Merry Happy Times
Grab yourself a blanket and warm drink, because this is gonna be a long one! We're just getting back into the groove of regular life after a couple weeks of relaxing holiday-ness.
Both kids were off school the Friday before Christmas, and we put together a few more crafts.
Shawn's parents flew in just in time for the annual Christmas Eve stroll around Old Town. (I have no idea what Greta is pouting about here, but it's a common theme!)
Christmas morning brought two very excited children.
And some happy adults.
We feasted on stocking contents and enjoyed a couple days of general sloth amid the box/gift ruins before packing in the car and heading west to Flagstaff, Arizona. Along the way we made a little detour to take in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park.
Once in Flagstaff, we settled in to our townhome for more fun with toys, a visit to the aquatic center, and dinner at Black Bart's Steakhouse, Saloon, and Musical Revue.
Flagstaff is in the mountains and normally has a good amount of snow base by now. Naturally, this year it was almost bare and any plans for skiing or the snow play area were shot. Good thing a nearby hill had just enough snow left for sledding.
It was actually packed and icy enough that Liam and Greta soon figured out they didn't need a sled!
The next morning we got up and headed to Williams to catch the train to the Grand Canyon. The ride was a couple of hours each way, complete with food, drinks, and onboard entertainment.
The canyon, of course, did not disappoint and we enjoyed several beautiful (and BRIGHT) hours exploring the rim before reboarding the train.
A few train robbers made it aboard partway through the return trip, but we paid them off. (Have you ever seen folks so happy to be held up?)
Our final days in Flagstaff involved what was supposed to be a sleigh ride through the national forest. Due to the warm temperature and almost complete lack of snow, it ended up being a wagon ride, but still made for an enjoyable afternoon.
On New Year's Day we loaded everyone in the car and headed back to Albuquerque. We enjoyed another day of company and play with Grandma and Grandpa, then it was time for them to head out and us to start taking down the Christmas decorations (boo).
Thank you, Mike and Kathy, for coming down to help make our Christmas merry and our New Year's trip even more bright!! We can't wait to see what adventures await in 2014!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
WOW, what a great way to spend Christmas break! Looks like you all had a wonderful time. Love the picture of Greta sledding, so happy.
Forgot to post that we had a great time. Thanks for the memories.
G K
Post a Comment