Happy Sunday from Phoenix!
The boys are busy running their marathon. Holly and I will be going out to cheer for them in a few minutes. It has been wonderful putting the coats away for the last day and exploring totally new terrain for all of us.
This week felt a bit rushed as we were preparing for our trip. Winter weather took its toll on Holly’s dance. Ice storms made the roads very treacherous, so they closed the studio. The rest of us weren’t so lucky and still had to go to work.
We headed out for Phoenix on Thursday night, spending a few short hours at my parents’ house to drop off the dog and get a few hours of sleep before leaving for the airport at 2:45 AM. 5 AM flights suck, for the record. It was a full flight too, so we couldn’t even sit next to each other. We arrived in Phoenix at 8 and headed out for the Grand Canyon. Four hours later – we stopped for lunch in Flagstaff – we arrived to this breathtaking wonder. Neither words nor pictures can adequately do the canyon justice. It is truly a wonder in all its beauty and terrifying heights and depth.
After we had our fill of the cold, and it was cold at 40 degrees, we headed back to Phoenix and our airBNB for the weekend. It was an early night for all of us given the extremely early morning. Yesterday we did not do much. We got a late start, as we didn’t set an alarm and all slept late. The boys had to pick up their running packet, so we got to see downtown Phoenix. Then we explored Scottsdale and visited The Poisoned Pen. Later, we drove the marathon route, which ends at the Arizona State University campus. It was another early night so that the boys could get in a few miles (recommended before running a marathon) and get to bed early.
Connor finish between three hours and three hours thirty minutes. Jim is shooting for under four hours. Holly has fallen in love with ASU, so we are going to check it out a bit closer as we head towards the finish line. If the boys are up to walking later today, we want to check out the Musicsl Instrument Museum. If not, there are the football games, and the kids have homework. In fact, Connor has finals on Tuesday, so he has plenty of work to do.
We fly back home tomorrow morning, sadly. It has been a wonderful little getaway, but I do wish we would have been able to do a bit more sightseeing. Plus, I know neither Jim nor I is anxious to go back to work and all of the problems that await us upon our return. Still, one should never bemoan the chance to thaw out in January. The next time we will be able to go outside in short-sleeved shirts will be in April, if we are lucky.
Here are past posts from the last week in case you missed them the first time:
- It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 9 January 2017
- Little Heaven it is not
- The Sleepwalker brings a whole new meaning to sleepwalking
- Frostblood – A fiery new series
- Fabulous Friday – 13 January 2017
Have a wonderful Sunday and an even better work week, everyone! I’ll see you back here next week.
ASU, huh? What does she want to major in?
I have never been to the Grand Canyon. I want to go but my entire family hates people (ahem, tourists) and the only time we can really go as a family is when everyone else goes. Yeah, not a fan of crowds especially when standing on the edge of a hole in the earth.
She has no idea what she wants to major in but she wants to minor in dance. Go figure.
Honestly, the Grand Canyon freaked me out. I couldn’t even get close to the barrier, and the part of the trail that was not barricaded? Yeah, no. My anxiety levels were at a 9 almost the entire time we were there. The good thing was that there were few crowds while we were there. Granted, it was also 30 degrees and icy, so that may have had something to do with it.
What a wonderful break from the cold! Maybe Holly will want to go to ASU and you’ll have a chance to go every year to visit her at school!
Funny you should say that. She was already researching majors at ASU while we were there.
How did the boys do in the marathon? I hope everything went well for them. It’s quite an accomplishment. ( I have done 1 marathon when I was younger). Glad you enjoyed the sites of Arizona & got to thaw out a bit.
They both finished, although not in the times they wanted. Jim was 10 minutes slower than he hoped, and Connor was almost 30 minutes slower. However, considering Connor did not do any training, I’m calling it a success that he even finished let alone beat his father’s time.
I’m glad you’re enjoying your mini trip! I would love to see the Grand Canyon, I can’t even imagine how spectacular it is.
I hope the guys had a great race! Safe travels back and here’s hoping for a good week!
The Grand Canyon – just gorgeous. There are no words. It is definitely something you have to experience in person.
I saw the After photos on Instagram – you’ll have to let us know how they did!
I plan to write all about it in next Sunday’s post, but Connor finished in under 4 hours and Jim in 4 hours, 10 minutes. Connor did almost no training too, so he is already planning how he is going to prepare for his next one. I would call it a success for both!
From the photos, even though they were in the medical tent, the boys look like they had fun? And it was good to be in the warmth for a while too, I’m guessing.
I think they had fun – as much fun as running 26.2 miles for four hours can be. The warmth was wonderful. We were laughing at everyone wearing their puffy coats in 60-degree weather.
Glad you had a good time away! Hope you have a great week!
Thanks, Kelly!
Glad you guys have gotten this little ‘slice of the desert’ in your winter. I love the Phoenix area and we really enjoying visiting in early or late spring. Have a good trip back and good luck with work, finals, etc., etc. Glad you made it to the Poisoned Pen. I’d like to clone that bookstore and bring it back to my area.
The trip has been so much fun, and The Poisoned Pen was AWESOME! I would love a store like that where I live!