For Snow Covered Michiganders

For all my friends still trekking through snow, here are some pictures of hope for you!

Spring will come!

Family Play Days

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were family play days.

Friday was pajama day for Travis. He said he needed a rest day from all the travel.

Art

Cooking

Building

Puzzles

Reading

More art

And Saturday we began again!

Games

Library

Play cooking

Real cooking

More games

More reading

More art

Sunday, we went to the Imagine Children's Museum in Everett, about 20 miles north of Seattle.

Tomorrow is a work/school day for the family, so I am on my own. I think it is MY day for rest!

Family Vacation - Saturday through Thursday

Saturday morning we headed to the airport for our trip to Utah by way of Las Vegas, Nevada and a tiny corner of Arizona. Ultimate destination: Zion National Park. I had never flown into Las Vegas, so I was flabbergasted at seeing slot machines right in the airport! Outrageous!

Sunday morning we started with hotel breakfast (the make-your-own-waffles were a big hit), pool swimming, extensive elevator riding, a dinosaur museum, and a trip to Snow Canyon State Park.

They were leveling a hill to build a shopping center about 20 years ago and hit some very hard rock. And when they were able to get it out, it broke into slabs, and the bottom of the slab had this footprint!

A very fun and informative museum built right over the discovery area. They also had a great play place for the kids to dig in sand and "discover fossils."

Next to Snow Canyon.

Time for lunch and rock climbing.

and hiking!

A friendly, little lizard.

Ah, a cool canyon...it was getting really hot in the sun.

Jenny's Canyon ( a slot canyon)

Then back on the road to our next hotel just outside Zion.

Okay, we are at Zion National Park. Let's take a picture at the entrance. This is Travis "standing still" for a picture with his sister... Good thing no one is excited...

Monday, we hiked almost all day. We saw the Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools and Weeping Rock.

Looking up from the upper pool...

Unbelievable views. Unprecedented scenes. I think I have not fully internalized the meaning of the word "majestic" until now. And none of these pictures begin to do it justice.

Weeping Rock

The water dripping from this rock fell as rain or snow around 1200 years ago, seeped through the sandstone until it hit a less permeable layer of rock, and then worked its way out. 1200 year old water! Pretty precious!

Tuesday, we hiked to the Narrows, an area where you can river hike right in the Virgin River. It was a hot day, but not at the Narrows where little sun gets in! Travis was freezing, and I had contracted a cold and decided that hiking in freezing water was not a smart idea. So Travis and I went to find sun and the others truly did a river hike!

By the way, it was declared "two braids day" by Katelyn for all the "girls." We needed a good picture and this seemed the best way! P.S.: We are smiling and giggling! Can you tell?

Wednesday, we took a road trip to the East Rim.

Many switchbacks and no guard rails. I admit to a little anxiety even with Todd, our good driver, especially when giant RVs would come toward us!

See the road below?

Entering Zion - Mt. Carmel Tunnel built 1930. It is 1.1 miles long.

And out the other side to see the Checkerboard Mesa!

Checkerboard Mesa

There was a scenic overlook just beyond the tunnel. It was so high! And, in many places, there was no railing! I had had enough. I was clinging to the rock face and not looking down. Travis and I hung out in an overhanging cave while the others went to the top. I was thoroughly satisfied with seeing their pictures.  ;-)

Then we headed back towards the airport so that leaving Thursday morning would be easy.

One more play stop: The Thunder Junction All Abilities Park

A little train that ringed the park with room for wheelchairs

a zipline for all abilities

 a great splash pool

Thursday morning we packed up, ate breakfast, and headed for the airport. We took the plane to Sea-Tac Airport, the Light Rail to downtown Seattle, and the bus to Magnolia, my family's neighborhood. Quite an adventure with all the luggage and two kids. But I never had to care for my own "scoots-case" for the whole trip. Travis was in charge!

Today was an at-home-rest-and-play day. Travis never took off his pj's! We cooked, had homemade pizza, colored, played soccer in the back yard between the rain drops, did puzzles, and read books.

A great trip was had by all. Katelyn said her favorite part was "everything." Travis said, "Elevators! And airplane and train and bus rides."  Karen's favorites were Snow Canyon and The Narrows river hike. Todd's favorite was the Narrows. My favorite part was expanding my mind to take in the size and expanse of the landscape and colors of rock I had never seen in real life, the Upper Emerald Pool, and, of course, doing it all with FAMILY!