366: getting back up to date

Sunday: we hit the road on our trip across Arizona, driving up from the flat desert to the mountains.
Monday: waking up in the White Mountains. The Girls mess around in the back of our truck after we stopped at Darbi’s Diner for breakfast.
Tuesday: we drive into the heart of the green at Greer, and lunch at Molly Butler’s Lodge. As we left we saw the hummingbirds coming back and forth to the feeder. They had a very high pitched noise as they flitted too and fro.
Wednesday: we got caught in a monsoon at the lake. One minute bright skies and sisters pushing each other happily, the next lashing rain and hail the size of marbles. We took shelter under the Ramada until it eased off a bit.
Thursday: moving on. Driving up to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. The weather got much warmer. Dimples enjoys her double-decker Oreo.

Thursday: the amazing Painted Desert, and our drive along Route 66. We stayed in the Wigwam Motel on which the Cosy Cone motel in Cars is based.
Friday: An epic drive to the Grand Canyon, via the Meteor Crater, which has everything you could imagine in the gift store, including Meteor Water.
Saturday: wake up in Sedona, where even the bathroom shave amazing views of the surrounding red rocks. We took a drive to Bearizona in Williams and enjoy an amazing animal safari, followed by a walk around the small animals zoo. All the animals are native to America: we even saw bear cubs up trees 50ft in the air, but I loved the cheeky racoons. DH taught the Girls how to play golf on the hotel course, onto which our room looked.
Sunday: an early dip at Slide Rock Creek park, then we got back in the car to head once more into Phoenix.

Sunday: we stopped at Rock Springs to sample the home-style cooking and a slice of their many pies en route to Phoenix.
Monday: a lazy day at the house after all that travelling. The Girls discover High School Musical, through which they sit, entranced!
Tuesday: an early start as we hit the road once more to Tucson and the Sonoran Desert Museum, which is filled with desert dwellers and cacti. The green lizard really stuck out.
Wednesday: as every other member of the family has had a photo with a ridiculously large cacti, it was my turn. That’s our truck. It was quite large too.
Thursday: we drove out to spend the evening at Rawhide, a Western Town. the girls rode Burros, we went on a stagecoach, watched a live gun-slinger show and got put in the jail-cart!
Friday: our last day and the final chance to eat at our favourite local diner. I sampled the Elvis milkshake. It was chocolate, banana and peanut butter flavoured. I never finished it.
Saturday: the beginning of our long journey home. Thank goodness The Girls slept on the plane.

Sunday: the view from the sky. The end of our amazing summer holiday.
Monday: a well-timed review. The chocolates aid the unpacking process.
Tuesday: still massively jetlagged, I tire the Girls out by getting them to help me paint the climbing frame. Dimples concentrates more on painting herself. the hat is added for the perverts.
Wednesday: we took a trip into London for the Lands End #roughandtumble day at Freightliner Farm in Islington. Tiring for me, but very tiring for The Girls, who actually slept for the first night since our return from Arizona.
Thursday: we take a walk at the Cooling’s Nature Trail in nearby Knockholt. A posse of kids ran wild and worked up an appetite. And they slept once more.
Friday: Another trek into London, this time to review the Children’s Menu at The Kensington Hotel. The Girls cuddle each other in excitement waiting for the train. They go to bed at almost normal time, which makes me think that we may be, finally, on UK time.
Saturday: heading off to the GPs for the weekend (with a plan to swing by IWantMyMummy’s to help with her makeover), the week’s activity catches up with Dimples. Her daytime naps are on their way out. I love watching her sleep.