Even better than the Griswold's Christmas vacation was the 2014 Carlsen Christmas vacation as it didn't have a cousin Eddie or have a jelly-of-the-month club present. You know how you plan things with a contingency that weather, illness, or something else can waylay those plans? I was so worried that would happen for our Christmas trip since we don't normally travel at Christmas but everything went so well and I'm glad we were able to see my family and have some good experiences with our own little family.
Christmas in Phoenix came about as all of my family (the Bartholomews) were home from Peace Corp in Cambodia (Melissa) and mission (Mark). Tricia was 8 months pregnant and didn't want to travel to CA (don't blame her) so Phoenix it was. For me, anywhere warmer during the winter months is more than fine, although white Christmases do add a special something for this So-Cal girl (white at the beach doesn't count dad!)
So here is our travel log, be prepared for pictures and explanations as this is our family travel journal since I forgot to take the handwritten one with us. We left Colorado on December 23rd bracing for a long 14-hour drive through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The weather was clear thankfully and the girls did really well as we had podcasts, movies, music, and more. I think my aversion to road trips stems from the long ones of my childhood without the many technological wonders we have today and Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, or Mexican music was all we could find on the radio and the ABC game just wasn't cutting it. In Phoenix my parents rented out a few different condo units at this time share golf course place and I'm always happy to have a bedroom to myself! The next morning I made chocolate chip pancakes for Elizabeth's birthday breakfast (thankfully she didn't order something hard) and we explored our new surroundings and little cousins. The girls were excited to go hiking and swimming as it isn't quite that season in Colorado.
Christmas Eve after the lights and cake the girls helped decorate our little Christmas tree (thanks Theresa for providing it), got their Christmas pjs made by Grandma Bartholomew, set out their stockings and went to bed.
Christmas pjs Christmas morning.
Christmas morning we opened presents and as a parent it's always fun to watch the kids get excited about everything. Dad, Mark, and I went on a hike/run up South Mountain (mountain is always a relative term when you live in Colorado :) and enjoyed the sun and exercise. This Christmas I don't think anyone got a movie to watch which was kind of funny as I remember doing that as a kid. We hung out, ate way too much food, played games, and here are the girls and cousin Jordan playing with Aunt Melissa.
The day after Christmas we did not hit the stores but dad, Mark, Eric, and I hit Camelback Mountain. The hike had a lot of bouldering action but we made it up and down with the hordes of other people and enjoyed the view. There was even a Christmas tree up top.
This picture doesn't do the path justice but lets just say I would advise against running it.
The view of Phoenix or Scottsdale, whichever way I was positioned.
After getting all cleaned up we drove to northern Phoenix to my Grandpa Schultz's grave in the VA cemetery. After that we went and got lunch at In-n-Out since we are still deprived of its business in Colorado. The place was packed but we got our double-double and shakes and were happy, at least until we can get some again.
In the evening the younger generation minus babies/toddlers went to see "Into the Woods." I didn't know anything going into the movie but loved the music, especially the song "Agony" where I was busting up laughing. Also one of the previews made us want to watch "Pitch Perfect" and thank you Amazon for providing even more enjoyment for the evening.
Saturday was family picture day. I know it's always a stress to get 16 people ready for family pictures but we did it and these were my unofficial ones.
The 5 siblings, or maybe it's just Mark and his harem of beautiful women :)
From left to right: Melissa, me, Mark, Tricia, Theresa we are not in age order if you're curious
The cousins (minus one that will make her appearance into this world very soon).
My girls with Aunt Melissa--they really miss you living with us I promise and thanks for helping with hair!
And with Uncle Mark-can't you feel the love?
And even though I know I have fabulous individual shots from our own family photo shoot I always like more of my girls.
The rest of Saturday we hung out trying to get the most of our final hours together before heading our separate ways. Thanks mom and dad, I realize I don't have any pictures of you but thank you again for putting everything together and feeding my family and making a great Christmas!
Sunday morning we got up, ate breakfast, packed the car and headed off for more adventures. Our first stop was the Grand Canyon that the girls have been begging to see. I could not believe how crowded it was there! I think I heard more foreign languages spoken by the tourists than English and you had to fight for space to take a picture. The one time I remember going to the Grand Canyon was five years ago when Eric, dad, and I hiked it rim to rim and got the full experience. The girls thought it was a pretty amazing hole in the ground, which it definitely is and very pretty with the different coloration of rock.
We tried taking a bus to at least attempt to hike down a little ways but it was cold, a little icy, and getting late so we only made it down no more than 1/2 a mile but my girls have hiked in the Grand Canyon!
On the way back to the car I wanted to see if I could walk/run the 2 miles faster than the bus and it was about even. Here is my view with evening shadows falling across. As impressive as this canyon in, I still think the mountains in Colorado are even more so, but maybe I'm biased :)
We left the Grand Canyon and drove through the vast open space of northeastern Arizona spending the night in Kayenta, AZ. Monday morning we kept driving, stopping for our epic picture of being in four places at once at Four Corners. I should have taken a video of Elizabeth playing four square with a group that came in after us but I didn't. It was cold and I wanted to keep going so Navajo nation you got my $20 for a 10 minute stay.
We then drove on to Mesa Verde which I remember visiting over twenty years ago. It's pretty amazing that the Indians made these dwellings from 800-1300AD when they abandoned them. Unlike Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde was pretty empty so we were able to get in, see what needed to be seen, take pictures, and continue on as it was pretty cold but still beautiful with the snow.
Grinding some cornmeal for our supper.
Overlooking Spruce Tree House. This was the only one we were able to go down and actually look at up close since it was winter.
Square Tower House. I think the only way they could access this one was climbing up the rock face as it was seriously on a ledge.
Cliff Palace
After experiencing Mesa Verde we continued driving through beautiful southern Colorado and towns like Durango until we reached our stop of Pagosa Springs. My dad has always asked if I have visited Pagosa Springs as he has memories of driving through as a teenager from Texas to Utah and it is a beautiful small town. On Tuesday, we went outside to enjoy the snow and Evelyn's Christmas present of snowball maker that actually worked.
I went snowshoeing on a hill in town and came across some deer that I had a staring contest with.
I could definitely get used to the views, my pictures do not do it justice.
In the late afternoon we headed to the Pagosa Hot Springs and enjoyed the nice warm water. I think everyone except me was adventurous and submerged themselves, or at least put a toe in the freezing cold river water. It was beautiful with snow formations on the salt rocks y the river and the water was relaxing and hot.
The major part of our slow trek back and why we chose the route we did was to go skiing. We had a two day window and chose a perfect day weather wise to go on Wednesday. Wolf Creek Mountain was busy but we all got in lessons and each had our own successes so I was very happy the day exceeded expectations. The resort gets a lot of snow and I was glad for a great base and some almost fresh powder from snow the previous day.
Evelyn was in a wolf pup class with other first dayers and she proudly said she knew how to pizza well enough (snowplow) that she rode the lift and did the bunny hill. Elizabeth and Rachel were in a second-day class since they had a lesson back in November and their teacher took them all over the resort to different trails. I think (fingers crossed) they can go off what has been taught and ski without additional lessons since I'm not expecting a Lindsay Vonn out of them. Eric and I did a second-day lesson since we had a first-day lesson a few years ago and weren't entirely thrilled with it. We were nervous if what we had learned would come back but we could snowplow and french fry it with the other beginners and I was just happy that we actually got up on the mountain (and safely down of course). My biggest issue was the lift as I fell getting off the lift every time but one I think either due to other people coming in front of me or my own lack of ability. I am proud to say we got off the bunny hill and loved the easy green routes! By the end of the day I even got off the easiest of the green routes to the second easiest green route without falling on my bum. Now we will have to try the resorts closer to home and battle I-70 traffic to get some powder.
It was beautiful, I think I've overused that word in this post!
Don't we just look so stylish in our ski goggles but it was a bright, sunny day and we needed them.
After our successful day skiing we hopped back in the car and guess what? Kept driving the five hours home. As it was New Years Eve and we had been on the road and exhausted, we watched a quick King Julian New Years Eve party countdown online and called it a night. Thank you end of 2014 for great memories and I look forward to even more to come in 2015!
