Arizona Trip: Tuzigoot and Montezuma

While not part of our original "plan," we decided to be spontaneous and stop at two national parks that were mostly on the way to Sedona. The first park was called Tuzigoot. The National Parks offer a cool Junior Ranger program. Both girls participated and after answering questions in their respective booklets, they took a pledge and were sworn in. They even earned a badge!

Our next stop was Montezuma National Park. Just a short walk down the trail we were able to see an old Native American cliff dwelling. Olivia once again participated in the Junior Ranger program and earned another badge.

By late afternoon, we finally made it to our hotel in Sedona. The pictures below are of the beautiful view from behind our hotel.

Arizona Trip: Phoenix

We decided to take one last vacation as a family of four and booked a trip to Arizona over the girls' winter break. We were able to fly directly from Cincinnati to Phoenix, which was great. We stayed in a beautiful Marriott resort our first two nights there. Unfortunately, our first day there was cold and rainy (not the Arizona weather we had been expecting) but that didn't stop Yusaku and the girls from getting in the pool!

up bright and early at the Cincinnati Airport

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exhaustion? excitement? both?

pretty rainbow once the rain stopped

Our second day there, we went to the Phoenix zoo. Not only was it fun to see the animals, but it was surrounded by beautiful scenery. We also took a train ride and saw Happy Feet in 4-D!

After the zoo, we checked out the nearby "Hole-in-the-Rock." Being very pregnant and having already walked around the zoo for five hours, I decided to stay back in the car while Yusaku and the girls climbed up.  In the second picture, you can see them in the "hole" if you look closely.

On our third day, we left Phoenix to head toward Sedona. Along the way, we stopped at two National Parks - Tuzigoot and Montezuma (see next post).

leaving the beautiful hotel in Phoenix

December Phone Pics

December was a fun, busy month! Among other things, the kids built gingerbread houses, we put up our tree and decorated for Christmas, saw Santa, played in the SNOW, celebrated at school Christmas parties, visited with the Merrills, checked out Carillon Christmas with the Curries, baked Christmas cookies, and celebrated Christmas with all our loved ones!