Spring Fling

As soon as school ended last Friday, we headed for our (almost) annual trip to Arizona.  After battling traffic and the rain, we finally made it to our home base in Chandler.

Over the next few days Ava spent tons of time at the pool and on the waterslide.  With just a handful of other kids (and adults) there, she came close to 100 trips down the slide.

One of the biggest reasons we drive six hours through the desert is for Spring Training.  Our first game this year was between the Angels and the hated San Francisco Giants.  Ava enjoyed seeing a home run from Albert Pujols and eating an enormous ice cream.

The next day we drove the length of the valley to Surprise to see the World Series Champion Kansas City Royals.

One of the Royals coaches tossed Ava a ball and she was able to get it signed by Royals manager Ned Yost.  

Even though Ava didn't get to meet Eric Hosmer or Mike Moustakas, she did meet a couple young Royals minor leaguers who are dreaming of the days in the big leagues when they don't have to sleep four to a room, and they no longer have to drive a hand me down car with 200,000 miles on it.

In order to get a little exercise, we hiked up A Mountain in Tempe which offers views over the ASU campus, Tempe, and all the way to downtown Phoenix and beyond.

 No Cruz family trip would be complete without gorging on all kinds of sweets and sinful delights that we wouldn't get at home.  Ava enjoyed dessert for breakfast at Waffle House,

More dessert for breakfast at Snooze,

Chicken tenders and beer sniffing (she has a ways to go before she can do any tasting) at Four Peaks Brewing Company, 

Not one, 

But two visits to Cracker Barrel (which still has yet to open a branch in California),

And Mexican food on the drive home. 

Until next time, Arizona!