Arizona vacation days 1 & 2

Were baaaaaack. From a very much needed little vacation to Arizona.

Im behind on my blog posts...I still have like a billion pics from easter on my camera that I need to upload. And speaking of my camera, we took it with us to Arizona and I didn't take a SINGLE picture with it. I don't know why...to busy having fun I guess. I got alot on my phone though so I guess that works.

Thursday April 4th 
Today was the day we drove down to Arizona. Its technically supposed to be a 10/11 hour drive. It took us a little over 13 hours. First of all, we are traveling with a toddler. Who, does surprisingly well. I was so impressed he is a champ!! But we did stop once for about 45 minutes to let him play at park. Then again for about 30 minuets while we had lunch. Then, we normally travel straight down utah and go through Kanab UT and Page AZ then to Flagstaff and finally Phoenix. There was a rock slide/sink hole thing in Page so the road had collapsed about a month ago. So we had to take a detour through Jacob lake. That took way longer then we had expected and it was pure canyon the whole time. While driving through we decided we were going through Vegas on the way home.

I woke him up to get his pictures in the infamous big chair in Beaver. He was so not happy!

stopping in Kanab to play at the park.  

does this sign seem a bit off?
or is it just me?

how he spend a good majority of the trip.

Dads Mini Me

Driving over the grand canyon. Hudson was passed out, and we were making horrible time otherwise we may have stopped. But we have seen it a few times each, so were not missing anything. 

Friday Aril 5th
Today we slept in extra late! Arizona time is an hour behind Utah right now, so we woke up at 930 Az time..but 1030 UT time. We needed it though! We spent today hanging around uncle Joes. We splashed in his pool. It was still a bit chilly to fully go swimming (darn it!) Hudson loved the splashing. Then we went to Tanners uncle Chopper for dinner. He has an amazing brick pizza oven that he built in his backyard so we got to make our own pizzas. Hands down some of the best pizza ever! Tanner got to drive their tractor and take Hudson for a ride. He was heaven.

seriously in love with his little suite. So handsome! 

the view of the pool at tanners uncles. Jealous! 

at Uncle chops making pizza! This kid is pro

Riding the Tractor. 

Roasting marshmallows after the pizza 

Road Trippin'

I think I have mentioned this once or twice,
but I have never traveled on an air plane.
and right now, im not to concerned about that.

Growing up any kind of vacation we did involved a road trip!
growing up we went to Idaho for family reunions,
we went to Arizona a few times to visit my aunt & unlce.
We also went to South Dakota twice to see my moms sister and her family.
There are more im sure, I just can't think of them all.
I tried looking for pictures, but I would probably have to get on my moms computer for those pictures

 so this is all I could find

 This was such a fun trip. I just love them all to pieces. I would love to take Hudson soon!!

 Right after I graduated high school, a few of my friends and I would go on a road trip every spring break.
The first trip was super short, we went to visit our friend at college in Rexburg, Idaho.
This was about a 4 ish hour drive. So just enough for our nervous parents!

The next year we went a little further and drove to Pheonix!
My wonderful aunt and uncle let us stay with them and we had a blast!
Tanner was also in school at this time so I got to see him :)
That was a big bonus.

The year after that we went to Washington.
This was by far the LONGEST road trip ever! It was about 16-17 hours one way.
But so worth it!
we drove up to Snoqualmi Washington then after a week we drove through Montana & down to Idaho to drop Bethany off at college.
I think this was my favorite vacation...well way up there any ways.
Not only is it just beautiful there, we got to see Seattle & Forks.
I got to ride a ferry, and see the ocean for the very first time!

The last 2 years I haven't gone on a road trip :(
Im having serious withdrawals...this is a yearly tradition since I was little!
But in a few short weeks I finally get to go on vacation!
I am very excited to take Hudson on his first road trip,
but im also nervous as hell.
The trip is going to be amazing.
also, a LOT of firsts.
I saw the ocean in Washington, but it was cold and a rocky beach.
So this will be my first mostly warm sandy beach!
It will be my little sister and Hudsons first time seeing the ocean too!
It is my sisters, Hudson's, and my first time to Disney Land :D
as excited as I am to go, I think im 80 times more happy to take Hudson!
We will also be stayin in Vegas.
How sad is it that we live about 6/7 hours from vegas and I have never been??
So, Another first!

I am nervous how Hudson is going to do on the road trip part though.
He does really really good in the car, but he has never spent more then 3-4 hours in the car.
And even then its broken up usually with atleast 1-2 stops/errands.

Does anyone have any advice on road tripping with a toddler?
Or some packing essentials for a vacation in general?

Im getting so so so excited, I need this vacation SO bad.