we're back

so sorry we've been {mia} the past few weeks. my giant has been recovering from surgery beautifully and because he has to be out on disability we decided to use the best of our time and take a grand adventure. we got to stay with family along the way and see so many new things.

we are calling this trip #desertjournal and imogen has just that to keep track of it all. plus, it helps we are studying the southwest in cc.

day one:
we started with our favorite road trip breakfast burritos.
anytime we get to pass through decatur, tx in the early morning light, we jump at the chance.

our next stop, amarillo, tx
we saw this place on the food network channel back in the day and we thought, why not?

the experience was definitely worth it, but the food was average.

we made it to santa fe, nm.

i asked my friend gina {who had just been to santa, fe the week before and whose parents live in new mexico} what would you recommend to do if you had one night there.

and meow wolf was definitely worth the pricey entrance fee. i have never been or heard of a place like it. 

it is a remodeled bowling alley, where local artists display their work in very unique and interesting ways. it's 20,000 sq ft. of fun, where you have to look at, open and go into almost everything {including the fireplace, refrigerator and here's juno climbing into the dryer. 

we loved all the adobe houses here and the artsy/mountain feel of this city

day two:

driving through albuquerque, nm we happened upon the balloon festival

such a treat to witness this!

we traveled most of route 66 and there are so many iconic stops along the way.

in gallup, nm we ate at an old western motel and restaurant, where a lot of old westerns were filmed at. 

el rancho, and the food was so yummy. 

i made rob turn around and go back to this place, i know it just had to be the inspiration for the motel off of the movie cars. 

on our way to phoenix, az and i had no idea just how pretty the drive was going to be. 

day three:

started out rock hunting with aunt jane

we had such a wonderful time visiting with my aunt. we've wanted to come visit for the longest time and she was a great host. the girls loved playing with her dog(s) and the game sequence, yummy pizza and some down time. we enjoyed good conversation and catching up. 

back in the car, the girls were exhausted.

my aunt had recommend her favorite mountain town to stop through on the way to the grand canyon and it just might be one of my favorite now too!

jerome, az is a little town located on the cliff of the rocky mountains.

my rock lover found a souvenir.

this place was so worth the hour wait time.

we were also celebrating 11 years this day, so i do believe cake was in order.

we made our way through sedona, az up to flagstaff where our next stop would be.

more to come...

happy weekend!