Spring Break in AZ!

When they say Spring Break out here, they mean it! The weather is PERFECT and Dallin had March 12-26th off from school. They have "modified year round" school out here, so they get 2 weeks off in March and 2 weeks off in October and they start school July 25th. They have the kids in school in August I guess because it is just too hot to be outside playing. So, we decided we needed to enjoy Dallin's time off. Here are the highlights:

Parks

We went to a few different parks over the break, but really enjoyed going with our friends the Baers. They have 5 boys and 1 girl, so all together we had 9 boys. They had a great time playing, riding the carousel, going on the train and eating their popsicles.

Zoo

We went to the Phoenix Zoo again and this time fed the giraffes, which the boys thought was "cool". Tad was able to leave work a couple hours early and met us for part of the time.

Sea Life Aquarium

We went to an aquarium, where the kids got to hold starfish and look at sharks.

Even Logan was intrigued.

Tombstone, AZ

If you've even seen the movie "Tombstone" with legendary Wyatt Earp & his brothers and Doc Holladay, then you'll know about Tombstone, AZ because the movie is about this city. It's a funny story how it got its name; a guy (can't remember his name) went looking for gold there around 1870's and people thought he was crazy and told him the only thing he'd find there would be his tombstone. Well, he found silver and gold and it became a huge mining town and was named tombstone by the man who discovered it. We went and saw where the famous gunfight was, walked main street, which looks a lot like it did back then, went in a mine, and had a fun time. This is the sign for the motel that we stayed at; awesome right? It is about a 2 1/2 hr. drive from our home, so we drove up the night before and stayed here.

Here's our motel, yep, for real. I was going for the authentic experience when I picked this motel. Yes, there was a Days Inn a couple of miles out of town, but I wanted to stay in town and really experience the town. When we pulled into the motel Dallin said, "You're kidding, right? We're not really staying here are we?!" I was laughing so hard when I told him, "Yep, we really are."

Our deluxe room.

Not to mention the "continental breakfast" that was included, which consisted of day old donuts in a box, a couple of hard boiled eggs, oranges, orange juice and coffee.

We ate lunch at this restaurant - it was pretty fun inside.

I love these old towns.

My little cowboys.

We had an old time family photo taken here in black and white. We got all cowboy'd up for our photo shoot. The boys thought it was great! Even Logan cooperated for the picture.

This is at the O.K. Corral where the famous shoot-out was between the Earps, Doc Holladay and the four who ended up dead.

They do a live re-enactment of the shoot-out which is entertaining.

Where else can you find yourselves real miners these days?

Down in the "Good Enough Mine".

This is one of the original mines that they have had to re-dig out. I can't imagine being a miner.

We stopped here for a beer before heading for home, okay, not really. This saloon was named Big Nose Kate's Saloon after Doc Holladay's infamous girlfriend.

We went swimming one day with a couple of friends, but I forgot to take the camera.

Lunch with Dad

For Dallin's last day of Spring Break we went to Tad's work to see his new office then took him to lunch with us at the food court in a nearby mall. The kids had Burger King and loved it! Who would have thought that getting a crown could make your day? They really did think the crowns were just the greatest. Really? Is that all it takes?

Ethan wore his crown most of the next day too.

Funny kids!!

Just when I got used to having Dallin home every day, it was time for him to go back to school. Guess all good things come to an end sometime...it was fun while it lasted!