Road Trip: TX to AZ

After a couple of days in San Saba, it was time to hit the road again, with Grandma Cuca in tow. I loved having her along. We listened to Anne of Green Gables as we drove. She had never heard it. Such a great story.

We stopped in San Angelo at the Chicken Farm Art Center.

It was quirky, but cool.

All of enjoyed it.

This is hard to see, but it's a giant statue

of a tennis player!

I know what I want for Christmas! ;) 

We didn't have a very far drive, so we also stopped by

the International Waterlily Collection.

So pretty!

Too bad it was HOT so we kind of hurried through.

Gorgeous! 

Check out the size of those lily pads!

 We also stopped at the mall.

I ran into Shaq. 

And then we got to drive through the beautiful desert

of southern New Mexico.

We stopped at a hotel in Artesia, NM.

The girls took a dip in the pool

while Grandma and I played rummy poolside. 

Then the kids worked out in the gym. 

Then over the Sacramento Mountains

through quaint little towns that look like

such a fun getaway. 

And then we stopped at one of my favorite places 

in the world: White Sands National Monument!

Love, love, love! 

We tried to get there early,

but it was still HOT.

We rented sleds from the visitors center. 

They didn't go very fast.

And it was EXHAUSTING to climb

back up the dunes in that heat.

If we go again, we need to go early morning

or in the evening so I can enjoy that 

beautiful sand! 

We drove over more beautiful mountains. 

Then made a super quick stop in Deming, NM.

It was such a treat to visit with Marlena

and her kids while we had cool drinks

or ice cream on a HOT afternoon.

We were friends back in our BYU days. 

Then it was on to Arizona!

The homeland.

 We stopped in Tucson.

I don't think I'd been back there since Andrew graduated

from the UofA in 2003.

I miss the palm trees!

The great thing about visiting Tucson in June?

No one wants to be in that heat!

So hotels are super affordable.

Ours was gorgeous! 

The girls took a quick dip in the pool. 

I lounged and read. 

Then we got cleaned up and got to do a tour 

of the new Tucson temple since we were

there during the open house.

We got there just in time for a beautiful sunset.

I loved touring the temple.
It has a definite southwest vibe to it.

Felt like home.

I was happy Grandma could come with us 

since she's never been in a temple. 

  

We drove by one of the apartment complexes where

we lived while Andrew was in school. 

Then we were off to Phoenix.

We stopped at KTR Family Action Sports Center in Chandler.

It is HUGE!

There were a couple of big groups there,

but the kids still had a good time. 

Good practice on the warped wall for C.


This blue floor was bouncy,

which was fun for B to do some of his flips and tricks.

Then we were off to the Phoenix Airport to pick up Andrew.
Yippee!
It's always so fun to have him join us on our adventures.

When I say it was hot down there,
I mean REALLY hot.
We were there during record-breaking heat.
I don't know if you can see the temp in the
upper right corner:

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN!
I think 117* was the hottest we saw.
That is crazy ridiculous.

We loved driving through more deserts and mountains!

We made it to Snowflake, AZ,

where Paul and Daneen and their kids are living.

Daneen had a softball game that night.

They have church ball with lighted fields and everything!

Luckies!

Proof that Andrew was there! :)

Daneen did great!

Carson's YM also had a game that night.

The team they were supposed to play had to forfeit,

so B actually played with them for fun.

Considering he hasn't played baseball in several

years, he did great!

Carson was playing first base. Did you see him totally block B while he was running?

Hilarious cousin rivalry.

They are renting a house right now,

but are having a home built.

This will be their view of the temple.

LOVE!!

I miss AZ sunsets!

It was great to catch up with Paul and Daneen and for the kids to have some time with their cousins.