Dad's Homecoming

Ryan flew into Utah last Saturday, officially completing our move from Ohio. We were thrilled to have him back with us and he showed his value right away. That night, Emmry was suprised to find a baby quail in the garage. It could have only just hatched and must have lost its way from its mother. Braden quickly stepped in as its protector and guardian. Despite the consistent pleas to keep the quail, we convinced the kids they needed to return it to its mother. But where that was we were not sure, so we advised the kids to put the bird in the bushes. It did not matter how far away the the kids went though, the quail always followed them back, trotting behind them. Ryan, in his great sympathy knowing the bird would not survive the night alone, put the poor bird out of its misery, unbeknownst to any of the rest of us.

Monday, we celebrated Ryan's return with a trip to Lagoon, Utah's local amusement park. I must say, I think it was a successful trip. We spent too much money, walked way too much, ate too much junk food, and Ryan and I were both motion sick when we left. The kids of coarse, couldn't wait to go back!

Tuesday we packed up the car and headed for the last leg of our trip, Arizona. Perspective is a very interesting thing. If ever you want your kids to be thrilled with a 12 hour drive, take a 30 hour drive first. Emmry couldn't believe we would only have to drive for one day and that we would sleep in our own beds that night.

Of coarse a Huffman road trip wouldn't be the same without someone throwing up. Chloe made it all the way to the Utah boarder before she could take it no longer. Luckily, we have learned fruit snacks smell good whether going down or up.

Now that we have completed our move and have been Arizonans for a few days, we've learned some valuable lessons: don't touch a prickly pear cactus; don't go barefoot outside; don't buy chocolate chips and leave them in the car (though the chocolate chunk cookies turned out pretty good); a shady parking spot is well worth the walk; and heat is a great motivator for getting up early to exercise.