3:10 to Yuma & Abuelito (via Laughlin and the Hoover Dam)

1,200 Miles later and we're back from a very short but very fun trip to see abuelito (Grandpa in spanish) in Yuma, Arizona. A 4 day weekend for me made the trip possible and I'm so grateful to have had even that short amount of time off - we really crammed a lot of things into our trip and we came home happy and very tired. We left early Friday morning and were in Laughlin, Nevada just after lunch. The weather was gorgeous! 64f and very sunny... a huge contrast from what we left in Utah! Our good friends Bernie and Diana have a home down there where they stay in the Winter and it was so good to see them again that evening for dinner.. it's been several months since I last saw them and we had lots of catching up to do.. it was so nice. Overnight in Laughlin gave us chance to take in a Score Racing event they were holding - unfortunately it was far too expensive for us to afford to view the race itself but we watched the staging area and got to see all the cars and trucks, much to Alfredo's delight. Owen got to go down to the banks of the mighty Colorado River which was flowing fast and full, and throw some stones in which he loved; it was so nice sat on the sandy banks watching him run around chasing the pigeons. Saturday morning we were up early and on our way to the Davis Dam on the outskirts of Laughlin - a large dam holds back the Colorado River and a hydro-electric plant generates enough power to provide electricity to some 1 million homes in the tri-State area. Back on the road and the long trip south to Yuma which lies 24 miles just north of the Mexican border. There was absolutely NOTHING to see on the journey that didn't include desert brush/scrub and cactus.. we stopped in Parker for a picnic lunch, again on the Colorado River, looking rather small in comparison to what we saw a few hours north in Laughlin.. again Owen terrorised the pigeons and ran on the sand, he loves to have picnics and it was a nice break in the journey. 2 Hours of more desert and cactus later and we reach the most amazingly green, fertile fields full of all manner of fruits and vegetables on the north end of Yuma.. by this time, the weather is very hot and such a treat for us at this time of year! Alfredo's dad was waiting for us at the hotel and it was so good to see him again after nearly 3 years; for his 80-something years, he's doing amazing and it was so nice to see him in such good health. We spent the evening and Sunday catching up and talking; we visited the local park and visitor center which had the most awesome display of antiques and things from the area, Owen had so much fun with all the old machinery, cars and a train-car. The grounds were beautiful and we spent most of the morning wandering round. Next stop was the most awesome play park I think I have ever seen... Owen was in kid heaven and it was quite difficult trying to get him to leave! Alfredo's dad spent 2 nights with us and we parted company on Monday morning - him to cross the border back to Mexico and us to start the very long trip back North. Around 2.30pm we were in need of a stop to stretch our legs when we were approaching Las Vegas and saw a sign for the Hoover Dam so we made a quick detour and had a great time despite the rather chilly weather that had surrounded us. The Dam is really hard to describe unless you've been to it.. the size, the views.. just everything is insane how they managed to build that thing.. it's crazy! I'm so pleased we got to see it. 3 Hours later and we are home after driving through the most torrential rain and sleety snow.. we made it safe after the most wonderful weekend with abuelito.. the break did us all the world of good to spend time together and see new places.

Us at the Hoover Dam (Nevada & Arizona states border).. check out that insane bridge they're building in the background!

You'd be crazy to jump from the dam (where I was stood when taking this picture).. it is a vertigo sufferer's nightmare!

An adorable little side-street in Historic Downtown, Yuma

3 Generations of Montiano's!

More gorgeous views at the Hoover Dam - this is the back-side of the dam where the water piles up

Owen loved the old Quatermaster Depot Park & Visitor Center in Yuma

I fell in love with this adorable, tiny little church I spotted from car, set amid the thousands of acres of vegetables in the fields north of Yuma

Owen was in heaven at this amazing park in Yuma

Too cool to swim but perfect for splashing your feet in the hotel pool!

Throwing stones in the Colorado River in Laughlin

Me and one of the racing cars in Laughlin

Master Owen sunning himself by a fountain in Historic Downtown Yuma

Owen and Alfredo at the Davis Dam in Laughlin

Fun in the Sun

I never thought my sunny little piece of heaven would come high up a mountain surrounded by a bunch of snow.. but this afternoon I found myself sat quite happily on a bank of hard-packed snow, watching Owen having so much fun on the sledding hill. The sun was warm enough that we needed just 2 tshirt layers and snow pants, it was so gorgeous up there. We were out in the snow for a good 2 hours or so and it felt so good to feel the sun beating down on our faces. Alfredo & I took it in turn going up and down the hill with Owen and we were both exhausted by the end... my little snow-man of course didn't want to go home! There were lots of people at the sledding area and a lot of crazy teenage kids who apparently had no fear as they hurtled down the steep hillside - it sure was fun to see them having so much fun (.. and crash.. lol). The hill doesn't look too steep in the pictures but it was! We flew down the hill so fast, it was awesome. I took some snacks and Owen thought it was cool to have a picnic in the snow.

Alfredo and Owen headed up the hill for another run.

Owen and I about to take flight..

Phew, we made it!.. and had a lot of fun!

New Year's Eve at Rusty's

Happy New Year everyone! I'm still in denial that the year really is this far along, somehow, it really doesn't feel like we should be celebrating a new year (and a new decade!!!) already.. but here it is! Last night we went out for dinner with 16 people (we only knew 4 of them) up the canyon to Rusty's Steakhouse. The atmosphere in there was really nice; the place was packed! .. and for those who know Rusty's, it's really not that big in there. The food was good and plentiful, but one kinda got the feeling that they were so slammed with orders that they didn't really have time to pay attention to detail like they normally do; the food was either under-cooked or over-done and it took forever to arrive, which was ok as we were all busy chatting and laughing. Owen came with us and had a good time; he was really well-behaved and ate a lot of food which I was pleasantly surprised by - I think he was generally just really starving since he polished off the yucky green garnish leaf things they put on the plate with the loaded potatos kins, lol.. normally he won't go near anything green and leafy! After dinner we came home and I'm ashamed to say that Owen and I were asleep in bed by 10.30pm! We managed a nice lie-in until 9.30am this morning which was a real treat. I then of course freaked out at the time because Alfredo was being picked up at 10.00 to go shooting skeets with the neighbor guys, so that's where he's gone today. I hope that this New Year brings everyone what you hope for.. good health, happiness and all of that!

Alfredo & Carrie

Me & Scott (Carrie's husband)

My little new year's reveller!