Monday we started off the day by exploring! We drove up to Parker Dam and got out and explored and went shell hunting!
Afterwards we spent the afternoon at the pool playing. Luckily it was heated, since it was cooler weather all week!
Later that evening we went to London Bridge and walked around and saw all the pretty Christmas lights! The kids definitely enjoyed that!
Tuesday we found a kid-friendly hike to go on that was long enough for the adults to enjoy and easy enough for the kids to walk most of the way. Kylie enjoyed climbing all over everything and had to be rescued by Uncle James at one point!
Our destination was a little beach on Lake Havasu. The kids got to wade in the water (it was still cold), and collect more shells while we all enjoyed the view and relaxed.
The walk back was more tedious, since both kids wanted to be carried. Grandma Tess was great with Hayden and carried him most of the way back. They even hiked to the top of the surrounding hills and explored. Uncle James caved in to Kylie and carried her back some of the way. Near the end we found a cave way up high and all went to explore it!
We took it easy the rest of the afternoon and relaxed and swam some more and watched some tv.
Wednesday was officially Hayden's birthday! He was 3!!! To celebrate we went to a park that morning so the kids could freely run around instead of playing with the rocks and bushes right outside our room. They both loved it! Especially since it was a HUGE park, with three playgrounds close to each other plus it was right on the beach.
After lunch we made the drive to Oatman (or, as the kids call it, Cowboy Town) on Route 66. The bushes entering town were all decked out for Christmas which was pretty fun. Once in town it was mostly shops, but the atmosphere was really what made it fun. It was old and dusty, and burros were everywhere! Of course the kids were nervous but Grandpa Pete and Grandma Tess showed them how to be gentle with them.
We walked around and saw the sights and visited the shops. Hayden picked for his birthday present a cowboy hat and a stick horse to ride. The horse even made noises and it was really hard to get him to stop making the noise! We investigated the little mine exhibit and then headed home... but not before getting mauled by some more burros! If you have a bag in your hand they don't leave you alone. Plus they really liked Hayden's stick horse and Kylie's jacket.
Over all I think Hayden had a great birthday!
Thursday we spent a few hours at that park again. It really is a fun park! Kylie even made a friend and they fed the ducks/seagulls/pigeons/mud hens together. Kylie really liked how fearless the birds were, but Hayden got really nervous when they started nibbling his fingers looking for something more to eat!
Then we walked down the lakeside path back to the London Bridge. All along Lake Havasu are mini replicas of light houses, and there was one on the path!
Afterwards Hayden and I took a nap while Kylie had some quiet time. Then after dinner she went swimming with Grandma Tess while Hayden and I played some games. We played games every night and their new favorite ones to play are Lego Creator and Mickey Mouse Yahtzee.
Friday was our day to go home. We didn't get out until 11 that morning, and we decided to take a pit stop at the Hoover Dam. We walked the length of it, and the poor kids were too short to see over the top of it so they got distracted and tired easily. I think their favorite part was the escalators!
Then came an hour drive through Vegas (which Kylie got all excited and thought it was New York City!) before the last stretch through Arizona until we were finally home again! It's so nice to be back in our familiar surroundings where the kids know what is expected and there are no surprises.
I'd like to thank my family for the super fun trip they invited us on! I know the kids were hard to handle at times and very energetic but I really appreciate all they did for us. Also thanks to Grandpa Pete for the pictures!
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