After many long months of planning and the excitement building up, the time finally arrived. Many phone calls were made and the Net was hot with My little families. Things were rather uncertain at the last minute due to the America West Airlines potential strike. The strike was to be called one way or the other the day my "Hillbilly's were to fly out of Indianapolis. However, since it didn't happen, my first family of kiddies were on their way. Lorrie had never flown before and needless to say she was a wreck. But that's nothing, she is a wreck riding down the street in the car. After a long day, as they arrived here at about 6:30 a.m., and a good night's sleep, we started making our rounds the next day. Here are several pictures we took of them the 1st week.

Click on each small picture to view larger one. Go back on browser to get back to here.

First day, we made a run for the Border. Algedones, Mex. After doing some fun shopping along the streets and alleys, we went to lunch and to see the Mariachies. That is a must when visiting this litttle border town. We all agreed that the food was great. The band got Shelby up with them for a picture and then after lunch outside the "ONLY GRINGO Mariachi" posed for a picture with John, Lorrie and Shelby. After lunch we headed up the street and watched the Mexican Artist painting a picture with lacquer spray paint, plastic grocery bags and wads of paper. The paintings are outstanding and it takes them about 15 minutes to paint one. You can bring a picture and they will copy it. What fun. We make sure all of our visitors get to see these artists.

AZ Jackalope?? Yep this is proof!!

More fun and more pictures. Good close up of my Hillbillys. The 3 of them were amazed at the Sand Dunes. They would have loved having Shelby's ATV there. Then she tried a little climbing and conquered the mountain. We always take our company to Lutes Casino. A bar kept in the old West tradition. Fun place for some laughs and a pitcher. Shelby had fun shootin' pool with her dad.

Stopped for a short visit and picture at the Center of the World in Felicity, CA. Not really sure how they came up with that but they say it's official. Who am I to ? that.

Hanging out on the Beach in El Gulfo, Mex. Talked Joe into taking van out on the beach. Wrong move. We got stuck up to the axles in sand. Was pulled out by 3 young Mexican men. They thought we were "all Loco Gringos". After getting out of there we went to find clams. Bought 10 doz. and cleaned and steamed them the next day. Dipped in melted butter and lemon, John thought he was in heaven.

Family visit to the Old "Yuma Territorial Prison Museum" After going thru all the history and so forth in the Museum, we went outside to see the cell blocks and the way prisons looked then. Guess what? No private bathrooms, no TV's and absolutely NO comforts. Maybe prisons wouldn't be so full if they were like the "Old Yuma Prison". I know I wouldn't want any part of it.

The Dark Cell is where they were sent for punishment. It goes way back and it dirt floors and as the name says, VERY dark. We all agreed we wouldn't want any part of that.

This was the Guard Tower and overlooks the Colorado River. It's hard to imagine the Colorado being the raging force it once was. We all try to picture that but so many places you can walk across.

Inside the Museum stand the box of gears that all the cell gates were controlled by. There were pictures and statistics about each prisoner there. Very interesting.

Time was winding down for my Hillbillys and the 27th of March was here. Chris, Deb and girls were on their way and got here around 6:30 a.m. that day. We had a day together and it was great fun. I made breakfast Burittos for all and we ate on the Patio. After everyone stuffed themselves we just kicked back and enjoyed the rest of the day. Enjoy the pictures taken of my group of Kiddies.

Back to Home

Kiddies in AZ. Page 2