Doing what we love and loving what we do...: 2014

Family vacation is something we plan and prepare for all year. We are always excited to see what new adventures lay ahead of us. This year, we headed out west to Utah, Nevada and Arizona.
After an overnight journey on the 3rd of July, we arrived in Moab, UT. Our adventure here was renting Jeeps! We got to pick them up early and we were all excited to get one ORANGE one! We headed to the local park to watch fireworks on July 4th and then settled in for a good night's rest before a big day of Jeepin'. The next morning, we headed out on the first of three Jeep Trails. One word...Breathtaking! It is amazing what you can see on the backroads...places only the lucky have seen! Our first stop was Gemini Bridges. We hiked out a bit and found ourselves to be standing on top of an arch! So cool! We spent the rest of the day on a variety of jeep trails, going over and under various rock structures. The kids thought it was really awesome! And the Big Kids did too! Harper's favorite part was the petroglyphs...the ancient carvings on the rock. Absolutely fascinating! We ended the evening with a visit to Arches National Park!

The next day, we loaded up and headed to Zion National Park in Utah. This was a repeat adventure from seven years ago...and one we have been dreaming about since then! The absolute coolest hike I have ever been on is at ZNP...The Narrows! The name describes it perfectly, a very narrow canyon with a shallow river running through it. Coolest part, you get to hike up the canyon through the river! Last time we went, the water was very cold and clear...this time it was muddy but warmer. It was still as neat as I remember it! We had a wonderful time hiking and just as we headed back, a rainstorm came. The waterfalls it created were amazing!

The next part of our adventure lead us to Las Vegas, NV. We stayed at probably one of the nicest RV parks in Zion and the one in Vegas matched it. We all headed to the NY, NY Casino, where Harper, Richard and I rode the super cool, very scary rollercoaster! Very fun! We also stopped by the M&M's store for some customized treats and the Coca-Cola store for a taste of soda--from around the world! That night, Richard and I got to stay at the Planet Hollywood Casino & Hotel, while the kids and my parents headed back to the RV. We had an absolute blast, burning the midnight oil in Vegas. The next morning, we switched with my parents. To finish out the trip, we headed to the Hoover Dam! I have been before, but it still takes my breath away. So steep! Of course, the visit wouldn't have been complete without the full Dam Tour! :)

Our final leg of our vacation journey was to the Grand Canyon. We headed to the really charming, little town of Williams, AZ. From there, we rode a refurbished train (about 2 hours) to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Once we arrived, we had a few hours to hike down into the Canyon. The kids, Richard and I, headed off into the canyon right as it started to rain. But the cool, wet rain...made the hike better. We hiked awhile and then stopped to have lunch. We hike a bit further and then decided to head back out. We ended up hiking about 1.5 miles down...that was the easy part...it was the "out" part that was really tough. Harper and Owen both did it...all by themselves...no hand-holding or carrying! True adventurers!