You know how it is with most experiences--you head into them with excitement and enthusiasm, only to discover quite soon thereafter that things aren't quite as good as you had hoped. (As examples I can offer: High School, possessing a driver's license, owning any pet that sheds, drools, shreds, or requires feeding, and motherhood--which is very nice on the whole, but a whole bag of dried beans some days.) And with each new experience, you think, "Hey, this will be fabulous, and it will always be wonderful and exciting, and I will love every minute of it!" And then reality hits. Every time.
Except for this time. Because having Sunny in our family is fabulous every day. Seriously--who knew it would be so great to have a person in the home who can carry on an intelligent, non-argumentative, non-fourth-grade humor conversation? Who knew how amazingly refreshing it would be to have someone here who is willing to take a bath without protracted negotiations? How amazing is it to have someone polite and kind and positive around this place? This is soooooo much better than I imagined it. Thank you Sunny and parents--you have made my month.
One of the not-quite-fringe benefits is that we now have an excuse--no, a responsibility!--to explore the state and its wonders, even though we've pretty much sat on our tushes for the previous several years, procrastinating the heck out of in-state travel. ("The Grand Canyon? It's been there for millions of years--it ain't going anywhere soon. We'll catch it later.")
So, now we go places. (And since I was raised in a family that thought monthly road trips were essential to salvation, this is what I've always thought family life was supposed to be like.)
We've gone canoeing up on the Rim:
We've visited Montezuma Castle:
(Side note: there are a LOT of German tourists at Montezuma Castle. A Lot. I would like to take this moment to inform all those tourists that not all Americans are stupid hicks. Some of us even speak civilized languages other than our own. And if you're going to be so rude as to make fun of the American mom who has spent all her money on taking care of her children, and thus has none left over for trendy or even acceptable clothes, and thus must wear stripey pink pants that no clown would be seen in
BECAUSE THOSE ARE HER ONLY PAIR OF PANTS!!!!!,
then for heaven's sake, don't compare her to a tacky chameleon--because she understands you and will give you the glare of your life, you snobby, stupid, snooty assumer.) (BTW, I don't think your t-shirt was all that tasteful, either. So there.)
We visited--and thoroughly enjoyed--Montezuma Well:
And we even survived the traffic coming home. Thanks, Sunny!
Before I forget, LOVE Robs g's hanging out of his shorts in last shot. tee hee
ReplyDeleteOk, I also love that you're getting out and about and visiting great sites in AZ. The ONLY time I've ever visited the grand canyon was when we had a friend from Mexico visiting our family, when I was 11. Sheesh!
And I'm even happier that Sunny is bringing YOU joy.
Seriously Melia, you really should have put them in their place with all your mad German skillz. :) They are lame and looser-ish. And pink stripey pants are the coolest.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't done much AZ traveling either. So, don't feel too bad. Your kids are just getting to the age that I'd venture out... :)
Melia, I'm sitting here wiping tears out of my eyes because I'm laughing so hard! You are hilarious my friend and I hope those snobby, stupid, snooty German tourists felt the full wrath of your mean look! I'm so glad you are enjoying Sunny and that you have a non-fourth grader to talk to. :) We would love to see you and your family. Would you like to plan a get together?
ReplyDeleteYou are hysterical! I know the 1 pair of pants issue well. I had to walk all over Temple Square this summer with ink-stained khaki pants (I had washed them with a gel pen the night before and ruined an entire load of laundry) because they were the only pair of pants I had in the world that fit! If you are wanting to do So. AZ things with Sunny, you should try Tombstone and Kartchner Caverns! And if you're brave enough to try Nogales, Mexico, I could totally be your bodyguard and be the lookout for the men with big guns!
ReplyDeleteAllyson--Did not even notice until you made me look. Ha. Ha. Ha. It's pretty much his regular look.I will remind him to tug before I snap any more pics.
ReplyDeleteLana--I was too stunned to pull together the right syntax and appropriate put down. I could have said "Shut up" correctly, but otherwise my skills totally let me down. I hang my head in shame.
Jessice--Yes! When are you free? Give us a call. We miss you mucho!
Erin--I brought up the idea today, and Roberto says that I told him caves freak me out. And they do. But I'll work on the claustrophobia and attempt to erase my profound knowledge of spelunking catastrophes and we'll make it down there sometime in the next few months. Wanna plan a Pueblo House reunion?