Phoenix

Last week Josh and I and the girls flew down to Phoeniz to visit Josh's Brother's Family. We had such an awesome time. This is the first time we've been down there and I haven't come home weighing less. Linden and Josh like to eat interesting food, food I do not eat, and therefore live off of cereal when were there. This time I told Josh if he wants to eat the weird things then be my guest but the girls and I weren't going to. We needed real food.

Now when I talk about weird it's usually something like this...

Frog Legs (bought raw at the chinese market and then BBQ on the grill)

They also like tripe and tounge, things I just can't swallow. Don't think I judge all this by look, I usually try everything at least once. (I drew the line at tounge though, no way)

Or something equally gross, this time it was Rocky Mountain Oysters. For those of you not familiar with them they look like chicken nuggets. Deep fried and served with a side of Ranch or Ketchup; but they aren't chicken, they're balls. Yup, bull balls to be exact. It only took Josh eating a few to realize he can no longer stomach them either (I also drew the line here). It seems wrong for a man to eat nuts. Just sayin'...

We spent some time up at the Indian Ruins in Sedona. Montazuma's Castle and Well are houses built on the side of cliffs. It was really neat to see the architechture used for a supposed unlearned people. The made their houses in the cliffs to protect them from the elements and give them excellent defense agains enemies.

We went to the park near their apartment for a few hours. It was the girls' first time at a park and they seemed to like it. Katie was scared of the swings at first but once she saw Maddie was having a good time she lightened up.

We went to The World Wide Zoo and Aquarium. It was super expensive and I'm sure I wouldn't spend that much to go again (with a coupon we paid $23.00 per person, babies are free). They had a lot of rare birds and monkeys. While looking at a lot of the monkey pictures I've decided I took way to many pictures of their butts. We saw some turtles "doing the deed" in the petting zoo. I took video of it for a couple of minutes, because I'm apparently weird like that (but I was one of probably 10 people who also took video, so it's not that weird), because it was just so funny.

Do you think this face means she knows what their doing? Maybe we can skip the whole conversation! :0)

Afterwards, we went to Abuelo's Mexican Restuarant. Loved the food, not so much the hair in my enchilada, but I got my meal for free. Madisyn wouldn't even touch her quesadilla, she wanted the 7 layer dip so she ate healthy that night.

James and Tonja came down the day before we left (Josh's sister) and we went to dinner and breakfast with them. The dinner was good but the breakfast was amazing. We went to a place called Butterfield's. If you ever go to Phoenix, this is the place to eat. They have amazing food and awesome German Pancakes. Josh had blueberries for miles and my omlete was to die for. It's only open in the morning and early afternoon and if you don't go early you'll never get in but It's awesome, worth the wait.

The way home was an adventure. Flying Non-Rev (code for you don't pay much if anything because you work for an airline) was a joke. We got to the airport at 11:00. Our flt out was at 12:02. Went through security and missed the flight because it was full. I expected that so we just rolled over to the next flight. While waited once again realized the flight was full, but you never know. We got on the outbound flight when it was sold out. I love when people don't show up. Anyway, I called Delta because they also had a flight out within 20 of the one I was listed on. The guy listed us and then said there were 20 seats and we wouldn't have a problem. We leave the terminal and catch the bus to Terminal 3 for Delta. Go through security (now keep in mind I have lotion in my purse and two sippy cups with water 1/2 full, went through security in Salt Lake and at Phoenix, so this is my 2nd time through security.) The old guy has a fit that I have sippy cups with water in them (I always travel this way, they just test it and let me go), he's so irritated that he makes me have a pat down (super invasive, the girl put her hand in my pants to feel my waist band and she touched "the girls", totally awkward), escorts me out to dump out only one sippy cup, I get to take the other one through), gives me a lecture about how he's going to have to call supervisors to come talk to me and them makes me go through security again.

We run to Delta and get our passes. Grab some Wendy's for the babies and wait. The sweet and totally helpful (did you catch the sarcasm there) ticket lady at Delta told me that we were on the list and there were still 20 seats so we would be fine. She even gate checked our stroller. When she was about to board the plane she came over to Josh and said "Oh, your flying standby, right?" Josh says "Yes" and she walks away. Now keep in mind that I told her we were listed for another flight in another terminal and I needed to know if we were going to make it. She assured me at least three times that there was no problem. So she boards the plane and then gets on the intercom with the following messgae...

"For all those waiting on standby, be advised that this flight is full. We cannot get you one. If you want to wait until the plane leaves the gate I can roll you over to next flight!" (the following day)

I was pissed. We ran, like mad people to the bus, through the terminal (I felt like Home Alone) only to get to the gate as the plane is pulling away and to find out that there were three empty seats. So irritated, I absolutely HATE Delta right now.

We finally got on the next flight out on Southwest and was home around 7:00 that evening. It was a nice vacation but I really don't want to fly again for a bit. At least until May!

Hopefully Hawaii is better!