Spring Break

Summer started her Spring Break early and went off to Utah to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. Summer loves Utah and the people who live there.  In a few short years she could be relocating back to the state and snow she adores.

Summer and the Sarahs

A few hours after Summer's plane landed we headed on our family vacation.

This year we let the kids decide what adventure we would take this Spring Break. 

We decided it was going to be a road trip.

The kind where you have to drive "forever" in kid time to get to each destination.

We drove north and stayed in the small town of Kayenta.

The cool thing about Kayenta is that they have a very imformative exhibit about the Navajo code talkers of WWII located inside of the local Burger King.

Who knew?

We had a quick fast meal and we able to learn some history.

The next morning we drove to our first destination.

Jacob's top choice- The 4 Corners.

He couldn't wait to do this

 because how cool is it to be in 4 states at one time!

Maxfields in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona

Just in case you are curious.  There is lots of desert and then this lovely monument located at the four corners region.  We stayed for about 20 minutes and enjoyed the best Navajo Fry Bread.

We headed back into the car and drove where no car has been before.

Well at least it felt like that.

There was lots of desolation, but I trusted my husband who had been on many of these adventures before with his own dad, Conrad.

It was a bit erie, yet peaceful at the same time.

I gained a new understanding why Kathe, Andy's mom, always packs way more food than needed.

I'm sure when her and Conrad were going on adventures she wasn't sure when and if there would be any sign of life before there destination or if there would even be something remotely similar to life once they reached their destination.

Then all of a sudden out of this vast desert, we saw a ranger station.

We had arrived at Hovenweep located in Colorado.

It was worth the drive.

We did some hiking and saw these amazing Indian dwellings.

It was hard to believe that there was a little town out in the middle of nowhere a long time ago.

Yet not far from these dwellings was a huge mountain that was in the shape of a sleeping chief.

Andy and I were pretty confident that up in the mountains is where these people spent the summer months because although it was pleasant weather in March, it's got to be scorching in July.

It was like Heavenly Father was watching out for these people and gave them the best of both worlds with the desert in the winter and a mountain in the summer, to ease their burdens.

It was quite an extraordinary place out in the middle of nowhere.

Our day was not complete without hopping back into the car and driving to this spectacular place

 Monument Valley on the borders of Utah and Arizona.

Kate and Mittens

We got there just before the sun was setting.

Breathtaking.

YES!

Andy introduced me to red sandstone in Moab, UT and I have been in love with it ever since.

(At least in the Fall, Winter, and Spring)

We headed to Page, AZ, showered off all the red dirt, and snuggled in our Holiday Inn Express plush beds.

We stayed the next 2 days in Page.

After Andy's early morning scenic golf game we headed out to Horseshoe bend to get a view of the Colorado.

The view was amazing and yes I was very nervous to have my children close to the edge.  I only could get part of the horseshoe. 

Not everyone was excited about all the hiking we did, but I think all of the magnificent things we saw made it worth it.  Who wouldn't want to hike and see this ahead of them?!

After Taylor got out of his depressed mood of having to go on a family vacation, he finally got excited when he saw the red sand dunes.  He played and played without a complaint.

                 

All of the kidos got plenty of exercise running up and down those dunes,

while Andy and I sat out of the elements watching our kids have the time of their lives and reading and crosswording without interruptions.

After more showers and another comfy nights rest, we headed back into the direction of home.

But first we had to stop at a place called Lees Ferry.

This was a spot off the Colorado River where the Ferry transported people and things before the railroad.

It was a beautiful homestead, with a garden, and orchard, right against the sandstone cliffs.  The perfect place for a picnic lunch.

 

I love this picture of Taylor because it shows that there is still that little boy part inside of him that can't resist picking up a stick, let alone two. Yes he did try to poke everyone with them.

And so our road trip ended, where it started,

Back on the road, DVD player plugged in, Laffy Taffy galore, Summer enthralled with her books while manning the back, and Kate always mixing in a little silliness with her Queen Amidalla impression.

Thanks to all of Andy's planning and driving, we had THE best road trip.

One of the reasons I fell for Andy was because of his love of nature.

He introduced me to the beauties of the earth that were right in my backyard (or in close proximity).

I love the peacefulness of it all and I love getting away from the world.

I love sharing these unique places with our children.

They may not fully appreciate it now, but I'm sure one day they will adventure out with their own families, and share sights and stories of Maxfield road trips past.