Grand Canyon

We survived a visit to the Grand Canyon.  (Which was no small feat with 8 kids 8 and under, when you count my brother's and sister's kids.)   We had a great time hanging out with family, hiking, seeing the spectatular views, and learning more about this world God created for us. 

Day 1

This day was mostly spent driving.  We left late moring and didn't arrive until almost 5 o'clock. When we finally got there, the kids had the greatest time playing in the dirt and the trees.  This is Peter literally ten minutes after we got out of the car on the first day and we still had 3 more days of camping to go.

Day 2

That morning we were able to finally see the actual canyon and hike around the rim a little ways.  It was incredible!! Lee said that "It looked fake.  Like someone had painted a back drop and placed it there."  It was interesting because thing in the other side of the canyon would lose focus and weren't as clear as the trees up close making it really look like someone had painted it.

 

Mariann enjoyed pointing out the different colored rocks in the canyon as we walked around the rim.

 

Hiking the rim

We also went to the visitors center, where Mariann enjoyed using the binoculars.  (The binoculars might have been here favorite part of the trip.)  If you look closely she is holding them backwards.  Some oriental tourists thought she was so cute that they took a video of her.

That afternoon we found some time to take naps, hang out with one another, and let the kids run wild around the campground.  I had a bubble blowing contest with my Mom and brother that I'm proud to say I won.  I don't have a picture of the bubble gum all over my face but it took me forever to get it all cleaned up.

Playing in the trees

Mariann with two of her cousins

That evening we took a hike to Ooh Aah point on the South Kaibab trail. It was beautiful. It was the my favorite part of the trip.  It was so beautiful and fun to see.  We also went to what was advertised as one of the best places to watch the sunset.  I think they were probably right because it was spectacular.  There is literally no words to describe how beautiful the sunset was and it is something that needs to be seen in person.  The pictures don't do it justice at all.

 

Lee and Peter hiking the trail.

At Ooh Aah point

Watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon

Day 3

We started this day with another hike down into the canyon on Bright Angel Trail. The kids and some of the adults only went down a little ways. Mom made it to the 1 1/2 mile resthouse while Raymond and Lee went down to the 3 mile resthouse. Dad and Josh walked six-miles in to Plateau Point.

Mariann and her only other girl cousin on my side wore matching shirts.  They are two years apart but they love playing together and their Grandma loves dressing them in matching clothes.

We would have never made it on the hike and Lee wouldn't have been able to go to the 3 mile rest house without his Aunt caring Peter for us.  Peter really seemed to love her and was happy to ride with her.  Thanks Auntie! Your Amazing!

Mariann and I on Bright Angel Trail

Lee and company at the one and half mile rest house

After the hike, we ate lunch and went to watch some Indian dancing.  Mariann really loved the dancing.  Her and Janet sat and watched the entire program, while the boys ran around on the grass and climbed the rear by trees.

Indian dancers performing a weaving dance.  (This dance honors the women who weave the beautiful blakets.)

The Squrriel Olympics was the kids favorite part of the trip.  They had an obstacle course for the kids to run.  Mariann ran the entire thing with just a little help from her Mom.  After the obstacle course, they played a game with squrriel and hawks.  The squrriel hid cups and tried to put coins in them, while the hawks took the coins out.  The cups represented nests and coins baby squrriels. 

Getting ready to start the obstacle course

Running through the obstacles

Mariann didn't quite understand the game and she would just hide her nest and then run around in a circle instead of getting the coins.  She had a great time playing with the big kids though and I think she picked a great hiding place especially for a 2 year old.

Mariann hiding her nest.

Day 4

We had a great last day.  We went and say some Indian ruins and Mariann recieved her Junior Ranger Badge.  We also went to Desert View Watchtower.  The tower is built right on the edge of the Canyon and has some spectalar views.  After all that fun, we start the long drive home.

 

At the Watchtower

Peter getting ready to drive us home

P.S.  I plan to do the next Post of Just pictures of the Canyon itself