Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon

Since we are only 4 hours from the Grand Canyon we thought it would be a shame not to visit it. Three weeks ago we headed South after church on Sunday. The landscape is so intriguing. It changes every mile or so and you never know what is going to pop up around the next corner!

We stayed in William's, AZ Sunday night. Since we were only gone 1 night we opted to get a motel instead of tow the camper down. I had made reservations but somehow the wires got crossed and they didn't understand that there was 6 of us instead of 4. Short story is we had to find another motel. No fun when you're in a strange town and everyone is tired and hungry. It was also more complicated because we are tight wads and try to find the cheapest motels possible. 

New Driver!

Eventually we found one that still cost to much but it was just as good as it was going to get! Once we got settled I took the 3 youngest and walked around the town. We had some miscommunication over what was going on or else Eldon and Makayla would have joined us but they had fun watching the Olympics.

Williams is a sweet little Route 66 town. Neon lights, live music, and lots and lots of amazing smells floating around. We found a train park and had fun there for awhile. By the time we started walking back it was dusk and Emily was sure we were lost and Michael thought we had walked 5 miles already. Nah, those two aren't dramatic at all. 

Much to our delight, a train came while we were at the train park!

God's masterpiece

Monday we slept later then intended but we had no schedule so there was no need to hurry around. After loading up on sugary carbs at the motel we drove the hour North and entered the Grand Canyon at the South Entrance. Next time we'd like to enter at the North entrance since it's much less busy and views are still stunning. We walked around to several look-outs and also rode the bus further into the park. The children had more fun on the bus then anything I think! There was a pressed penny machine so like good tourists we got our souvenirs. The lines at the visitors center were long so we didn't even pick up Jr. Ranger books. We did enjoy a short video they showed as well as the wildlife and plant displays. 

Eldon and I were completely wowed by the Grand Canyon in all its splendor. The children thought it was cool but were done after a few looks. We could have sat for hours soaking it all in but duty called.......

First day of school for most kids!

This is one place well worth visiting. Make it a priority and get it done if it interests you! As we were driving out we saw a huge bull elk. Sadly, we couldn't get any good pictures. 

And on the way home-more scenery!

Ethan did.......ok. I took his baby along from Grandpa Beachy's and it entertained him much better then I ever thought it would!

They didn't smile the whole way but they did good!

Stuck in road construction!

And.......we got to add a new sticker to our map!

Bits of this and that!

I apologize for not updating much the last few weeks. I've started scrapbooking our family photos again and that is the one true hobby I have so I tend to get a bit obsessed once I open the computer program :) . I'll share a few of our highlights from the last 2 weeks and then I'll give the Grand Canyon a post of its own. 

One evening we drove out to the Yucca House National Monument. It is located between Cortez and Towaoc and very non-commercialized. The road actually goes through several fields and the "parking lot" is in front of a barn. There was a few small signs to assure us that we were at the right place so we ventured on. 

The National Park Service website states this: "Yucca House National Monument preserves one of the largest archeological sites in SW Colorado. The unexcavated nature of the site preserves its integrity and beauty for future generations of scientists and visitors. Experience a sense of discovery by visiting a site that has remained largely untouched for the past 800 years!"

At first we weren't very impressed. It was basically a nice walk in sagebrush and cactus country with gorgeous mountains as a backdrop.

Soon we could see mounds of stones and even a standing wall. That made it more fun. Makayla suddenly pointed out a stone that looked like a what they used to grind corn on. A closer look and we could see that it was indeed a metate! For some silly reason I didn't take a picture but that helped us all realize that we need to be looking more closely at the ground!

We also found broken pieces of pottery! The actual real thing, not in a museum but just laying on the ground, some with beautiful lines and designs. It was rather thrilling to us to imagine who may have last used these items, hundreds of years ago!

Eldon found this neat rock, with shell-like fossil on it. We loved the Yucca House and would definitely recommend a visit to it! It's nice that it's not commercialized but also sad because anyone could walk off with the artifacts that are there. Hopefully one day soon they will excavate it and learn more about who lived there!

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We took the children into Cortez early one morning to watch the hot air balloon festival. There was a total of 12 up at one time. 

It was fun to get a front row seat and watch this cat balloon take off.

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Our truck needed some maintenance done so we made a quick trip over the mountains to my sister's place one weekend. It sure is nice to have family close enough to mooch off of every now and then :).

The children had not been to Telluride yet so we stopped for a few hours. All the bright flowers, brilliant green trees, huge blue sky, and the massive mountains make for a stunning picture. The gondolas are free so of course we rode them down into town and to the top of the mountain. The children were thrilled. We even saw a deer!

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Our stay at Brian and Michelle's was only 2.5 days long but we packed in lots of good memories. Evan and Kaylene came over for supper Monday night plus Kaylene and Alex spent Tuesday with us too.

Three little cousins, reading away!

Tuesday afternoon we drove up to the Grand Mesa. We went to Land's End, a place where the land truly does end! 

A big pull to this particular area is the chipmunks. Dozens of them ran around begging for food. We came prepared and it was so fun feed them!

We were on the end of this Mesa, looking out over the valley.

We also did a short little trail. I think the name was Land O' Nod. We could see several lakes from the look-out point.

Ethan adores "B and SH" 

We stopped in Cedaredge for supper. Amazing!!!

Michelle with her niece and daughter :) 

Tuesday night we went to the park. The children thought it was a hoot to ride in the skate board park. I wasn't so sure about it though :) . 

Little stinker loves to sit on Emily's bike and be pushed.