Running with Sanders: Trains, Planes and Wildlife Oh My!

The beginning of October the four of us needed one last bit of summer, so we boarded a plane and headed to Phoenix to visit the hub’s dad, aka Grandpa. It was high time we got out there, because Grandpa hadn’t met Syd yet!

Within just a few hours of our arrival, Syd found the coffee table...with her head. So that was a fun start to the trip:

The first full day we were there, D.B. and Colbie hit the pool in the morning and had a blast. Syd, the biggest fan of water there is, wasn’t allowed, as there is a strict no admittance to the pool rule if you wear a diaper (this went for the young and old, no joke).

Note the forth bullet point down:

In the afternoon, the boys headed to an NFL game, I have no idea who was playing, but the right team won I heard. In the meantime, the girls took a nap back at the condo and I watched HGTV for two hours! This was a huge treat as we don’t have cable. After naps, I packed the girls up and we headed to a train park in Scottsdale. So so fun!

Riding the train all through the park. It was not at all scary, so I’m not exactly sure why Colbie appears terrified.

And what’s vacation without really good afternoon treats?!?!

Even Syd scored a lick. Turns out, she’s a big fan :)

Climbing around on a little caboose.

It was early bedtimes that night as the real adventure happened on the following day.

On Monday we left early and headed just south of Sedona to the African Wildlife Safari. We had so much fun, and will be looking forward to doing this again when the girls are a little older. It was hot and a lot of walking with not a terribly clean potty (read: Colbie refused to sit on the potty because she didn't want to “tinkle on other people’s tinkle”).

First we road the shuttle up to an animal show. Colbie was pretty inseperable from her grandpa the entire visit. It was pretty sweet.

After this day, I’m fairly certain that Sydney will go on real safaris some day.

Look closely, you can see the 12ft Boa crawling in front of Colbie. She was able to touch a snake too, which totally surprised us, given her thoughts on the unfamiliar.

After the show, we headed back down to catch our safari bus. I bet you can’t guess where Colbie sat?

Yup, right next to her Grandpa!

First up we all fed the giraffe some carrots. It was pretty awesome.

Then saw some zebra

Then our safari guide hung out with the ostrich, Chili Pepper, and walked around the bus with her. Oh, and let her do this (eek!):

We saw a lot more animals too, and this girl didn’t want to miss a thing:

After the safari it was back up the hill to the “Tiger Splash” show where this happened:

Yup, that’s a couple of people in a pool with a giant tiger, not cool if you ask me.

But Colbie thought it was all pretty great:

And a few last shots of some animals as we walked down the hill to head back to Phoenix:

That’s Jericho the Rhino hiding in there

What do you think Sydey, did you have a good time?

The next morning we had to take off for home, but boy did we have a great time! Thanks so much for letting us crash your quiet life Grandpa, can’t wait to do it again really soon!!!