Life with Carson

She's gone home now and already we're trying to figure out how to fill our time.
 To summerize the week:

Music - Non-stop teen music which was sometimes unpleasant (rap) and sometimes suprisingly enjoyable (kid cudi, lady gaga, beyonce).  It was silent in the car last night.

Shopping - twice to the fashion mall, and once to Tempe.  I was in stores I've never heard of like Betsy Johnson, Forever 21 (no surprise there) and Juicy Couture.  She much preferred shopping with Margaret but was happy when I stepped up to the cash register to help with the purchases from Victoria's Secret (sweats).

Entertainment - The big event was our trip to the Grand Canyon.  We all agreed it was the highlight of the trip.  The weather was beautiful - upper 60's and sunny.  The Phoenix Zoo is also a great place to visit and we spent our morning there in the little people section with the petting zoo.  Next year we'll try the camel ride and feeding the giraffe.  There was also time just watching the twins.  I'm not sure what was funnier, watching them play or watching the adults trying to catch them as they run in opposite directions.  Callum, in particular, is fast for a little guy who just learned to walk a few months ago.

Movies - Thanks to Blockbusters and Red Box, we were able to see 500 Days of Summer, The Blind Side, Up in the Air, a full season of Glee, a full season of 30Rock, and a movie about Coco Channel.  I think it will be cheaper next year to join NetFlix.

Food - Starbucks for Chai Tea Latte (she's a junkie and I indulge her as no one else will) almost every day, food court at the fashion mall, Olive Garden, Mining Camp Restaurant, Arcadia Tavern, some excellent pizza and lots of fast food which we all got sick of.

It's fascinating to be around a techie teen who is constantly in touch with her friends through facebook, iming and texting.  Only a couple of times did I hear her actually talk to one of them on the phone.

Yesterday was a good karma day.  When we arrived at the window in Starbucks to pick up her chai, we discovered that the woman in front of us had paid for her drink.  So Margaret did the same later that afternoon for the person behind her at the Starbucks in Scottsdale.  Then Carson's plane was delayed 2 hours.  The good thing was that when we called Margaret to come back and pick us up, we discovered that Carson had left her phone in the car.  It would have been a true disaster had she had to leave without it.  Grandpa would have been paying an overnight express charge for that.

Our trailer is empty but our hearts and heads are full of good memories.