More From Arizona

We took a day trip last Friday to Sedona, where we spent the morning hiking around the beautiful Red Rock State Park. The sky was perfectly blue and the rocks a brilliant red.

After lunch and shopping in downtown Sedona, we checked out the scenery from the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a narrow church that straddles two giant rocks and offers lovely vistas. 

Back in Phoenix the next day, Grandma and Grandpa and I visited Taliesin West while the boys enjoyed an afternoon of swimming and hiking with Kent.

Our final day in Phoenix was spent doing what we loved best -- being outside. We hiked to the top of South Mountain again for a picnic and played in the pool most of the afternoon. 

Napping poolside, his only "nap" on our whole vacation.

What do you mean I have to go back to Iowa? Didn't you hear there was a blizzard?

Our vacation was a lovely escape. Back home, it snowed shortly after we arrived, and we endured extra long commutes on our first day back to school and work. The temperature hovered around 0. Grant is already planning our next trip -- to warm and sunny California.

Fun in the Phoenix Sun

Our new year started with extreme cold, snow, frozen pipes and sickness. We were ready to get out of town. Fortunately, we planned a trip to Arizona with Grandma and Grandpa Jerousek to escape the misery that is winter in Iowa.

Grant counted down the days for us, his excitement building each day. He continues to be our travel-loving boy, always up for an adventure. Arriving in Phoenix, he immediately put on shorts, sandals and a T-shirt, and refused to wear anything else for the rest of the trip -- even though the mornings were a cool 40 degrees. {Afternoons warmed to the upper 70s -- perfect.} And he wanted to be outside. All. The. Time. As soon as breakfast was over he asked, "Can we go outside yet?"

He also had his mind set on one thing only: hiking. Each day he led us on a hike through the desert. Sure-footed and happy, he is truly in his element when it comes to being outside.

 

The boys spent a fun morning at the Children's Museum of Phoenix -- I wish I could bring this place home with me. It entertains for hours.

Later that day, we explored the top of South Mountain, where we had lovely views of the city below.

A zoo, any zoo, entertains the boys, and the Phoenix Zoo was no exception. The boys fed the giraffes, oohed and ahed over Andean bears, and watched the silly and fascinating orangutans. They also loved riding the carousel.

 

Throughout the trip, the boys admonished us not to touch a cactus. At the Desert Botanical Garden, we saw cactuses of all sizes and shapes, plus beautiful art glass.

More to come...