Phoenix Fun!

This last weekend we went to Phoenix to spend a couple days with Brian's brother Mike, and his wife, Misty. We left Friday night, after Scarlett's (the little girl I babysit) Dad picked her up. We really like driving at night, because traffic is better and the kids sleep! :) We made it there in almost exactly 6 hours. We visited for about an hour or so, and then we all went to bed.

The adults all got up early and headed to Mexico for the day. My nieces, Kelsey, and Zoe and Nephew, Ashton, watched the girls for us. After two hours we made it to the border. We love going to Mexico and walking around and shopping. Brian really likes to barter with the shop keepers. We got a cute metal sun to hang outside next to the cute little horny toads that I bought last time. We also got the kids some more little bobble heads - we have a whole collection above the kitchen sink now - and stocked up on a few prescriptions (since we don't have medical insurance, it is MUCH cheaper!).

It is so weird to me, to see the difference between US and Mexico. Even though we have been to the border a million times, it is still crazy to park the car and walk a block and be in a completely different country. I took a picture from the parking lot. Where all the cars are parked, it is the US of A. Then there is a fence, and the the buildings on the other side are Mexico. Everything on the US side is so much nicer. It is just so weird that there is a dramatic night and day difference in those few feet.

Because the new passport law just came into effect (you have to have a passport or pass card to get back into the states) the parking lot was really empty. Usually it is packed. It also made for a shorter line to get back into the US. We still had to wait about 15 minutes, but usually it is closer to a half and hour or forty five minute wait.

Brian, Mike and Misty waiting in line to get back into the US

On the way home, we stopped in Tucson at a gas station to get some drinks. Brian wanted his picture taken by this Buffalo statue outside, for some reason. Random, but that is Brian.

We made it home around 5:00. We spent the evening hanging out and visiting while the kids swam in the pool and Mike BBQ'd for us.

The next morning, we got up and just sat around relaxing for a while, before making the journey home. The drive went well, and we were making good time until about 5 miles outside of the Hoover Dam. To get across Lake Mead, you have to drive on top of the Hoover Dam. The combination of every car having to go through a security checkpoint, and all the tourists walking around taking pictures can make traffic really, really slow. It took us an hour to cross the Dam, making a normally 6 hour drive into a 7 hour one.

They are building a bypass bridge next to the dam. I cannot wait until it is done, but there is still a long way to go. I think they have about a year left. And, they talking about building an interstate from Las Vegas to Phoenix once the bridge is done. I hope it happens!!!

We finally made it home - it was nice just to sit back and relax after all that driving! I didn't even unpack our suitcases. I saved them for Monday morning! But the trip was well worth the journey. We love being able to visit Misty and Mike and all their kids. We all always have a lot of fun when we go!