Day 3: Phoenix, AZ

I think today I set a record for the number of photos . . . can you guess how many I took today?  16 . . . SIXTEEN . . . I was surprised at how few I took.  It was another beautiful wake up.  Today's plan was to head to the Gateway Area at McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  The kids thought we were climbing a mountain and were disappointed we were just hiking a flat trail.  Yes, I am total buzz kill.  So we just hiked the Horseshoe to Saguaro Trail to Saguaro Loop to Bajada . . . a short 1.7 mile hike.  It was super easy and fun and nice to chat and enjoy nature.  He has his walking stick and ready to go . . .

Always time (in my mind at least) for a photo together . . .

Where are the kids again?  We tried to hang back so we could talk but one of the kids stayed close so they could hear what we were discussing . . .

Lots of blooming cactus; those thorns look painful . . .

It was a nice way to spend a little bit of our morning and now we headed to Chompie's for lunch . . . think NY Deli . . .

. . . I ordered half of a Pastrami Reuben with Sweet and Sour Cabbage soup.  It was too much food for me!  It was getting hot and the natives restless so back to the hotel to hang at the water park.  Now we had a dilemma to solve while floating the lazy river.  It is Easter Weekend which means we should must go to mass.  The problem is the mass on Sunday is during the Easter Egg hunt so that means we need to go tonight . . . Easter Vigil Mass . . . which if you don't know it is usually around 2-3 hours.  Yes, HOURS!  So the kids had to decide which they preferred.  Well much to our surprise they were fine going to the Easter Vigil Mass . . . Colin has never been so he really has absolutely no clue what he is agreeing to do.  So we went to the Franciscan Renewal Center at 7:30pm.  Honestly, I have not been to an Easter Vigil Mass since 1998 when I joined the Catholic Church so I too was sort of forgetful on just how long it really can last.

WOW, let me just say it was the most amazing two and a half hours and the kids (and adults) were mesmerized.  This was like no mass we have ever attended . . . there was singing, dancing out the readings, candle light processions all outside under the Arizona stars.  It was the most beautiful church event I have ever attended.  I will not lie but I got teary eyed several times it was just so beautiful.  The only bad part was we did not realize it would be outside and the desert can be cold after sunset, but we managed to survive.  I think it was one of the best decisions of the weekend.  It was 10:00pm when we got out of mass so it was difficult to find a place open to feed the kids.  We found at Panda Express that was closed but would let us buy what was left . . . 3 kid meals of Orange Chicken and back to the hotel for a outdoor dinner by the pool.  As I was lounging by the pool, I thought the trees and clouds looked cool . . .

. . . and bed was calling!