Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

Goblin Valley State Park is in the middle of Utah, which also happens to be the middle of nowhere, but it is well worth the drive.  This is the most fun nature park our kids have been to and was just as incredible for the adults. Years of erosion left

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef National Park is filled with incredibly dramatic red rock cliffs.  While we've seen many of them throughout Utah and Arizona, these were still impressive. When the family started feeling a little road sick from the windy road, we pulled over for a little while and Tucker

Butch Cassidy Childhood Home, Garfield County, Utah

Since moving near Butch Cassidy's old stompin' grounds, we've been reading more about him and were able to visit his childhood home.  It was a very nicely restored cabin with signs explaining a little bit about him.

savannah

how boredom got me into drawing

first i was bored and i was looking for something to do then i opened my notebook to draw and after three drawings i drew this.  it was very fun to draw this. i finished it jan 5 10:15 AM. every one likes the oil lamp the most so

Four Corners Monument - Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado

Far from everything is the Four Corners Monument, marking the corner of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.  We pulled up to find it closed.... What???  We imagined it was just a spot on the ground with some shops around it.  But it was gated up.  Apparently, you normally have

Historic Route 66 - Gallup, NM

Continuing along Route 66, we went to Gallup, NM.  Gallup is surrounded by Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi Native American Reservations.  We stopped at Walmart and found the welcome sign was both in English and a Native American Language (Navajo?).

Historic Route 66 Monument in Petrified Forest National Park

Historic Route 66 ran through the middle of Petrified Forest National Park.  While the road is no longer there, they built a neat little monument. Of course, we listened to the Route 66 song on the drive. This is a really neat bumper bench.

Petrified Forest National Park

If you continue East along the Historic Route 66 are, you find the Petrified Forest National Park.  It is an entire forest that had been petrified, leaving behind what look like fallen trees -- the petrified forest.  They have a pretty simple, but nice, visitors center with a video explaining

Meteor Crater, AZ -- Worlds Best Preserved Meteorite Crater

Savannah had a dream about a Meteorite Crater, which started me searching for any nearby.  One really stood out: Meteor Crater, AZ. About 30 min East of Flagstaff, AZ, near Historic Route 66, is Meteor Crater.  It is the first confirmed meteorite crater in the world and is claimed to

Marble Canyon, AZ

If you following the Colorado River east from the Grand Canyon, you get to Marble Canyon, AZ. While not quite a deep, it is still an amazing sight.

Pipe Springs National Monument, AZ

Built as a fort by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1860's to defend themselves from the US government / military (it was in Mexican territory at the time) and the Navajo, Pipe Springs still stands today. We were fortunate to take

White Christmas in Cedar City

It's been a long time since we've had a white Christmas -- so we were excited for the snow this year.  It came right on schedule.

Tucker Wins!

Tucker entered a coloring contest at a local pediatricians office -- Color Country Pediatrics.  A couple of days before Christmas, we got a call that he had won second place -- a $50 prize! Congratulations Tucker!

Knight Coca-Cola

Aunt Diane sent some fun gifts, including this:

Family Pictures at Mooney Grove

We were sitting in front of the old Boy Scout Cabin at Mooney Grove in Visalia, Ca.

Morris Family Ranch

We stopped at the Morris Family Ranch and the family was able to reminisce while touring the beautifully renovated home. The family brands. The original home.

Family Christmas Party, Livermore, CA

The family Christmas party was at a restaurant in Livermore, CA.  It have been several years since we've seen everyone, so it was nice to catch up.

Christmas Dinner with Scott and Lori

As a Christmas gift, Scott and Lori took us out to a delicious Chinese food restaurant then ice cream at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop near their house. The kids had so much fun with their cousins.  Afterwards, our kids told us that it was the perfect Christmas gift.

The Long Walk Parade in Barstow, CA

We've recently visited some of the towns on Historic Route 66, starting with Barstow, CA.  We arrived just in time for the Long Walk Parade.  The Army marches several miles to a Veterans home, where the soldiers and veterans have lunch together, talk, and play games for the

Sasquatch Sighting in Las Vegas

We stopped at Terrible's Casino gas station just outside of Las Vegas.  This place is incredible!  Complete with a larger-than-life Sasquatch, Christmas tree display, racing car display, candy, and other treats.

Christmas Gifts 2019

We continued our tradition of opening gifts early.

Snowy Thanksgiving in Cedar City

It snowed just about every day of Thanksgiving week, so we enjoyed our time sledding and making some delicious food. Sledding on our driveway. Our homemade apple pie.

Homeschool Thanksgiving Party

There's a homeschool group that puts together holiday parties throughout the year, and we recently participated in the Thanksgiving party that took place at our church building. The party was structured like this: kids rotate through 7 stations in the gym, spending about 10 minutes at each one.

Cutting Down Our Christmas Tree

For years, I have wanted to have the 'Cutting Down Your Own Christmas Tree' experience.  Living right next to the Dixie National Forest office, we walked there and paid $10 for a permit. With all of the storms this week, we had about 2' of fresh snow

Iron Axe - Axe and Knife Throwing

Savannah's friend told her about a business their family was starting -- Iron Axe, on Main St in Cedar City.  They have a Monday night Family Night promotion, so we tried it out. Axe and knife throwing aren't exactly the first things that come to mind