Outside Alaska- AZ

Now it is a straight shot to AZ. Just as we are approaching the AZ boarder my cell phone rings. It is my mom calling from her neighbor’s cell phone. She locked herself out of the house when she took out garbage…in her jammies. My dad is the only person with her spare key (my divorced parents are best friends, adds to the craziness huh?) so here she is on her back porch, without her cigarettes and her soda, in the middle of August in AZ, and we would not be there for about 2 ½ hours.

I think I jinxed myself as I made a stupid comment a while back about how I WAS NOT going to AZ anymore! Since Brad and I moved away in ’99 we have been back to AZ NO less than 3 times a year. One year we went 6 times! I am an AZ native, born and raised. I am done, no more, seen enough for now. Since my stupid comment I have been back 3 times in less than a year. I even said once we moved to AK I was not going to visit anyone for a long time. I made it 4 months before heading down to see our family. Something is really wrong with me!

In AZ we have my dad’s station wagon to crusin around in. Talk about a pimpin ride. It used to be my grandparents and my dad bought it off of them.

Zac and Kenzie spent most of the 4 days in AZ visiting their daddy Jason. Luckily we get along great. Yes, just like my parents all 4 of the kid’s parents hang out. Normally Jason and his wife, Tina, will join Brad and I and my 3 parents for dinner. So it is our 5 kids (my 2 with Jason, Brad’s 2 with Julie and Brad and I’s daughter) and my dad, mom and step-mom, Jason and Tina asking for table reservations. I also get along with Jason’s family and visit with them. Crazy as it seems it works out great. The kids think it is great. When Jason comes to visit them, he stays in our house and he and Brad get along. Jason’s wife and I get along. I just wish it could be like that with Brad’s ex.

Before we left, the kids took some photos with their Grandpa Chuck (Jason's dad above), Jason's mom and Jason's Grandfather.

While in Tucson we did just over 300 miles in the 4 days. Of course we hit our favorite spots. We were even able to see my sister’s land where they are planning to build a home. On the 3 acres they will also build a stable and coral to board their own horses and maybe even take in some to make some money. This has been a lifelong goal for their family.

I was ready to be home. I am a spoiled Air Force wife. Brad has never deployed and in almost 9 years we have never been more than 3 weeks apart. We talk on the phone several times a day, but not having the face to face conversation really wears on me. We also spent the past 3 weeks on a couch, living out of suitcases, which is more than enough for me. I know everyone thinks we are crazy for living in an RV, but as much traveling as we do it sure is nice to have your own bed and ability to cook your own meals where ever you are. Don’t even get me started on having your own restroom. People are nasty at rest stops!

I was hoping a flight would be leaving AZ to AK but no such luck. We are now headed to CA to try and catch a flight from there. No guarantees we will be able to do so, but that’s our best chance to get home. Who knows how long our stay in CA will be. This is a great advantage to homeschooling. We don’t have to worry about making it back for “school”. This is "school"!