December in Phoenix - Nick

12/15/17

From the Wells Fargo Museum

Yesterday we woke up early to take the camper to a repair shop. We had to get the tires changes. Then we left the camper there and went to a Wells Fargo Museum. Wells Fargo is a bank that started back when the gold rush happened. Then we went to Noodles for lunch. Next we went to a Walmart to get a couple things. Then we picked up our camper and went back to our site. Finally we had pizza for dinner. I forgot to mention that we had Ihop for breakfast.

12/16/17

Yesterday we went to the Science Museum. There were all kinds of exhibits. The first one we saw was about bones and organs and your brain. There was a game called The Brain Game. You put a helmet on that sensed your brain. Whoever had the least brain waves wins. To not have brain waves you need to be calm.  Another thing there was was a giant stomach you could walk into that explained how the stomach worked. Then we went to the technology exhibits. I learned to send my name in Morse code. There was also a camera that made your face look really weird. My favorite thing was a bed of nails though. After the Science Museum we came home, had dinner, and watched a movie.

12/17/17

Yesterday we didn’t do much until lunch. Then at 1:00 we started driving somewhere but Dad wouldn’t tell us where. When we pulled into the parking lot we figured out it was an amusement park called Castles and Coasters. After we bought our tickets we went into the park. The first ride we did was a ride where you sat in a cart that was attached to a metal tower and you went up slowly and then dropped really fast. Then we went on a roller coaster called Desert Storm. It went up really high and then down really steep. It also went upside down twice. We did that ride a couple times. Next we went on a ride called Loggerhead. It was like a roller coaster but you were in a man-made river that went all over. Next we went on a ride called Sea Dragon. On Sea Dragon you sat in a giant boat that swung back and forth in a little more than a half circle. On that ride you get a really weird feeling in your stomach. Next we did bumper cars, which were fun. We did those a bunch of times because there was almost no line. Then we went on a ride called Magic Carpet. You sat in a cart that spun in circles really fast. Then we did a roller coaster called Patriot that was really fast. Then we did my favorite ride. It was called Little Indy. You got in a go-kart and raced around a track with a bunch of other people. The carts could go about 25 mph. then we did a rope course that wasn’t the best, but the zip line they had next to it was really fun. Then we came home and went to bed.

12/18/17

Yesterday we didn’t do much because we were all really tired. We stayed up really late at Castles and Coasters. We watched the Packer game. We lost. We also watched a lot of other football. Then I rode my bike. Next we had pizza and watched a movie.

12/19/17

Yesterday I rode my bike a lot in the morning. Then after lunch, we did a 3 mile hike to a nature center. They had some signs about the animals that lived around there. The hike was pretty. We saw a lot of cactus. Then we went shopping. When we got back we had dinner and watched a movie.

12/20/17

Yesterday we took the camper into a tire place to get the tires changes or something. Then while they were fixing the tires we went to the first neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. That is where we are. The houses weren’t very old so the city couldn’t be very old either. Then just to kill some time we went to the Creativity Center. It was a room with Legos and wood blocks in it. We didn’t stay long. Next we picked up our camper and drove to our next site. When we got there we had dinner and played Wii.

12/21/17

Yesterday we didn’t do much because we were waiting to pick Mom up from the airport. I rode my bike for a while, I played football with Andi, I read, and I played Wii. At about 5:30 we had dinner. Then we got Mom from the airport. It was really nice to see her. On the way home we got Culver’s malts. They were really good. Then, since it was really late we went to bed.

12/22/17

Yesterday we drove our camper into town to get the brakes on it fixed. It was an hour and a half to get there. When we did get there we got lunch at a sandwich place. It was good. When we got back the trailer was done. Next we went shopping. After shopping we drove an hour and a half to get back to our site. Then we had dinner and went to bed.

12/23/17

Yesterday we drove to our next site. It was a really long drive. When we got there we set up camp. Then we met some kids. They were really nice. We played laser tag, capture the flag, and football. It was really fun to have kids to play with. We played with them for a really long time. Then we had dinner and went to bed.

12/24/17

Yesterday we had breakfast in the morning. Then I went outside and played laser tag with my new friends. After we played laser tag for a while we helped the host clean up some of the sites after people leave. It turns out they do that all the time to help out. The hosts are 70 and 80 years old, so it is harder for them. After that we played laser tag and football for a while. We also played nerf guns. Then we went over to a friend’s camper and played X-box. We played a game called Starwars Battle Front. It was really fun. Then we came home and had dinner. After dinner we played X-box again for a while. Then we came home and went to bed.

Grandma's awesome handmade Christmas gifts!

12/26/17

Two days ago was Christmas Eve! During the day we played with our friends. We played laser tag, rode bikes, and all sorts of other things. We played until about 6:00. Then we came home and had chili. We also opened Grandma and Grandpa’s presents because at home we always go to their house on Christmas Eve. I got a really nice homemade blanket and pillow. I also got some Greek Mythology books. Then we watched A Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then we went to bed.

Wisco Pop from the deSnoo family

Yesterday was Christmas! We all slept in until about 8:00. Then we had donuts for breakfast while we watched the 5^th Harry Potter movie. The donuts were really good. When the movie was over we opened presents. From the Rutters we got some clay modeling stuff that looked fun. From the deSnoos we got some really good cherry soda I had never had before. Then, from Mom and Dad, we got a robot building kit. Once you build it you can control it with a controller. Then we watched the 6^th Harry Potter movie. After that we went outside and played with our friends. We rode bikes, played laser tag, and all sorts of things. We played until about 5:00 and then we went out to dinner at a Chinese place. It was really good. I got sweet and sour chicken. When we got home we watched Part 1 of the 7^th Harry Potter movie.

12/27/17

Yesterday we had another day where we played with our friends all day. We played laser tag, football, and rode bikes. We did that all day. When we were done we had dinner and did homework.

12/28/17

Yesterday we started driving to our next site in the morning, but a little way into the drive something on the trailer broke. We came back to the same site. While Dad was fixing the trailer I played with John and Cole for the rest of the day. Then we had dinner and watched a movie.

12/29/17

Yesterday we got going early in the morning and took the camper in to a repair shop to get the axles replaced. While it was getting repaired we got breakfast at Waffle House. Then we sat at a library until the trailer was done. Then we drove home and I played with my friends for the rest of the day. At about 6:00 we went over to our friend's campsite for dinner. We had hot dogs and ribs. Then we came home and went to bed.

December in Phoenix - Andi

Dec. 15, 2017

Yesterday we dropped the camper off at a place to fix it. Then we drove to the Wells Fargo and Company Museum. Then we had lunch at Noodles. Then we got the camper back, moved, and read in bed.

Wells Fargo Museum

Dec. 16, 2017

Yesterday we went to the Arizona Science Museum. We saw a water exhibit with balls, water pipes, and music made with water. Then we played a brain game in the next exhibit. The brain game was where you wore a helmet and tried not to get any emotion waves. They also had the sky cycle. You were on a metal bike and a cable and you pedaled backwards or forwards. We saw lots of other exhibits including the bed of nails (it didn’t work), dancing magnets, and tug-of-war. Then we came home and watche da movie and went to bed.

Dec. 17, 2017

Yesterday we had a quiet morning until 1:00 pm. We went to an amusement park called Castles-n-Coasters. It had a ride that went up slowly and once at the top it drops fast. Then we went in splash town. It is a ride where you sit in a plastic log and you float down a controlled river. You go up and then down fast into the water. It went up and down twice. Then we went on a ride called Desert Storm. You go up, down, upside down, and spirals. Then we went on the Sea Dragon. You rock backwards and forwards until you’re straight up and down. Then we did bumper cars. Then we did the little Indy Race Car Track. The line was so long we burnt an hour just sitting in line. Once we got a car, Nick had to drive because I wasn’t tall enough. We got the slowest car by far. We just kept doing them over and over until it started getting dark. Once it was dark we did the rope course and zipline. Then we did bumper boats. It was a tube with a motor on it and it was hard to drive. We stayed there for an hour. Then we did our favorite rides one more time and then went home. We got to bed at about 11:00 pm.

Dec. 18, 2017

Yesterday we had a down day. We played Wii, watched a couple football games and watched Harry Potter the 4^th.

Dec. 19, 2017

Yesterday we rode bikes. We explored the campground. Then we went on a hike towards the Nature Center. Then we went shopping. We watched a movie and went to bed.

Dec. 20, 2017

Yesterday we dropped the camper off at the shop. Then we went to the Arizona Science Create Center. Then we got the camper back and went to a new campsite. We played Wii.

Dec. 21, 2017

Yesterday we rode bikes, played Wii, read, and played football. We had dinner and then went to pick mom up from the airport. Then we went to bed.

Eagerly awaiting Christmas!

Dec. 22, 2017

Yesterday we drove to the place where we got the camper fixed. Then we sat in the car for a while. Then we went out for lunch. Once we got it back, we drove to our campsite and played Dominion. Then we went to bed.

Dec. 23, 2017

Yesterday we had a lazy morning. Then we found some kids to play with. We played laser tag, capture the flag, and some more laser tag. We came in, had dinner, and read.

Dec. 24, 2017

Yesterday mom and I read in bed. Then we went to the nature center and got Uncle Ryan a Christmas present.  I also got a necklace. Then I played with a new friend. We played Barbies, American Girl dolls, and rode bikes. We had dinner and then went back over to their house to play. Then we went to bed.

Dec. 26, 2017

Two days ago (Christmas Eve) we played with our friends outside. We played American Girl Dolls, Barbies, and more American Girl dolls. We watched a Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then we went to bed.

Christmas Day watching movies

Yesterday we had doughnuts, watched movies, opened presents, and played outside. We played American Girl dolls. Then we had Chinese food. We watched another movie and went to bed.

Christmas dinner a la Christmas Story

Today we played all day. We played American Girl dolls, baked cookies, rode bikes, colored, and made earrings and necklaces.

Dec. 28, 2017

Yesterday we packed up and started to leave. We bought coins at the Visitor Center and came back and the camper was on jacks. We booked another campsite and played again. We painted. Then we watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Then we went to bed.

Dec. 29, 2017

Yesterday we drove to the place where we could get our camper fixed. Then we had breakfast at Waffle House. Then we brought the camper back to the campsite and played with our friends. Then we had dinner at a friend's campsite. Then we went to bed.

San Diego - Nick and Andi

La Jolla Beach

Helicopter at the Leatherneck Aviation Museum

12/6/17

Nick: 

Yesterday we went shopping in the morning. When we were done shopping we came home and had lunch. After lunch Andi and I played laser tag for a while. Then we went to a beach on the Pacific Ocean. There were some tiny crabs in the water that were fun to watch. Then we came home, had dinner and watched the 3^rd Harry Potter movie.

12/7/17

Nick:

Yesterday we went to Miramar Base. It is a Marine base. We saw the gyms where the Marines worked out. We also saw the obstacle course they had to pass to be a Marine. Best of all we got to see all of the planes. There were tons of fighter jets and helicopters that could lift tanks. Then we came home and had lunch. After lunch Andi and I played laser tag for a while. Next we went to Cabrillo Tide Pools in Cabrillo National Park. We saw all sorts of water animals. We saw a slug that was a foot long. It felt like a wet hot dog. We saw a sea anemone eating a crab. We actually saw a ton of sea anemones.  When you touch them they curl up and they are really sticky. We also saw hermit crabs. Then we came home and had dinner.

Huge California Sea Hare

Andi:

Yesterday we woke up at 7:00 am to get to the Miramar Marine Corps base. They had an auto body shop and a place where you could fix your own car. We also saw a couple gyms where they could exercise. Then we saw the obstacle course. We saw the planes after that. They had planes that could take off vertically. They could land vertically too. Then we went to the museum. I mostly played with sticks. Then we came home and played. Then we went to the tide pools and saw a California Sea Hare (a kind of sea slug), lots of sea anemones, and tiny hermit crabs. Then we watched a movie and went home.

12/8/17

Nick:

Yesterday we had a huge breakfast in the morning. Then we went to the USS Midway. It is an old aircraft carrier that they turned into a museum. We saw the take-off strip where they hooked the plane onto what they called a shuttle or catapult. The catapult was powered by compressed steam. It launched the plane in a really short distance. We also got to see the bridge where they drove the ship. We also saw where the people on the ship slept. They were packed in like sardines. The bunks were 3 high. We also did a simulator that simulated being in a fighter jet. We were doing flips and rolls and all sorts of stuff. We also looked at a bunch of jets.

Andi:

Yesterday we had omelets, hashbrowns, and bacon. Then we went to the USS Midway aircraft carrier. The museum was on the boat. We saw lots of planes. We saw fighter jets and rescue helicopters. We did the audio tour. We saw the Midway Battle Theater. It was a video about the battle against Japan. Then we went to the upper deck and looked at the planes up there. We saw the brig. That is where the crew went if you stole something, argued and got in fights or didn’t do what you were told. Then we did a simulator. It felt and looked like you were flying an airplane. We did a talk about landing, but I fell asleep so I didn’t hear it. Then we came home and played Scrambled States of America.

12/9/17

Nick:

Graduation at MCRD

Yesterday we went to the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot. We watched a bunch of Marines graduate from boot camp. It was really long. It was not fun, but it was still cool to see. Then we went back to the Midway Museum. We saw the kitchen first. They cooked soup in giant tubs that had to be 50 gallons. Then we saw the area where everyone ate. It looked like a school cafeteria. Next we saw where the captains ate. They had nicer tables and better food. We also saw a few more jets. Then we came home and had dinner.

Andi:

Yesterday we went to a 2 hour military graduation show. It got boring, but the music was good. I started playing with my sunglasses. When it was over we went to the USS Midway Museum. We saw ready rooms, the kitchen, the dining room, and the hospital. Then we went home and played. Then I went to bed.

Joshua Tree - Nick

11/26/17

Yesterday we slept in and did homework in the morning. Then I drove my remote control car around for a while. Then we had lunch and went to Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. We asked what there was to do in the park and they gave us a few suggestions. Then we came home and had chow mein for dinner.

The Joshua Trees are very unique

11/27/17

Yesterday we moved our camper to a site that was only 20 minutes away. We moved there because it was a way nice spot. When we got there a man came over and talked to my parents for 3 ½ hours. It got really boring. He was nice but he just kept talking. When he left we went to a airport that had some gliders that we got to look at and sit in. Then we came home, had dinner and watched the Packer game. We lost.

11/28/17

Yesterday we did a 6 mile hike through Joshua Tree. The Joshua Trees were really cool. They looked like a pineapple on a really long stem. The rock formations were also cool. We had lunch on the hike. After the hike we went to the Visitor Center. After that we came home and had dinner.

This is a Beaver Tail cactus

11/29/17

Yesterday we worked on our generator for a while. We finally decided it was broken beyond repair. We went into town to get a new one. It took a really long time to find one. When we finally found one we came home, ate dinner and read Harry Potter.

Andi is sometimes mean on our hikes...

11/30/2017

Yesterday we had a lazy morning. Then we drove for 1 hour to get to a hike. It was a 7 mile hike to a desert oasis. A desert oasis is a place in a desert where water gathers. There were lots of pretty, colorful plants in the oasis. The hike there was also really pretty. When we got back home we had dinner and went to bed.

12/1/2017

Yesterday we did the 49 Palms Oasis hike. It was 3 miles and it went to a desert oasis. There were tons of palm trees where the water gathered. They all had charred trunks from a campfire that got out of control. Then we did a Ranger Talk that was about another oasis. It was just like the other one. The ranger talked about the different kinds of animals that used the water from the oasis. Then we went to a store to get a few things. Then we came home and watched the first Harry Potter movie.

Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park

12/2/2017

Yesterday we went over to some people we met a few days earlier. They were flying model airplanes (remote control planes). They even let us fly them. One went 60 mph. By the time we were done I was getting pretty good. One guy crashed his plane at full throttle straight into the rock hard ground. The propeller almost hit his head. Then we had lunch. After lunch we went to a hangar where the RC pilots work on their real planes. We got to sit in some of them. They were really cool. Then we did laundry and dumped our tanks. After that we came home and had dinner.

12/3/2017

Yesterday I rode my motor bike in the morning. It was really fun until I ran over a nail and popped my front tire. We couldn’t fix it at the time because we didn’t have a tire patching kit. Then we went on a hike up to Ryan Mountain. It was a three mile hike up to the top of Ryan Mountain. We went up 1033 feet. The view from the top was amazing. We could see mountains and rock formations all around us. After that we did a few more hikes including Skull Rock. That was a short hike to a rock that looked like a skull. Then we went to Walmart to get a few things. Finally we ate dinner and watched Harry Potter 2.

12/4/2017

Yesterday we watched the Packer game in the morning. We won! After the game we went to a private airport. The RC pilots had a few planes there including a glider that we were going to get to fly in. We drove over to the runway. Andi went first. She got into the glider, which was tiny. It was made to seat 2 people with no room to spare. She was flying in the glider with one of the pilots and the other was in the tow plane. The tow plane is a plane with an engine that towed the glider up to a certain height because gliders don’t have engines. Once you get to a certain height you disconnect from the tow plane and glide down. Andi’s flight lasted about 15 minutes. Once she got back down, I got into the cockpit. Take-off was really fun. Since the glider was lighter than the tow plane, you bot up in the air before the tow plane, but then got pulled back down. Once we took off we went up to 5,000 feet before disconnecting from the tow plane. Going up we hit some really rough, windy spots. It was like being on a roller coaster in those parts. We were going all over the place. After we disconnected, the pilot let me fly!! It was actually kind of easy. I got to control pitch and roll. Pitch is where the nose goes up and down. Roll is where one wing or the other goes down when you turn. The pilot did yaw because I could not reach those controls. Yaw is where the nose of the plane goes left and right. The pilot also showed me what stalling is. It is where you go up too steep and lose too much speed and you just fall for a while. It was really cool. I actually flew for most of the flight. The pilot just did landing and take-off. When it was time to land the pilot landed us. Then I got out of the plane. I had a great time! It was one of my favorite things we’ve done on the trip. My flight took 19 minutes. After me, Mom went. It was fun to watch the glider. Dad did not go. He does not like heights. Once Mom got down, we thanked them, paid them and said bye. They were really nice. When we got back to the camper I rode my motor bike and popped another tire. We decided not to ride on the road anymore. (We didn’t think there were quite enough nails to pop two tires in two days, but we were wrong.) Then we had dinner. After dinner we played laser tag and played dominoes.

Getting ready to fly the glider!!

12/5/17

Yesterday after breakfast we packed up our camper and started driving to our next site. At lunch time we got burgers at Carl’s Junior. Then we kept driving. When we got to our site we set up our camper. Then Andi and I rode bikes and played at the playground. Finally we had dinner and went to bed.

Joshua Tree - Andi

Teddy Bear Cholla cactus - they aren't actually soft!

Nov. 26, 2017

Yesterday we had a down day. We went to the Visitor Center, read, and had dinner. Then we read Harry Potter.

Nov. 27, 2017

Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park

Yesterday we had omelets. Then we moved sites. It turned out we were on private land so the owner came out and got to know Mom and Dad. They talked for an hour or so and it was boring for me. Then we went to the airport and looked at gliders and planes. They had 2-seaters, 1-seaters, and all different kinds of planes. Then we came home and watched the Packer game and read Harry Potter.

Nov. 28, 2017

Yesterday we did the Lost Horse Mine Trail. We saw lots of Joshua trees. The mine was about 3 quarters of the way into the trail. It was a building with cables running off it. Then we went home and had dinner.

Nov. 29, 2017

Yesterday we worked on the generator. Then we shopped for a generator. We ready Harry Potter in the car. Then I kept writing my story. It was about demigods. Then we read Harry Potter and went to bed.

Nov. 30, 2017

49 Palms Oasis

Yesterday I wrote my story all morning. Then we drove to a hike. We saw a horned owl in the beginning. There were Joshua Rocks that were made of dried magma. The end of the trail was all palm trees. Not Joshua trees, palm trees. Then we went home and played dominoes. We finished Harry Potter.

Dec. 1, 2017

Yesterday I wrote my book. Then we went on the 49 Palms Oasis hike. We went to the Visitor Center. We did a ranger-led hike but I wasn’t listening. Then we came home and I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first time.

Flying remote control planes

Dec. 2, 2017

Yesterday we got to fly our friends’ model remote control airplanes. One went up to 60 mph. we mostly flew that one. We learned about pitch, yaw, roll, and lots of other stuff that I don’t know what it’s called. Then we went home. We had lunch and then we went to an airplane hangar. There was a huge airplane that we got to sit in. I got bored quick and started playing the games that were there. Then we went to the ranger station and looked around. Then we did laundry. Then we went to bed.

Family shadow in Hidden Valley

Dec. 3, 2017

Yesterday we went on the Ryan Mountain hike. It was only 1.5 miles, but it was very steep. The view at the top wasn’t actually that good. If I hadn’t known there were Joshua trees at the bottom I would have thought that there were normal dead trees.  Then we went down and saw skull rock. It was shaped like a skull. Then we saw Hidden Valley where early comers would hide stolen cattle. Then we went home and watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Getting ready to fly the glider!!

Post-flying dance

Dec. 4, 2017

Yesterday we watched the Packer game in the camper. Then we went to the airport and we rode a glider. We went 5,000 feet high. All the houses looked like oversized sheds. We were there for a couple hours and it got boring when I wasn’t flying. Then we went home and I played Barbies. Then we had a family game of laser tag. Then we played dominoes.

Dec. 5, 2017

Yesterday we drove to San Diego. It was a 2 hour drive but it was kind of pretty. We got to our campsite and played on the playground. Then we went to bed.