On December 29, we went to dinner at Macayo's Mexican restaurant in Mesa. A place where Diederik has been going since 1983 or so when he lived just around the corner. Roni, Lindsey (Roni's daugther-in-law) and Olivia (Roni's granddaugther) joined us.
on Sunday (December 27) we did basically 2 things. First we went to one of the best brunches in town. We miss these events. There is just nothing like it where we now live. We went to Rita's at the Camelback Inn. They have an unbelievable brunch menu. We had a nice table outside in the sun.
2009 trip to Phoenix


We went to Phoenix for Christmas and New Year. A chance to be out of the cold and to visit Roni (Stephanie's best friend) and her family. We stayed at the Point Hilton on Squaw Peak. This hotel was chosen beause of its waterpark with pools, hot tubs, a Lazy river and a water sllide. The pools were heated to 80F 26C and thus very nice even though it was not very warm except for the last day.
We flew into Phoenix on Christmas Eve and spend the evening at with Roni's family as we have done many times before we moved away.

Christmas morning we had breakfast at the hotel, but then went again to Roni's house as Santa had figured out that was the best place to bring the presents for the boys.
on Sunday (December 27) we did basically 2 things. First we went to one of the best brunches in town. We miss these events. There is just nothing like it where we now live. We went to Rita's at the Camelback Inn. They have an unbelievable brunch menu. We had a nice table outside in the sun.
This was the desert table.
Brunch was followed a few hours later by Stephanie and Diederik going to the spa at the resort and having a couple massage.

The next 2 days again were spend mostly relaxing at the resort for most of us, but Stephanie managed to get a lot of 'antiqueing' time in.
On December 29, we went to dinner at Macayo's Mexican restaurant in Mesa. A place where Diederik has been going since 1983 or so when he lived just around the corner. Roni, Lindsey (Roni's daugther-in-law) and Olivia (Roni's granddaugther) joined us.
The rest of Christmas day and the day after we spend mostly at the resort taking it easy.
Below are some pictures of an evening swim on December 30.
Then it was New Year's Eve. We spend much of the day by the pools again. There were finally enough kids present for the resort to have kid's activities.
On New Year's Eve we made a final visit to Roni and her family. Pictures will follow at some point. Then the next day we started the New Year by flying back home where we were welcomed by snow showers for the next 3 days.
Christmas morning pictures will be added here