Warning: Too Many Pictures

Since I don't want this to be the longest post ever in the history of blogging, and neither do I want to give an in-depth story every day for the next week of what we did on our trip, I'll try to recap some of the highlights.



*Micah is not a fan of the Friendly Skies. Or any skies for that matter. Luke, the one afraid of heights, loves flying. Everyone found the moving walkways to be highly entertaining.


*When using Dramamine to drug kids use the yellow bottle, not the orange. The yellow promotes drowsiness. This is most effective after tiring out your children first. Children can, however, learn to power their way through the fatigue and simply be exhuasted AND terrified.



*Fire stations are the best part of a trip, no matter what else you have to see. And getting to put on fire gear is the best thing ever. Just ask Luke.



*Shopping trumps everything if you're a girl. A day walking around the fun stores at Wickenburg was Becky's highlight of the trip. And she learned that Trading Post was another name for Gift Shop. That's good to know information for any woman.



*The GPS is the greatest little thing ever invented to entertain 7 year old boys on long road trips. We got the mile-by-mile countdown to the Grand Canyon. We also got the updated Estimated Time of Arrival every few minutes. Strangely, what's funny and even cute for 7 year old boys is not so much from 13 year old girls. That just tends to be annoying.



*Becky is as afraid of heights as I am. The Grand Canyon is only grand when viewed from an indoor observation room. All other times are perfect opportunities to freak out because the boys all think it's funny to terrorize mom by actually having the nerve to walk right up to the edge and look down. After giving birth to them and all you'd think they'd have a little more respect for their mama and the condition of her heart.



*Arizona gets hot. Ninety-eight degrees in the middle of April will ensure that I do not want to live there. Ever. The lack of rolling hills and green growing things is also a deciding factor. Cactus do not count as green growing things.



*We can, indeed, get tired of eating out. Who knew?



*The sound of coyotes howling in your back yard is actually better than the sound of your own dogs barking. That part I'd like to trade.



*Daddies will sacrifice for their families and drive a king cab truck when a minivan is not available for rental. They will also go the extra mile to enjoy driving it.




*The vacation actually started a day early when I got to meet The Burgh Baby up close and personal. She had her mama with, too. :) And while I was in Arizona I had dinner and dessert with Sports Mama. How cool is all that?!



*Living with dogs in the house is frustrating at times. Most times, actually. But we learned that having no dogs in the house is just not home to us. We missed our four-legged shedding food thieves.



*Coming home at the end of a long trip is just as nice as leaving in the first place. It's always nice to know that east or west, home is best.