We decided to spend Thanksgiving in Arizona with Tami's family because the kids had a ten day break. We have never been down that way and decided to turn it into a real vacation.
Friday, November 20th: After Jeremy got home from work we set out on our trip. We drove to Payson, Utah with only one stop to go to the bathroom and get gas. Heather's Uncle Norman and Aunt Naoma were so kind to let us stay at their house. They even fed us and we enjoyed playing games and talking.
Saturday, November 21st: It was hard to get the kids in the van and on the road because they were having so much fun with their cousins. Grace loved the sheep and lambs. We finally left around 9a.m.
Our first stop of the day was Capital Reef. We had a bathroom break and enjoyed the views at Chimney Rock. It is so hard to get the kids to stay on the trails when everything is perfect for climbing and exploring. The silence and vastness of the aria was amazing. 
We then drove up a road that we probably should have had a jeep or truck to go on, but we made it with our van. First we walked to Gooseneck Over Look. Our kids thought it was the Grand Canyon. 
From the same parking lot we were able to hike to Sunset point. We were not there for sunset, but it still had great view of the Fluted Wall.
We stopped at the visitors center to use the bathroom and get our passport stamps. Then we drove just past the Ripple Rock Nature Center to a picnic aria by Sulphur Creek. We were joined by a handful of deer.
We wished we could have explored more and seen the petroglyphs, but we knew if we were going to make it to Bryce Canyon we had to leave then.
We did make it to Bryce Canyon, but we were not able to go to the visitors center for a passport stamp. We probably spend the least amount of time here, but it was one of my favorite views. We got there just in time to enjoy sunset. We started at Sunset Point and then walked along the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point. Then we hiked down the Queens Garden Trail for a little bit before it got to late.
The sunsetting on the Hoodoos was beautiful, but I think our kids were disappointed that their was not some kind of magical light show. When we were walking bake tot he van they said we could not go because we had come to watch the sunset and it had not happened. I had to explained that it was just the sun going down and it was dark now, so it was over.
We had a little bit of a drive to our hotel in Cider City, but we enjoyed our suit there.
Saturday, November 22nd: We were able to sleep in and get ready to go slowly because our shuttle tickets into Zions park were not until noon. Zions is beautiful, but finding parking and riding a shuttle into the park is not fun. We got there in time to get our passport passes and go tot he bathroom. We road the shuttle bus up to the trail head for the River Side Walk. We were able to find an area to sit and have lunch before heading out.
This is an easy walk along the Virgin River. We did not walk up the Narrows, but we did enjoy skipping rocks.
Monday, November 23rd: We were off the the Grand Canyon bright and early. We explored the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our first stop was Mather Point. It was very crowded, but it was fun to get our first look at the Grand Canyon. We had to ride the Shuttle bus to our other points, but at least we did not have to have a reserved time. The kids loved petting the mules in the correl at our first stop. Then despite my anxiety we hiked down into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail to the Ooh Aah Point.
It was amazing and terrifying with so many little kids. We stopped and found one of the only places that had a little room room to sit and had lunch on the way down. We also had to move over along the wall to let the mules pass us once.
We got back on the shuttle bus and rode out to Yaki Point. Then back to the visitors center.
We had planned to stay in the park for sunset, but the kids were tired, hungry and getting cold, so we left and went back to Flagstaff for the night. Happy our suit made it easy for all of us to hang out.
The view was amazing! The kids even did a really great job hiking out. Gavin did decide to roll a rock down the edge when we got to the switch backs. Not a good idea and we are so thankful it did not hit anyone. Jeremy was amazing and carried Hyrum almost the whole way, except the sort part I did, Hyrum even fell a sleep for a little bit.
Tuesday, November 24th: We left Flagstaff and drove down to Sadona. We got to enjoy the fall leaves there and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Then it was on to Montezuma Castle National Monument. It was so fun to go to all of these National Parks and National Monuments with James' 4th grade park pass.
We were able to get our passport stamps and the younger kids did the junior ranger program to earn their badge. The ruins were really cool also.
Hyrum had a major melt down, but we made it through.
We ate lunch on our way to the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It is home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team. We also saw the Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes NHL team. We were excited to see the big Saguaro Cactus' along the way.
Wednesday, November 25th: We socked up the warm weather by playing at the park. Gavin sat in a red ant pile and ended our time there.
Back at Tami and Jayson's the kids played in the water while we made pies for Thanksgiving the next day. Some how I hurt my back, but Jayson was there to help out.
That night we watched the new Mulan.
Thursday, November 26th: Thanksgiving was relaxing and full of good food. After dinner Tami took our family pictures
It was our final night in Arizona and we played a fun game of Pictionary.
Friday, November 27th: We were up bright and early to drive home. We were so grateful that Heathers Uncle Norman and Aunt Naoma let us stop at their house and spend the night again.
Saturday, November 28th: Once again our kids did not want to leave, but we were ready to be home. We did make a quick stop in Lava to place a wreath on Grandma Trish's headstone.
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