Yay for firsts and new adventures

-First time at the Grand Canyon West side, I think its almost better than the North side

-First time on the Skywalk, walking on a glass walk above the Grand Canyon, dizzying

-First time in Mexico

-First time buying drugs in Mexico

-First time trying sushi - I know AZ is a weird place to try that for the first time... Not sure what was in it, but the seaweed didn't taste great...

-First time picking grapefruit off a tree, we were going to pick oranges but didn't know anyone to ask

-First time driving down the AZ/CA border on the AZ side

-First time driving up the AZ/CA border on the CA side

-First time going through four states within 12 hours on a road trip (UT/NV/AZ/CA) and a country (Mexico)

As the year comes to end I realize how lax I am with my vacations as the year went on.

I went from super organized and prepared to go on vacations to other countries to not even making reservations anymore and walking out the door.

Then I realized my first vacation I ever thought out and planned at like age 21 in 2009 was also super organized and planned out, but it wasn't to a different country, and now I just do whatever 7 years later.

I guess it took about seven years to save up and actually plan a trip out of country.

But they thought it was winter down there in AZ.

It was slightly ridiculous. We left snow storms and 20-30 degree weather.

They were boots and jackets in 70's weather.

I was dying of heat. I thought coming back to the cold would be a hard adjustment, it turns out to be very refreshing, welcoming after lying in sweat in bed at night when the house was hotter inside than outside. Coming back with a sunburn on yer face would feel a lot better when coming back to have yer face freeze when you go outside.

It definitely didn't feel like December and especially not like Christmas time.

Everyone wished us a Merry Christmas and every time I forgot it was December.... "Uh, you too"

It was a nice trip. I like the detours we did on the way down and seeing Grandma. But I'm not sure I'd do again. If I did, it would have to be in the middle of winter. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it in the first place. The detour to the west side of the Grand Canyon was my enticement. That was the closest I'd ever get to that side of the canyon and I wasn't going just for that reason. Two or three stones in one shot.

I was on a cruise to the Bahamas the second week in December in 2011 and it was kinda nice to get away from the winter weather. Take a pic by the Christmas tree on the boat in your swimming suit. My first taste of Christmas/December without snow. It was weird. Glad I got to be home on actual Christmas day with my cold weather and snow.

Christmas without snow. That just ain't right.