This is Nicco's new "pencil" jump
Giving Daddy a double five!
Launch position...
Flying!
When we hiked in Sedona, he filled his little water bottle with soft sand along the trail. I told him that when we got home we could sift out the leaves and rocks and sticks and put his soft and pretty red sand into a jar. Since he "loves sand, you know" I thought that he might eventually add different layers of sand from different places we visit.
Sushi appetizer, an homage to the raw fish snack Jin made in the first season.
Hawaiian pork chops, my wild boar substitute. (They didn't have wild boar at Safeway) (And Hawaiian, because, duh.) Patrice was highly offended that I put pineapple in food, but he condescended to eat it anyway.
Palm trees, because I have them.
There are a couple extras though...Mrs. Petra said that he put some eggs in the tree, and speculated that Nicco thinks trees should have nests, and therefore eggs as well. I told her about our quail nest and sure enough, when I asked him about the eggs, he said it is for our egg babies that will be hatching soon.
I'm worried about our quail family again. The mama hasn't been sitting on the eggs the last several times I've checked. I fear my small boy may have frightened her away. He came in crying the other day because he "scared the mama! I was being real quiet, I promise!" he said. I hope his frequent check-ups haven't made her abandon the nest. I guess we will find out.
The "Castle" is an 800 year old, 45 room high-rise apartment of the Sinagua people, located along the banks of Beaver Creek. It is amazing to realize how primitive America was even 500 years ago. If you think about Europe 2000 years ago, the contrast in technological, cultural, and social development is incredible. If it weren't for our European ancestors, people in this part of the world might still live in condos like this! Well done, conquistadors. Well done. 
The size and color of the Arizona Sycamore set it apart from other trees in the area. It only grows in riparian corridors (word of the day!) and it gets its color from its constantly shedding bark. The main beams of the castle are made from Arizona Sycamore.
I am actually not sure what these parts of the castle were used for. Bad me! I didn't read the sign. There were some large stone tools that looked like mano y matate, but I do remember an exhibit in the museum that suggested they were actually locks on pens. These might be the pens. Too bad I didn't pay attention!
Swallow nests
Nicco and Daddy on the trail.
Tickling each other with fuzzy grasses.
Nicco got a little tired hiking up the hill on the way to the next stop, Montezuma Well.
The well is a collapsed underground limestone cave with more than a million gallons of water flowing through it each day. The water is 76 degrees all year long and has a very high concentration of carbon dioxide, so there are no fish living in the well.
There are remains of a cliff dwelling along this wall above the well.
(I forgot to rotate this picture, oh well.) Nicco and I taking a rest at the top of the hill above the well.
We drove through Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Country as it is known, on the way to Sedona. It is really quite spectacular; one of those places that defy description and must be seen in person to fully appreciate. This is the view outside the patio of the casita we stayed in at Enchantment Resort.
That rock formation (again, the view from our patio...) is on top of one of Sedona's vortices...pockets of energy that attract mystics, psychics, and other weirdos from all over the world. The spa at Enchantment was named the #1 spa in the world and includes treatments like past life regression, aura photography, astrology, numerology, and palm reading in addition to the traditional massage/facial treatments you would find at other spas.
Nicco and his daddy enjoying the view
Nicco's giving me a foot massage. This treatment was in our price range, unlike the treatments at the world's #1 spa.
Nicco's favorite was the Christmas store. There were some amazing hand carved nativities.
A wicker and wood burro statue in one of the courtyards
Window shopping
Bell tower
Resting by one of many fountains
A courtyard and bridge
This shopping center had a very European village feel to it. There were surprises around every corner.
Another view of the shopping center.
Garden sculptures
One of the shops built around an enormous sycamore tree.
One of the many beautiful, huge, interesting doors
And another one
We drove around a bit and pulled off the road for some scenic photo opportunities
Nicco, with the best seat in the house!
A little river of flowers on the path up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Garden and saints in the chapel courtyard
Outside the chapel (we didn't go in because it closed moments after we arrived. We might not have dilly-dallyed so much had we known the hours of operation)
Nicco resting in the courtyard. He did a lot of resting. We had to call some of our adventures "missions" in order to convince him that we were indeed on an adventure. He asked me several times if there was "resting on this mission." He found resting spots on each of our missions.
A small private bungalow across from the chapel. Patrice was tempted to leave a resume...
The view of the chapel from the road. Marguerite Bruswig Straude was inspired to build a chapel on a visit to the Empire State Building in 1932. She searched all over Europe and America for an ideal location to build a structure that would glorify her Creator and offer her thanksgiving for all she and her family had received. She and her husband stumbled upon this spot in Sedona and thought it was perfect for what she had in mind. It was completed in 1956 and is currently maintained and administered by the Diocese of Phoenix and Saint John Vianney parish.
That is the resort behind us.
I had to tickle Nicco to get him to smile for his daddy. (There was LOTS of resting on this mission)
Again, Nicco with the best seat in the house!
I don't know what kind of bush this was, but the wood was very interesting...it had red and white bark twisted around each other, and the outer red bark was so hard, it was like petrified wood. Patrice wanted to take a branch for a walking stick, but we just took a picture instead.
Resting on a tree stump
Nicco stopped along the way to fill up his special water bottle with sand. ("You know, I really like sand," he said.)
A tipi on the resort property.
A perfect spot for one last rest on the way back to the car.
Balancing
