One morning we visited Cave Creek, AZ – a touristy western town, much like the ones in CO.  We did some shopping and ate ice cream for lunch. 

That evening we enjoyed some yummy Mexican food. 

One day we visited Queen Creek Olive Mill about an hour away in Queen Creek, AZ.  The tour and lunch were fantastic.  We learned how to choose a good quality olive oil and what to look for.  And we learned the climate in AZ is similar to the Mediterranean so olives grow very well.  The olive trees were beautiful.

We went to a nearby pond and fed the ducks, geese, and pigeons. 

And we admired Amy’s backyard – full of raised beds of growing vegetables.  We picked various fresh lettuces, kale, and arugula for a salad one night.  So fresh and delicious.  Gardening in Colorado is tricky business, so we loved enjoying her garden.  

We enjoyed plenty of downtime together too – a movie night with ice cream sundaes, long naps, and time to crawl under the covers and read.  Time to chat and catch up and time to make homemade pizzas on the grill.  

The trip home went well and we enjoyed a different route through Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and the Raton pass.  We decided to drive home in one long day and loved seeing our mountains come into view as we got closer.  The kids are such great travelers.  It’s much easier road tripping with older kids now! 

I so enjoyed seeing where Amy lives – it helps to be able to picture someone in their house and surroundings.  And Amy has waited patiently for us to visit.  We all enjoyed getting out of town for a while and seeing someplace new.  Thank you, Kenny, for agreeing to make this drive, and thank you, Amy, for a wonderful visit!