The second half of our Arizona trip was just as packed as the first half. We reunited with our worldschooling friends Tonya, Troy, and Neo, whom we first met in Mexico and who we have since seen in many places around the globe. We also spent an evening with a family from Florida who we first met on a pickleball court in Vietnam. One of the sons played in the same pickleball tournament as Melissa in Arizona, so they came to her house to hang out afterward. It was a beautiful reminder of how deep and lasting worldschooling friendships can be.
Lucas, Henry, and Michael visited the shooting range with Mike, Barrett, and Mike, Sr. It was Lucas and Henry’s first time at a shooting range. Mike gave us a tour of the air traffic control facility where he works at the Phoenix Airport.
Michael added a touch of luxury to our Arizona experience by renting a Tesla Cyber Truck, which quickly became a highlight for the kids who loved every moment of riding around in it. They loved that the screen in the back streamed YouTube videos. The cousins continued to have a blast together, and Michael’s dad, Gerry visited with us, adding another layer of family connection to the week.
Lucas and Henry spent the night at Nana Jeanie’s house. They got haircuts. Henry mastered the front flip at Sky Zone and then she took them to the movies.
For Lucas, the trip offered a glimpse into the future — he explored the ASU campus in Tempe, getting a taste of college life and all the possibilities it holds. Also, one afternoon, Uncle Mike gave Lucas a hands-on lesson in driving a stick shift — a rite of passage that brought excitement and a few lurching starts.
Giving back was an important part of our trip, too. We volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, packing meals and reflecting on the impact of small acts of kindness. We also spent an action-packed afternoon at Bam Kazam, where puzzles and physical challenges kept everyone on their toes.
My dad and Kay flew out to Arizona while we were there. We spent a week at a Hilton resort in Scottsdale. It has a heated pool and pickleball. We saw our cousin Renee who lives near Melissa. We went to a spring training baseball game, Putt Shack, and ate lots of good food.
We extended our stay in Arizona so Lucas and Henry could play in a pickleball tournament with Violet and Barrett. Henry and Violet were partners. They won a few matches and had a lot of fun. Barret played singles and doubles and got to a bronze medal match. Lucas won gold with his doubles partner who he met at a juniors pickleball practice he was invited to. and silver in the 14U advanced bracket.
Arizona is always a highlight of our travels, and February and March are a great time to visit. We are thankful we saw so many friends and family on this leg of our travels.
