Arizona - The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon trip was a lot of fun. We rode on the Grand Canyon Train Express from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon. The train ride took a little over 2 hours through the untouched Arizona wilderness, including desert and forest. We saw a lot of deer, elk, and of course when closer to civilization, cows and horses. We had visitors on the train that entertained us - a Navajo Indian who sang native songs, a cowboy that came and visited with everyone - even let us take pictures of him.

Aubrey and Rigdon with the funny cowboy. Ronin chickened out and wouldn't get in the picture.

We are finally at the Grand Canyon! Once the train let us off, we had three hours to look around. So here are tons of pictures - after all, what else do you do at the Grand Canyon besides look at it? You just gotta take pictures! For my kids and some of the other cousins, this was their first time seeing it and they were awstruck at the scope, size, and wonder of it all. They kept asking on the way up what the Grand Canyon was and even though it was explained to them several times, I don't think they really understood until they actually saw it. It was fun to watch their reactions. I saw it once before when I went to Penni and Todd's wedding reception about 15 years ago - but to see it again was still just as awesome as the first time. Photos just don't do it justice, it's something everone should see first hand.

Todd was kind enough to offer to stand in as the "husband" and then I could "photoshop" my own husband's face later. Thanks Todd, that was very thoughtful of you, even though I passed it up.

My little family with my parents.

Aubrey, Connor, and Ronin with their cousins, Kaylee and Carson.
Grandma Judy with Carson and Aubrey.

Kristine with her cousin, Rigdon. Rigdon was sick a lot of the time during our vacation. Even though his temperature on this day was 103.4 degrees he was such a trooper and was very good throughout the whole day. (I later found out the fever was due to a severe ear infection.)

Sweet boy, Rigdon. Too bad he won't ever remember seeing the Grand Canyon. Good thing for cameras so that there's proof and you can show them when their older.

Ok, so Rigdon did have a few moments of fussiness, but they were very few. I think he just didn't want his picture taken.

Ronin checking out the telescope.

See that black blob on the right? That's wasn't an accidental spot, it was a huge horse-fly thingy. The kids were freaking out when they saw it. I stood there and told the kids to just smile and ignore it...some could, some couldn't. Huge, huge fly thingy!

Grandma Jusdy with Carson and Aubrey.

Aubrey petting one of the mules that just got back from taking tourists down a trail through the Grand Canyon. Notice Aubrey holding a book in every picture? She didn't want to leave the Harry Potter book on the train because her dad told her to take very good care of it. Aubrey explained that is now valuable because it is a first edition and so she didn't want anyone to steal it. (Good eyes, Lisa!)
The squirrels there weren't too scared of humans. In fact, this one came right up to Ronin who reached out to touch it until Carson warned him not to.

Poor little guy, just sick, tired, and nowhere else to go but Grandpa's shoulder.
On the ride home, we got train robbed by outlaw cowboys. The kids loved this. We gave the kids some coins to give to the robbers. They even had robbers on horses ride along side the train and hop on, just like in the movies. Funny how the robber looks alot like the nice cowboy at the beginning of the ride....hmmm.
Connor was so worried about the robbers stealing the book he brought along because it was his dad's. So here he is asking the robber if he reads. The robber replied, "Read! We don't read! All we care about is money!"

I thought the train ride really helped make the whole Grand Canyon experience come alive. We learned and saw alot. It was great. I don't think the kids will ever forget this one.