Arizona 2014

Since my parents take the girls for Spring Break every year we decided this year we would take a few days off and venture out to Arizona.   Before we left for the West, we enjoyed a night in Nashville with a quite long dinner with the Busey’s!  Ronda summed it up well by her post on Facebook “If it hadn't been for this guy, I never would have gone to grad school...or survived it! Jimmy and Rachael are some of our dearest friends from our life in Chattanooga. We're not able to get together often, but all we need is a 3.5 hour dinner to pick up right where we left off! (Special thanks to the folks at Maggiano's for letting us crash for so long!)”   We feel the same way!  We are so blessed by friendships that stand the test of time and we pick up right where we have left off.   

Michael, Ronda, Jimmy and me at dinner before we flew out to AZ the next day! 

We flew into Phoenix and drive to Sedona.   We had a wonderful stay at Sedona Rouge Spa.   We relaxed more than I ever though possible as as I told someone I came back a better wife, mom, friend and SunTrust teammate.    We did a jeep tour through the red rocks in Sedona, a day trip to the South rim of the Grand Canyon and wrapped up the trip out West with a hot air balloon ride!  It was fantastic.  

On the air plane ready for a few days to relax! 

Ahhh, so excited to explore!

Sedona red rocks 

Sedona 

After the jeep tour we had a great dinner at Cowboy Club and splurged on dessert….a gravy boat of hot fudge with ice cream!    

We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Grand Canyon!  

WOW!  The Canyon was stunning.  We enjoyed many place to sit and just take in the environment (and do some fun people watching too!) 

Next trip we want to get down to the bottom and play in the water!  It was such a vibrant green! 

I am so blessed to do this time with this man!  

Jimmy getting wild and crazy right on the edge (there were not many spots that had fences on the edge of the Canyon)

The sky was blue, the sun was shinning, not a drop of rain and a great 70 degrees!  

in the basket of the hot air balloon….we apparently had to get in while it was on its side which meant we were on our backs at first until the balloon inflated.   

Still on our side watching the other balloon 

Our view as the sun was rising in the balloon! 

Love the rocks and the shadow of our balloon in the air. 

Jimmy said the highlight of the trip was the balloon ride!   I can't decide!

As we headed back into Phenix we had to get a picture with a cactus!  

We worked from Nashville a few days, enjoyed dinner with other Sarah and Matthew, and Saturday morning headed to Lexington to get the girls!  We missed them terribly but know they had a great time making memories!  

Gracie and Maggie, 

We pray that as you grow you have the opportunities to see the wonderful creation by God’s own hand.  That you will embrace the beauty and find the mountains just as relaxing and breathtaking as the ocean!    We pray that you also as you marry will have moments away together without the distractions of the demands of everyday life and know that we will eagerly keep your children just as Gjysh and KK did this week (and Grammy and Papa do as well).   They are priceless moments!   We love you both and missed you!