This leg of the trip started with Uncle Ian, Aunty Sam, Callum and Chloe in Upland California. It was just over 3 years since we were last there - and was certainly different this time as we were visiting in the Winter! It was great to spend 3 weeks with them including Christmas and New Year.
With Ian, Sam, Callum and Chloe...
Christmas and around Upland
With Ian, Sam, Callum and Chloe...
Christmas and around Upland
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| Ian and Sam's house |
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| Early on Christmas Day! |
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| Zac and Izzy |
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| Gingerbread house making |
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| Gingerbread house making |
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| Radio controlled cars! |
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Ian's first sub (Mum and Dad have
dived in this exact sub!)
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New Year's Day Superhero party - we went as 'The Incredibles'
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| 3 days of costume making! |
We picked a car up from Ontario airport on the 3rd January, ready for a road-trip to Arizona!
On the way, we stopped at Las Vegas and stayed at the Paris Hotel. When we were in Paris, France - we never did go up the Eiffel tower as the queues were too long and it was very hot; so we opted to go up the 50/50 scaled version in Las Vegas which provided stunning views of the Las Vegas strip.
Las Vegas
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| We stayed in Paris |
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| In front of Bellagio |
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| The Famous Bellagio Fountains |
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| Crazy hairdo! |
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| The Strip - from top of the Eiffel Tower |
Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon
From Las Vegas, we headed to the Grand Canyon via the Hoover Dam. It started to feel very Christmassy again as the snow fell everywhere. Dad got up to see the Grand Canyon for sunrise and when he got back he told us that not only had Grue stolen the moon, he had now stolen the Grand Canyon as it had gone. We all put on our ski gear and went to the viewing platform and it was true - you couldn't see anything as it was a whiteout. We had a huge snowball fight before bundling back into the car and heading to Sedona.
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| At the Hoover Dam with Strawberry |
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| Take That !! |
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| This is where Grandad and Carolyn stayed a few months ago |
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| Panorama ... garden and room |
We never really saw the canyon due to snow and fog. Apparently this is what was in the fog:
After the Grand Canyon we headed to Sedona. It was snowing most of the way and the roads into Sedona from the North were closed so we had to head further South and then back up into Sedona. As we weren't able to see the Grand Canyon, Dad had bought us a DVD showing the history of the Grand Canyon for us to watch in the car! (yawn)
The scenery on the drive up to Sedona was amazing as all the rocks are a deep red colour, and ascend like huge pillars into the sky! The whole town had a relaxed feel about it and during our day there, we visited an Arts and Craft Centre, and explored around the town.
After a couple of nights in Sedona, we headed to Phoenix to stay with our friends the
Lockharts. We met the Lockharts on the boat from Barcelona to Florida, had toured Disney with them - and now were going to stay with them!. We stayed for 6 nights and we all had a great time.
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| At Cathedral in the Rock |
After a couple of nights in Sedona, we headed to Phoenix to stay with our friends the
Lockharts. We met the Lockharts on the boat from Barcelona to Florida, had toured Disney with them - and now were going to stay with them!. We stayed for 6 nights and we all had a great time.
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| With Zac's M & D - Sandy and John |
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| The Apple Store! |
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| Mum had her hair done |
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| Family fun |
From Phoenix, we flew to Hawaii where we were staying for 2 nights. - basically a transit stop on our way home. We had a full day on the beach and celebrated our whole trip with dinner at a restaurant (Hula Grill, Outrigger resort) on Waikiki beach; Dad had prepared a poster for each of us that had photos of us in each country we had been to together with a map of the route we took - a great momento of our year away.
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| Ellas |
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| Amys |
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| Annas |
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| Mum and Dads |
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| Route |
The day had finally arrived - home time!
