with Cheryl's friend Jenn, her husband, Daniel, and their two little girls. 

Milo had a new trick - standing on the basketball hoop and jumping into the water.

Clara spent a lot of time in the spa

The kids also enjoyed jumping and playing on the trampoline together.

The next day we drove to Surprise, AZ  to attend Heather Lee Bradbury Aguilara's Open House. Heather married Michael Aguilara on May 25th in Colorado. She lost her first husband, Sundan Bradbury, two years ago in a tragic motorcycle accident. I'm so glad that Heather has found a new love in Michael. I was very impressed with him and feel that they will live a long, happy life together -- in Texas.

Friends since the age of three!

The Open House was held in the most amazing back yard I've ever seen in person. Evidently, it belongs to a ward member of Heather's near Surprise, AZ. It had a very nice pool, a sunken trampoline, beach volleyball court, and basketball court along with amazing landscape and other features.

Kyle, Milo, and Clara were able to join us at the Open House as well as Bearizona the next day. It was nice to have them join our road trip.

We all stayed at a hotel in Surprise and then traveled to Bearizona, by Flagstaff, the next day. We had a great time driving through the Wildlife Park and visiting their walk-through "zoo" of several other animals not included in the drive-through section. Animals we saw included black bear; wolves; badger; bison; burro; beaver; bighorn sheep; bobcat; turkey; python; deer; grizzly bear; jaguar; javelina; donkey; porcupine; river otters; leopard frog; prairie dog; pronghorn sheep; raccoon; red fox; reindeer; elk;  and mountain goat.

The sea otters were particularly fun to watch. So active, and one kept posing on this rock for all the cameras.

The petting zoo area was a hit for the little kids.

We ate lunch at this café inside the Park. Afterwards, we lost Kessler for a short period of time. Cheryl thought he was with Kyle and Emily, but he had lost sight of them and went into a souvenir store, where he was found by Cheryl.

Close to Bearizona is an adventure park where they have a Canyon Coaster you can ride down the mountain. 

Emily rode down with Kessler, Milo rode alone, and Kyle rode with Clara. 

Lined up and ready to go!

Kessler and Emily

Milo

Clara & Kyle

They all said they had a good time...except Clara thought it was kind of scary. Cheryl couldn't ride because of her pregnancy nor I because of my back, hip, and knee problems, so we stayed back to watch after Wesley.

Cheryl and I then continued our road-trip to Kingman, AZ before heading back to CA the next morning. The kids were pretty good in the car, but being cooped up in car seats for that long of a time is difficult. I had to sit in the back seat between their two car seats to keep them entertained, so it all worked out. I had forgotten how much fun it was to travel with small children. It's so much easier when it's just Alan and I driving long distances.