Flagstaff/Grand Canyon Trip

Before heading back to school, we decided to take a weekend trip up North. We had been to the Grand Canyon earlier this summer, but due to the rain, we didn't see or do much. So we headed out of town on Thursday morning (8-6) and took the scenic drive up to Flagstaff, via Payson and then on to Mormon Lake (or as we called it when we saw it "Mormon Puddle"). It was a nice drive. I made up travel books for the kids with coloring pages, activity pages, games and fun stuff to do to keep them occupied, because we were terming this get-away "non-electronic"... I know... we are so mean!!! But it worked well!

So we got to Flagstaff, checked in at our FABULOUS Super 8 and headed out for some early dinner. Then we headed to Lowell Observatory... it was cool. We got to look through some big telescopes and saw super far away stuff! Then we headed back and got some DQ and went swimming in the indoor pool. With tired kids, we went back to the room and crashed!

The next morning (Fri), we took our time getting up and getting going. So after breakfast we headed out to Walnut Canyon National Monument. It was "fun" climbing down a bunch of stairs (185 feet down into the canyon) and we walked around and saw the Indian ruins down there... then we had the walk up. Macee of course was not thrilled she had to walk even part of this trail... so Chuck put her on his shoulders and we then proceeded to climb back up (all 240 stairs!!! YIKES!!!). The kids earned their Junior Ranger Badges (they are proudly sporting them in the picture below).

It was super windy...

as you can see by this demonstration my hair did!

We took a drive down through Sedona and saw the beautiful sights that way and the kids all got a bit of a nap in (BONUS!) When we returned, we were trying to think of something to do to kill time before Grandma and Grandpa Rowley showed up. I called a bit earlier and they said they just barely got out of town, so it wouldn't be until about 6 or 7 before we would see them. So we hung out a bit in the hotel room... played a couple games and then we got a call from them (g-ma/pa) wondering where the motel was. I asked my mom where she was and she said, "I think right outside the motel!" YEA!!! They tricked us and got there super early! So when they got their stuff unloaded, we took off to go to Sunset Crater. Macee insisted on taking a picture of me and my mom & dad.

A pretty flower on the walk.

We went back, ate some KFC take-out and then went swimming. Super fabulous!

The next morning it was time to pack up and head out for the Grand Canyon. We decided to go to the IMAX theater to see the Grand Canyon movie. I'm glad we did, because it was really neat! Then we headed out to see the sights. We walked the famous path from the Visitors Center out to the Canyon edge (with Macee crying the whole time that her knees were killing her and she couldn't do it!). Then walked the edge to Vercamps. The picture below is actually the path Chuck, Billy (my bro) and my dad will be coming up when finishing their rim-to-rim hike in 4 weeks. CRAZY!!! So I hiked down a bit to get the pictures.

Maddy, my dad and Chuck coming up the path

(they went down further than me).

This was a cool rock.

The whole gang.

My cute kiddos!!

Guess who's the boss???

After a long day at the Canyon (and earning the Jr. Ranger badge there as well), we took off for home, stopped at McDonalds in Flagstaff and headed for home. I think we tired these kiddos out!