Thinkin' of You!

Heidi-This one's for you!! Trevor was like-what are you taking a picture of that for? I shared with him your mouse story! So here it is...the picture tells it all!! Enjoy!

List of Things You Might Not Know: Part 2

YEAH! We made it home safely. I have over 300 pictures from the week, so bear with me as I do a day at a time! We are definitely still adjusting to the time change as some of you may notice in the hours I posted comments last night. I was up unitl 2:30am, which translates to 11:30pm AZ time!! This house didn't wake up until 11:00am today!! Can't wait to catch up with everyone tomorrow at Church. We won't be hard to miss-the ones still half asleep becasue as I am preparing to do WORD at 9:30 it really will still translate 6:30am to my AZ body!!

Well, I wanted to get some thoughts in this morning (I guess it really is afternooon!), so here goes some more of my list...

5. I love movies! Although we did not watch a lot of TV growing up, I developed a love for movies. Black and white, silent, comedy, thriller/mystery, romance, I love it all. I am not a huge fan of horror movies and sci-fi flicks but have sat through some. My first "theater" movie was my sophomore year of college when Father of the Bride Part 1 came out!! Even then, my Dad had a hard time allowing us to go to the movies. Growing up, none of my friends went to the movies, so I didn't know I was missing anything and didn't think anything of it. One of my favorite things to do still now is to go to the Library, where movies are free, and look through old ones I may not have seen. I've done this with Audrey Hepburn movies and Shirley Temple movies. What's better over the holidays or on vacation days to rent the Anne of Green Gables saga or Gone with the Wind or The Blue and the Gray or any other sweeping epic miniseries??!!!! My next feat is to go through all of the movies that won the Oscar for Best Picture and watch those. Anyone got an absolute favorite to share? And by the way, who cares if I've seen it before! I've watched some movies more than a dozen times. Trevor knows this well as I can guess a movie based on some lines, the music, or a cast of characters!

6. Yes, I was a "band geek". I loved Marching Band in High School. Although playing my flute got old after a while, I loved the marching, the formations, the thrill of competition, watching bigger bands compete with the "sound" they could make that would fill the whole stadium, sitting with your comrads in matching sweatshirts, and giggling and hugging and squealing with pride when our was called to win a trophy!! I loved even more the leadership of being a Drum Major. I loved making music selections, helping with formations, passing on the excitement to a younger generation, leading the band onto the field to perform, making up our unique salute, adn our shining gold gloves!! Even now, as Trevor and I try to make it to some shows and competitions each year, I get choked up and cry at the excitment of it all!! What great years those were in my life. Too bad I gave it all up for a boy in college. Looking back I would have enjoyed my marching band years at Liberty had I stuck with it!! One of those minor regrets!

Saturday: Flight Zone

We all love to fly and it's funny to me that Grayson is 3 1/2 adn already a seasoned flyer. We love everything abouyt flying: driving to the airport, dropping off our baggage, going through security, buying a snack/coffee to kill time at the double-your-price convenience store, watching the planes take-off and land through the big windows, watching the plane pull up, watching the people exit the flight, getting to pre-board and find a good seat, buckling up, clearing for take-off, the pressure o your chest as the jet hurtles forward, the lift-off, the view from the windows as we leave the ground, the seatbelt sign going off so we can relax a little, the kind attendants who bring snacks and drinks, more views from the plane, using the airplane bathroom, keeping busy while in flight, seatbelts on and the anticipation of landing, more great views, the hard landing as the wheels touch-down, gathering your bags from overhead, trying to get out into the aisle with all the other people whoa re ready to exit, saying good-bye to the attendants and pilot, and having a big smile as you leave the walkway and enter into the airport.

A huge thanks to Dave who dropped us off at the airport so we didn't have to leave our car and spend a night's dinner money on parking! He dropped us curbside at Norfolk airport and our travels began. It took 40 minutes, and we were in Baltimore. Trevor loved it because he was able to watch out the window and see the cities and it's landmarks as we passed over. We flew very low. We switched planes, and headed to Detroit. Due to preboard because Grayon is 3, we were able to get on the plane and find the front seat available. SO what if we didn't have tray tables for our snacks! Trevor had lots of leg-room and lots of additional space for Grayson to roam while in the air. We love Southwest! Our attendants on the plane were all male, which was a new experience for me. They were great with Grayson. They talked to him and really catered to him. When we deplaned in Detroit, we didn't need to switch flights, so we chilled out and got some energy out by running the aisles!!


Grayson got the biggest treat of all. We spoke to the pilot as they were preparing the plane for the next flight. They allowed Grayson to go right into the cockpit! And not just that, but they let him sit in the pilot's seat. They showed him what some knobs and switches did and even let Grayson press, twist, push, and pull some of the buttons, knobs, etc. What a highlight that he, and Trevor, will never forget!!!





The flight to Phoenix was a long one-4 hours. Even though it was time to go to sleep our time, the sun was still shining adn Grayson was not convinced that it was night time. Three hours into the flight, he finally gave up the fight and fell alseep. By that time it was 7:00 AZ time!! Not too bad. Trevor's parents picked us up at the airport. We proceeded to pick up Trevor's 2 sisters who flew in together from Lynchburg. After getting to the resort, it didn't take long for us to all crash, knowing that Grayson would be awake somehwere around 6am AZ time!!


I'll go ahead and post some pictures of the rest of the week and come back as I can and do a little write up of all the memories and sights!! Enjoy-it was a fabulous, once in a lifetime (maybe!) trip out West!!

Sunday: Wedding Bells

Trevor's cousin Dawn got married on Sunday in Tucson. She and DeeJay met at a church there and are madly in love and seeking to serve the Lord together for the rest of their days. The wedding was perfect. It was outdoors at 5pm with a reception following under the stars!! The couple were giddy adn never stopped smiling. Oh to be reminded of those first few moments of married life, with all the joy and wonder and a whole lifetime of memories waiting to come!!


We didn't look too shabby either! I think this one might become our new family photo. We had a great time catching up with some extended family.

Monday: Red Rocks

We drove to Sedona on Monday morning after bagels and coffee with family. Sedona is famous for the "red rocks". They look like mountains made out of the red VA clay, or at least the clay seen in Lynchburg! Breathtaking, gorgeous, fascinating! To steal a line from Meg Ryan in 'French Kiss' as she is seeing the sights in Europe "Whoa---Gorgeous---Wish you were here!"

Grayson actually took both of these pictures!!

Tuesday: Lazy Day

After going strong for 3 straight days we needed a day to just relax at the resort. They had an awesome pool, a Kiddie pool, and a waterworks spray park! Grayson had a blast. It didn't take long to feel the hot Phoenix sun! That evening we went to a great Italian place to eat called Maggiano's. Amazing atmosphere, great food, impeccable service, and excellent dessert. It's always fun to find a new restaurant that's not at home!

Grayson had a good time playing "pizza guy" with daddy, delivering "pillow pizzas with macaroni and cheese"! Boy how they giggled-you know the kind that makes everyone else around laugh too!!

Lots of doggie bags this night!

Wed/Thurs: GRAND Canyon

If you've never been, you can't even imagine the enormity of the GRAND canyon! I couldn't even say anything at first but just stare. Speechless! Amazing to think that either 2 things happened. One: the flood created this cavernous, mountainous terrain. OR Two: God threw it together and placed it on the earth to draw people to Him, the master craftsman, molder of mountains, creator of colors, Creator, GOD!

I thought it was neat that the week before we went, Grayson was watching the Disney channel and the show 'Higgleytown Heroes' had an episode where they were visiting the 'Grand Higgly Canyon'. Grayson was sooo excited that he got to see it in person!! He is now calling it by it's real name! He loved climbing all of the rocks, and didn't want to always hold our hands. No fear that the edge was steps away and he could easily plummet off as people do every year (so we heard and read!).

Two days was not even enough to see it all and experience it. Hopefully we will get back out there again, but if not, I am glad to have experienced it once in my lifetime!!