We got to take a long weekend to Scottsdale and were delighted to escape to the sunny south! We left after a half day on Thursday and took Friday off (Bryan not so much - an AD is never really "off duty"!). It was great timing for a break!
Friday morning we went to the zoo!
After our last trip to the Phoenix zoo, the kids were so disappointed not to have seen the komodo dragon so it was actually our first stop. He was awesome!
It was pretty clear that McCloud would have made a snack out of us if given his druthers! This was Mitchell's favorite part.
The squirrel monkeys were charming and came right up close to us. Shan loved this part best!
We spent a lot of time watching the orangutans and this mandrill was particularly handsome. The rhino from our previous visit was gone and replaced with a shy version. The big cats were sleeping and we didn't feed the giraffes again. Still, we had a great time!
Shannon like the flamingos.
There was also a dinosaurs in the desert exhibit with huge prehistoric lizards and Jurassic Park music. It was pretty cool - especially for a certain 2nd grade boy!
Equally cool was finding a lizard of their own in the plants beside the faux giant versions.
We wrapped up the zoo morning with a spin on the endangered species carousel.
These were some tired and warm kiddos! So we went to lunch at the Sugar Bowl and happened to park next to . . .
Baseballism! It was like the faithful flocking to Mecca. Bryan brought his dad back the next day for another visit.
The kids and their dad and grandpa enjoyed some pool time in the hotel's saltwater pool.
Warm weather, cool water and no sunburns - a win!
Saturday morning we had a brunch at Dianne's with Bob's family. Then we went to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad park. There we enjoyed a lively model train display, as well as the fancy Pullman car that was used by Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower.
It was certainly impressive for the time, but such tight quarters!
The other cool item at the park was a Merci Train car - a 48! - that was gifted from France following WWII. Many of the contents were also on display in the museum.
Saturday afternoon was Alecia and Carlos's wedding. The kids were not thrilled about dressing up for the event...
They managed to fake it for pictures, though, and we let them change before the reception.
Mitch enjoyed being the paparazzi during the reception, even stalking the bride and groom for a bit. He also took many photos of the dance floor and our relatives. Pretty cute kid.
We found a lime tree!
And a cheesy sister!
Aunt Rachel was in the bridal party.
Waiting for dinner
Screw balls!
We flew out of Mesa early Sunday morning. More kid photography - each cactus was individually captured by his lens!
We weren't smiling when we landed in Pasco sans baggage. Still waiting to hear about its whereabouts...and doubting the likelihood of its return. However, a grand trip with beloved family from AZ and MN! Congrats to the Alfaros!
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