Scottsdale Vacation

We had the best mini vacation this weekend. Brandon didn't have school on Monday so we figured now was our chance. This is the last day of vacation Brandon has until he graduates, we figured we'd better make the best of it. We went to a resort in Scottsdale. Scottsdale is about 1.5 hours away from our house. We stayed in Scottsdale for two nights.

The rooms were nice and the hotel had a huge pool. It was fun because it was mostly shallow so there was lots of room to roam with the kids. We got to the hotel in the evening. We checked in and then took the kids swimming. Lydia and Isaac LOVE swimming. They love kicking and splashing. We swam for about an hour.

We got cleaned up and went out to eat at an oriental buffet. I was surprised at how much both kids ate. I guess swimming really worked up an appetite for the kiddos. The food was really good and the kids really behaved themselves.

It was around eight when we got done eating so we decided to see if the kids would go to bed. Isaac and Daddy cuddled on the bed and watched TV for about an hour. Then Isaac started getting cranky so Daddy put him in the pack and play just to see what he would do. He played in his bed for about 30 min and then laid down and went to sleep. I was floored. Daddy was floored. We couldn't believe he just laid down with us in the room.

Lydia on the other hand was another story. She didn't seem to be able to settle down. I was also floored by her attitude. She is usually so easy to get to sleep. She'll sleep at church, when we go out, in the car, and in her crib. She would NOT sleep in the hotel. She finally fell asleep around 11 but seemed to wake up about every two hours. I wasn't able to get to sleep until around 4AM. We tried to keep Lydia quite as much as possible because we didn't want her to wake up Isaac.

The next morning was the BEST. Isaac woke the family up just like we'd set an alarm clock. That boy is a great alarm clock. We got the kids ready and headed out the door.

We took a quick trip to target to buy a stroller and some deodorant for Daddy. Then we headed to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It was sweet. They had a little train and a carousel that the kids could ride. (During the on-season they have three different train rides.)

We bought some tickets and took the kids for a carousel ride. Isaac was so excited but when the carousel started he was terrified. He didn't seem to like it at all. He would give us a smile when we asked if he was having fun but it would quickly be replaced by a look of terror. Lydia absolutely loved it. She was all smiles and giggles. It made me feel a little sick. Daddy thought it was super funny.

After the carousel we let Isaac play at the playground equipment. He had a lot of fun but was ready to go about 15 minutes later. IT WAS HOT!

We went to stand in the train line. As we were getting ready to load onto the train ride I realized Lydia needed her diaper changed. Daddy decided to take Isaac on the ride anyway. He was really excited and we had already promised him. He doesn't understand waiting and we didn't want a breakdown.
Isaac could hardly contain his excitement as he rode the train. He made the best surprised face every time the train whistle blew. When their ride ended Lydia and I went with themm two more times. It was a bunch of fun to watch him over and over.

Isaac made this silly face every time the conductor blew the whistle.

After riding we went to Jamba Juice and got smoothies to cool off. It was around 102 that day. Somehow Isaac managed to shove the straw all the way through the cup. I don't know how he did it but he was pretty upset when his Jamba quite working.

After lunch we went back to the hotel and tried on convince the kids to take a nap. Isaac and Lydia were having none of that. We decided to take a quick swim. Hoping it would tire out the kids enough to make them take a nap. The swim was fun, until we decided to go home and Isaac didn't want to. He'd been flirting with some 20ish girls and didn't want to leave. He knew he was putting on a show. He took off running, before we could get to him, he feel down the pool stairs into the water. I caught him before he went under but somehow he managed to cut open his chin. After that he was ready to go back to the room.

The kids went down for a nap super easy after that. We let Isaac have a bowl of apple jacks in the pack and play and he laid right down. About ten minutes later he was asleep cuddling the full bowl. It was so cute. Lydia laid down on the bed and went to sleep too. Daddy watched TV and I read the third Fablehaven book. Lydia slept for about two hours and wanted to play.

We didn't want Lydia to wake up Isaac so I left while Daddy stayed with Mr. Sleepy Head. There was a hammock outside our room so we played in it. I read and pushed us while Lydia sucked on her toys. She loved swinging in the hammock. It was so relaxing to lay in the shade and gently rock in the hammock.

We went to dinner at Olive Garden when Ikeman got up. It was super yummy. Isaac and Lydia love noodles so they had a blast.

The next morning we had Denny’s for breakfast. We knew Isaac loved the train park because he made a train out of the jam packets and his car. He kept saying , “doot doot doot” which means “toot toot toot.”After breakfast we went back to the railroad park. Lydia loved the carousel again and took a nap on the train ride. Isaac was a little less scared but still didn't like the carousel. He loved the train ride and was so happy to be riding the train again!

Isaac was very sad to leave our vacation!!!