Next Stop: The Grand Canyon

So, for like the past 20 years or so, Jen has ding-donged about how she has always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. She’s flown over it many times going to Hawaii, but never actually got to go there physically (Greg has though). Not sure why it was always such a big deal to go there, but hey, we all have places we want to go and see, right? Anyhow, when we were approached by Mom and Dad Kelly about our 2008 family trip, Jen piped up and said, “Hey, how about the Grand Canyon!?” Surprisingly everyone was game – which was good, because one, it’s not always easy getting 6 people to make a decision about something, and two, if Greg (a.k.a. “the favorite”) had picked somewhere else, we most likely would have gone there instead. (LOL)

Anyhow, we all packed ourselves and our luggage like sardines in the Tahoe and headed out on one of our infamous road trips. We left on Friday afternoon and made our first stop 6 hours from home in Grand Junction, Colorado. After a quick dip in the pool, we went to bed fairly early so we could get up early and enjoy all that the next day had to offer.

Saturday morning, we headed out to Moab, Utah and then to Arches National Park. It was so stinking hot there, but we got to see a lot of cool stuff. We even stopped at a lot of cool places along the way..... that helped break the trip up a little bit. Late that night we got to our hotel at the Grand Canyon (we thought we’d never make it there) and went straight to bed.

Sunday morning, we woke up to clouds and light rain. What a disappointment that was! That was our Grand Canyon day! But, we went anyway and tried to at least see SOMETHING. At first it seemed futile to even stop and get out of the car, but the clouds let up in some areas and we actually got to see some stuff! We even hiked along a scenic trail, but then it started pouring rain, so we got back to the car as fast as we could. At least we got SOME pics. We almost thought that we had driven over 700 miles for nothing. ;) After that, we made a little side trip to the four corners area, took the obligatory tourist pictures, had a picnic, and then headed out to our next hotel in Pagosa Springs, CO.

Monday morning we slept in, had a big breakfast, and then started home. We stopped a couple of times…. once for a pretty hike by a huge waterfall along the side of the road, and once for a picnic at a playground. We made it home late Monday afternoon and just crashed on the couch the rest of the night. Vacations can be fun – and tiring!

One word would describe last week: BUSY. Wednesday was Jen’s last day of clinicals. Yay! Now all she needs to do is study, sit for her boards, and get a job. She plans on taking her boards at the end of October/early November, and it looks like a job might be opening up here soon at Memorial Hospital. Friday night we went to go watch our minor league baseball team here in the Springs (the Sky Sox) play and got to experience the “Friday Night Fireworks.” It was absolutely amazing! It makes you want to go to every Friday night game that you can just for the show afterwards. They know how to put on a great show! Sunday afternoon we went to the State Fair. We spent a good 4 hours there, seeing all the exhibits and petting all the animals. We even got a little bit of a sunburn! This past week has been busy with running errands, bike rides, long walks at night, preparing for the launch of our new TeamKid year at church, and packing for our trip. Can you believe it’s September already!? Where does all the time seem to go....