The Grand Canyon

When I was in 6th grade I had an earth science teacher named Ms. Wiggly. I liked her class because she was EXCITED about science. I love it when people get passionate and excited about things. She did a whole unit on the Grand Canyon. It was the first time I remember hearing and seeing about this magical place. I remember heating broken crayons together making sedimentary rocks and thinking it was so cool!

I've had "See the Grand Canyon" on my bucket list ever since! This is 20 years in the making. I have flown over it going to see the Hendricks clan and David Family but have never actually seen it up close until now!!

Chris crushed my birthday this year.  He set up this whole trip to go see Dondi Wondi and then spend the day at the Grand Canyon.

Driving up to the Grand Canyon I was having an internal conversation with myself:
"Kylie, you have built the Grand Canyon up in your mind. It's probably not that great, Just get ready...".

About 30 minutes out it started to turn into forest, trick, tall evergreen trees which I wasn't expecting. There were elk running around everywhere. We found a parking spot and I really couldn't see it from the parking lot.  I slowly walked up to the edge and started to cry it was way better than I had pictured it! I can't put into words how magnificent it.  The song "Holy is the Lord" started to play in my head and I just stood there and wept. 

The poor people around me where probably like "move lady, the rest of us would like to enjoy the view".

Chris and I took a hike down South Kaibab trail. The whole trail is 3 miles down 3 miles back.  The trail made it to the Colorado River.  We went half way down making it about a 3 mile hike.

There was donkey poo we had to dodge.  Donkey rides operate during the morning so we didn't have to compete with them on the trail.

After our hike we went to desertview tower

Rainbow dash even got to see this part of the park.  Chris and I enjoyed an ice cream from the gift shop and bought the girls coyote stuffed animals.  Caroline and Ali are always howling and pretending they are "hy-oyte" as Caroline used to call them and we knew they needed it.

We enjoyed a sunset and then ate El Tavor a restaurant placed right on the canyon wall.  When we walked out of the restaurant the harvest moon was out and it lit the whole canyon up.  Chris said that was his favorite part!  We saw little flickers of light at the bottom of the canyon where people were camping.  The whole place was magical.  Chris got us a hotel in Tusayan AZ right outside the park.  It was great!

Sunday Morning we stopped at the Hoover Dam on the way to the airport.  I am not afraid of heights but I felt weird next looking over the wall of the hoover dam.  The wall needed to be taller in my opinion. I wonder how many hats, glasses, camera and phones have gone over the edge.

On Friday:

I got to celebrate my actual birthday at my sister Dondi's house.  Jaden and Dondi made me a banner that said "We love Kylie" and "Happy birthday" on the staircase.

We ate dinner at Echo and Rig steakhouse.

Kyle's parent's took care of Jaden and Abby.

I loved snuggling with my little niece and nephew.

Abby is the sweetest, happiest baby ever! She just sat and talked to me. I only heard her cry once and it was more like an aggressive yell and then she got her bottle and was so happy!

Jaden and I made Banana bread.

Abby ate squash instead of the bread.

Uncle Chris reading books

Coloring with Jaden

We had the best time but were glad to get home with our babies.  They enjoyed time with Lolly and Grandad while we were gone.

Here are the pictures they sent me of all their fun!:

They went to Fiddle Stick Farms outside of Midland

Huge Slide

Horse rides

Cow train

Tractor rides

When we got home last night:

Caroline asleep with both coyotes

(she didn't want Ali's coyote to feel lonely because Ali fell asleep before we could give it to her)

My parents wore those kids out!!! They will be talking about Lolly and Grandad's for a long time!