HOMESTEAD WATER PITCHER

While we were at the Huntzinger Homestead for the family reunion, there were a lot of "treasures" that were found while we were looking for landmarks.  Family members got to take a piece of the found treasures home, which I thought was really fun.

Lach found this water pitcher and now it's our newest flower vase.
There are quite a few things I love about it, but I mostly love that it's been through the ringer.

IT'S A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE

my father's birthday!

Ivon, fondly referred to as Dad, Daddy, Daddio, Papa Ivon, Grandpa and Old Man.
Have a piece of cake in honor of this adventurous, loving, kind, interesting man who is a golfer, quilter, photographer, world traveler and just down right awesome.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

WE LOVE YOU!!

IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, THERE IS A VERY UNIQUE ATTRACTION

The London Bridge!
At first my dad and I thought it was the London bridge that our very own feet had walked on in London when we lived there.  But we were wrong.  This bridge was reassembled in Arizona in 1971.

Although we didn't get to retrace our original steps, we made new ones.  And in the process, I fell in love with Lake Havasu City.  It's been officially added to our vacation list.

THE METEOR CRATER IN ARIZONA

is about 50,000 years old and the best meteorite site on the earth.
You could fit 20 football fields at the bottom and a million gazillion spectators on the sides.
The Meteor Crater is out in the middle of no where and impressive!

We took the boys and I am so glad we did.
It is interesting, fascinating and a little mind blowing to think about if this happened again, but in a populated area.  It would be devastating.
It was definitely worth the drive out the learn more about this breathtaking wonder.  It's amazing.

MATHER POINT

at the Grand Canyon is unbelievable.  I wish we would have had time to spend the whole day there and explore other parts of the rim and hike a bit.  So, so beautiful.

We went to the National Geographic IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon and WOW, is it amazing.  I'm SO glad we saw that before we left.  It's definitely a must see if you are heading up to the Grand Canyon.

THE PAINTED DESERT

was at the other end of the Arizona Petrified Forest National Park.  The colors and textures of the hills and rocks were breathtaking.  Every time we would get out of the car, we couldn't help but say 'wow' and the boys would oooh and ahhhhh.  Definitely appreciated by all ages.

In 2011 we took the boys to the Painted Hills in Oregon.  It was interesting to see the color difference of the two areas.  Both absolutely breathtaking.  I'm so glad that that we had a chance to experience to Arizona's natural painting too.

A PETRIFIED FOREST

was on the Arizona list of adventures today.
Living in Oregon, with a lot of trees and forests, it wasn't what I was imagining at all.  But man, oh man, was it ever cool.  We went to the Petrified Forest National Park in the northeastern part of the state.

These fossilized logs are gorgeous and fascinating.  Full of color and texture.  They are strewn across the park but some of the areas you can walk really close to them.  The wee ones loved every moment in the park.
There are steep penalties for going off the pathways and/or bringing anything from the park home.
I was watching them like a hawk and they made their mama proud.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE HUNTZINGER FAMILY REUNION

was going out to the family homestead.  We traipsed all over the place, finding landmarks referenced in photos and journaled memories.  Flooding over the years disintegrated the abandoned adobe home.  Flash floods to an unkept area changes things drastically.  We found the well, windmill, animal coral, and some fun treasures like a few pieces of silverware, broken pottery, gate pieces, etc...  It was so much fun.  Unfortunately, Eddie's grave couldn't be confirmed.  That would have been icing on the cake.

I loved meeting family members and being reunited with family I already knew.  Hearing stories with added information and clarification was invaluable and so fun.  Plans for the next family reunion are already in the works and I can't wait!

THE ROSE IS A WHITE LADY BANKSIA

and the root was sent from Scotland in 1885.  It is now one of nature's greatest wonders, as the world's largest rose tree at over 8700 square feet.

We missed seeing it in bloom, which is in April, but there were a few dried rosebuds.  I wasn't expecting it to be a teacup bloom.

 I would LOVE to see it in full bloom.