Grand Canyon of Fog- Christmas 2013 part 1

This year for Christmas we made the crazy, brave, awesome decision to head to UT to see some family for the holiday season.  What a great idea it turned out be!!

On our way over, we decided to de-tour just a bit and head to see the Grand Canyon.  The drive was really good and rather un-eventful.  The kids played with toys, read books, watched movies, and slept!  It made for a really nice drive!

When we got to the great old GC- this is what we were driving up in. And yes, the roads were as bad as they looked!  We never really hit above 40 mph and that was ok, because it was beautiful!!!  To see such a place just frozen (literally) in time like that, to me was kind of magical.

When we got out of the car to walk around and look at things it was foggy.  We thought, 'sure it's kinda foggy, but the sun will come out and burn it off a bit, and surely it can't be too foggy- we will just wait and look around a bit.'

We were wrong.

But it didn't stop it from being beautiful.  It didn't stop me from catching my breath in wonder at how He created all of this and we are blessed enough to enjoy it.

See foggy.

(I'm glad the kids are getting big enough to get pictures for us).

For a brief (very brief) moment the clouds started to part and we saw some blue sky!

And then it all went away!

I loved this tree.  I love the old bark and the peeling bark and fun shaped of all the branches.

Although it was cold, and by the end of our little walk we were ready to get on the little shuttle and get back in our car, we still enjoyed ourselves.  We did feel bad for all the international tourists.  All the people from China (we saw at least 3 different LARGE groups, and we spoke with a family from Australia, and some people from Denmark, we also heard accents from Italy, Norway, Japan, and Germany.  Plus a few others that we weren't able to recognize).  They spent a LOT of money to see a LOT of fog.

As we waited for the shuttle to take us back to the Visitor's Center the kids made a family of snowmen.

They worked so hard on them!  Super cute! 

Again an old, awesome tree.  This time sporting a Wood Pecker.

On the shuttle- they wanted a picture.

And then without them noticing, I snapped one of my three little men.  And oh what sweet boys they are turning into, and what great friends.  I love seeing them grow together, and love and help each other.  

And this sweet girls smile never really left her face.  She loved and I mean loved every second of the family time and the nature and all of it.

Then there is this man, and without all his careful and thoughtful planning, the trips we take would never be this great and go so smoothly.  He is such a rock for our family.

So we loved it.  Even though really never really could see what we were loving.  We were just glad to be able to experience just a little of it was great, and spending time like that together was the really the priceless part.

After our slow decent we looked and this was what we left.  The forecast said it would all clear up the next day and it would be beautiful weather!

So we are planning a summer trip.

At one point we stopped at a (closed) roadside booth shop place and saw this 'mini grand canyon' as the kids called it.  So we hurry and snapped a picture of it.

Yes, we are missing someone in there, we got in the car and before we had been in there for 5 minutes I turned around and this is what I saw.  Poor kid was tired.

And then not 10 minutes after our 'mini grand canyon' picture,

this is what I found.  They were already exhausted.  

She wasn't far behind, but they all definitely had good naps before we had to stop again.

It was such a good time, and although we didn't really see the Grand Canyon, it was still so awesome.  We all loved it, and it just makes us that much more excited for next time!

We did stop in Beaver UT for dinner at this diner place called El Bambi and it was FANTASTIC!!!  The people were all so friendly and kind!  We will surely be happy to go there again!

It was that night, late that we got into Diana's house.  But it was a good drive with good company.

Manager's Meeting at the Ranch

Surprisingly we were invited to a big Managers Meeting for Mr. Manly's work.  I say surprisingly because it should have been someone else.  But after some work drama it was us that was invited!  So we had 3 weeks to get ready to leave for 5 days.  Our dear friend Ash brought her 2 kids ages 2 and 8 months to watch our 4 ages 8,7,4 and 3 for 5 days!  6 kids ages 8 and under- wow, how great is she?!?!  Serious brownie points in heaven for that!  She said it went rather well and it wasn't a big deal.  Like I said- brownie points.  We love her dearly before this, and even more afterwards!  It was crazy but so awesome!  We went to the White Stallion Ranch in Arizona.  So pretty!  The landscape was just breath taking and the accommodations were outstanding and the people and food even better!  I left my house with my clothes fitting normal and I left the Ranch wearing yoga pants!  So delicious!  I hope to someday soon go back!

One of the activities that they have is the team cattle penning the Mr and I were on the same team with one of the other wives, and we had never done it before.  It was fun and we didn't do too bad! 

I think these cacti are amazing things.  They only grow in this region and it takes one of them 75 years to grown one of those arms!!  Birds also hollow out a little hole to live in and it is fascinating to sit back and watch them!

One cold morning the Ranch had a breakfast ride.  We meet nice and early and ride to a place for breakfast.  I loved watching nature wake up.  It was such a treat to look up and see hot air balloons floating above us enjoying the same beauty from such a different way. 

Here is the handsome Mr Manly Cowboy

Can you see how cold I am?!  I have a hat, gloves, fingerless gloves, a coat, 2 long sleeved layers, and a tank on.  Yep- I was FREEZING but it was well worth it! 

While the men had their meetings, they had different activities for the wives.  This year happened to be gun safety and shooting practice.  I loved it.

I started the morning with my many layers.  Which was good since I started with the big guns and all the layers made for some good padding.  

But as the morning continued, and the temperatures climbed, I started shedding layers.

 

By the end our poor guy on the target was rather beat up!

I also must admit, I really liked the big guns!

While we were there I had to get some pictures of us.

Isn't he so handsome looking all cowboy-like?!?!

I am definitely a luck girl!

It was such a great trip and we hopefully will get to experience it again!  We really are so blessed to work for such a great company that cares about their employees and takes good care of them.  It was great getting to know new people and spending time experiencing fun things with such a great man that works so hard for his family!

Apples

My kids love apples.

They love the red ones, and the green ones, and the multi colored ones.

They just love them.

They sneak them too.

I will find apple cores under beds, in drawers, on shelves, behind books, in cabinets, under pillows.  EVERY WHERE!!!  

I guess I am ok with the fact that they are sneaking a healthy snack.  AND I have convinced them that all they need to do is ask, and generally they can have one- IF and only if they throw their core away.

It's also a good thing I have a good apple corer on hand!  

GO RANGERS!!!

Before the chaos that we call the school year starts.  We try and do a little fun thing together as a family.  One last who-ha before spelling words and math facts rule our afternoons instead of hide and seek and edible play dough.

Our last hurrah was an Ranger's Game.

It was hot.

We were together.

We were tired.

We saw fireworks.

We sang along.

We made memories.

I love it.  I wish we could freeze moments like this.  Re-live the moments.

I am just glad that Mimi was able to come and build these bonds with us.

I am just glad that we went.

I can't wait until next year!