DAY 4 Part 2 - THE GRAND CANYON!

Not sure why, but the colors really wash out when uploading to the blog - go figure.

It was pretty hazy at the canyon today, not sure why.  We even waited til late in the day when they say lighting is best - but everything was still muted.  It was slightly overcast.....

In any event, it was still spectacular to see!  Stunning!

This was the first view of the canyon out the car window

Canyon with the Colorado river in the background, Erica, Jenna and Marissa (nervous about getting too close to the edge)

Inside the Watchtower.  The one and only time we have been brave enough to let someone else touch the camera.  Luckily he was trustworthy.

Not having a good hair day, but, oh well...

Sleeping at the Holiday Inn Express in Tusayan (town just south of the south rim).  Nice but very small room (only because we are squishing two extras in here).  Small, dark pool area, and super crowded.  No vacancy.  But it's clean, and that's what really matters.  Good night.  See you tomorrow.

DAY 4 Part 1 - YOUR CAN'T DO THIS IN CANADA IN MARCH

(By the way, all the pictures in each of these posts are clickable to open them larger and see in more detail.)

8:00 am OUTSIDE in MARCH!!!!

yay!

happy to think that winter might be over

what!?!  snow again....

around Blanding Utah - higher elevation

at least the van said it was +18 celcius out there (maybe they have heat resistant snow)

in transferring this picture from my files to the blog, it lost a lot of color.  imagine it super red.

cool rock layers

cute bridge with very red rock (imagine it as vibrant as we saw it)

these rocks were breaking away in cubes - cool

the giant tumbleweed that rolled right out of an old western movie, across the road - trying to attack our van.  Luckily we missed it, along with about a dozen dead deer we have seen killed by other vehicles (well, we didn't see them actually get killed - but we are sympathetic to those who left evidence to warn us to be careful)

Next post - the GRAND CANYON!!

DAY 3 - MOSTLY ARCHES

The following pictures are all from Arches National Park.  The scenery is amazing - always changing!  I took so many pictures, so it was hard to narrow down which ones to post.......

Balancing Rock.  The girls are near the bottom.

Hmmm, it doesn't really seem like a safe place to be playing....

or standing below.....

the kids found a great place for echo's.  I apologize to those who may have been nearby trying to have a peaceful experience.

I can't remember which came first - the north or south window

Turret arch

so fun to be able to climb and run around.....so much driving

Missy is still climbing (no surprize)

Bruce under Turret Arch

Missy and the North and South Windows

Bruce was wishing he had some top ropes - lots of great climbing possibilities

Erica and Emma with Delicate Arch between them in the background

cool

Delicate Arch (the one on the Utah license plate)

It's hard to get great pictures when you can't choose the lighting.  I wish I could spend days here and watch the light move through the canyons.  The color becomes so much more vibrant at times.

Slept at the Aarchway Inn in Moab.  The kids loved the place.  3queen sized beds were the first bonus, a great playground outside, lots of room, hot breakfast, outdoor pool etc.  (no, we didn't swim on Sunday).

Dinner was at Zak's.  The waitress we had has two friends that are celiac, and said the chef is also good with it as there are lots of people looking for GF food in town (or visiting).  Bruce was happy with the $12 all you can eat from the pizza, soup, and salad bars.  Good food, at reasonable prices.

Stay tuned for tons more pictures, haha.

DAY TWO

Rexburg Idaho

A couple of 'dum-dum's'  (name of a tasty american candy, lol)

Utah state capitol building

Erica, Emma, Jenna, Marissa

Jenna and Missy inside the capitol building, outside the doors to the Senate

Inside the conference center from the balcony

Emma, Missy and Jenna after the broadcast

Watch for this picture in the New Era (at least if Missy gets her wish).  Right behind Bruce was a woman who works in the photography department of the church - also taking our picture.

Me and Kelsea (Evans) Hutchins.  We were good friends in high school, but haven't seen each other for 18 years or so.  She was quite surprized when I knocked on her door at 9:30pm with no warning.  (good thing friends can do that).  She may not have recognized me if I hadn't been carrying a case of smarties - relating back to a facebook discussion we had a couple of months ago.  I was surprized at how easy the conversation was, it was good to see her.

End of day 2.  Slept at the Hampton Inn by UVU

ROAD TRIP DAY ONE OR WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW, WON'T HURT THEM

Our trusty chauffer, and his bag of spitz!  The lone man - he's missing Ross

The sign speaks for itself.  We somehow started taking pictures of signs with names of friends and family - but unfortunately we missed a few.  Names represented: Kevin, Craig, Whitney, Humphrey, Hardy, Cache, Emma, Spencer, Colton... and more to come

This is what I see from the front seat when I turn around

This is what happens in the back when I turn back around to the front.  (it's amazing what you see when looking at someone else's pictures of the same trip)

Beautiful sunset getting close to Rexburg

This picture is for Craig.  My favorite part of the day.  I laughed all the way down highway 33, thanks!

Finally some room to burn off energy, and great company. 

Addi, Marissa, and Jenna

(hope I spelled Addi's name right)

Thanks uncle Mark and aunt Jeanne for a great visit and a wonderful sleep (although they were both a little short - sorry we kept you up so late).  We had a great visit with Scott and Krista too, and the kids had lots of fun together.  I hope you're working on finding a date for a reunion ;)

I LOVE ROADTRIPS