Aztec Ruins National Monument

Our first big adventure in New Mexico was at the Aztec Ruins National Monument. This site really is a misnomer since the ancient pueblo wasn't built by the Aztecs but rather by Anasazi people. Probably built in the early 1100's, it originally contained over 500 rooms and stood at least three stories high. The sense of history here was simply overwhelming. Since my degree is in Cultural Anthropology I really get excited in places like this!! The girls were quite impressed too.

Petrified Forest and Route 66

Our next stop was the Petrified Forest National Park. The girls enjoyed seeing the "rocks" but were much more interested in all the dinosaur skeletons that were on display inside the visitor center. And the temperature was much more comfortable inside there too!!

As we drove, we followed the historic Route 66. For some of the way we drove on original stretches of this legendary road. At other places we saw parts of original road that have been abandoned and taken over by wilderness. It was fun to imagine what it must have been like to drive on that road back in it's heyday.

Petrified Forest National Park

Some sisterly love

An historic pueblo style inn along Route 66

Getting their kicks on Route 66

The Grand Canyon

Sorry for the delay in posting the rest of our road trip photos -- I guess life just got a bit busy around here!

Our first stop after visiting with family in California was the Grand Canyon. I have wanted to go there since I was a little kid -- it was so worth the wait!! We rode the historic Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon. We bought tickets in the "cheap seats" in the restored 1923 Pullman car. We chose that car because it has seats that can reverse so we could all sit together facing each other. The trip is about two hours each way and the girls did great. They enjoyed seeing all the sights along and way and listening to the strolling musicians. Although the first thing they say about the ride now is that they got to drink free sodas on the train. It was very hot at the Canyon, in the upper 90's, making our hike a bit uncomfortable. We stayed in the shade as much as possible and wimped out at the end and took the bus back to the railway station instead of hiking back.

Waiting for the train to arrive

On our way

We arrived at the historic Grand Canyon Railway station

Photos just don't do the beauty of the Grand Canyon justice!!

Resting in the 90 degree shade during our hike

Hanging Out With The Cousins

We had a fabulous time in California with my brother and his beautiful family. The girls all get along so well and have non-stop fun. S is like a wonderful little mother hen and takes such good care of the younger ones. Ellie and L were inseparable the whole visit, spending much of their time together in front of the piano. We went to the girls' favorite Pinecone Park and experienced an pretty big earthquake while we were there. Our planned trip to the local Children's Museum had to be rescheduled for the next day because it closed to inspect for damage. So we went to another park and Auntie A bought our girls their very first ice cream from an ice cream truck. We are always so happy to get together and so sad when it is time to leave. Oh how I wish we lived closer to each other.

Abby and Ellie with their cousin L

Maddie knows her body parts

Ellie and L were inseparable

Maddie and her beautiful cousin S

Maddie loves dinos

These girls are the best!

A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village

Our first adventure was at the A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village in Salem, OR. It is a children's museum that is housed in three historic homes and includes a 20,000-square-foot outdoor discovery center. All the exhibits are hands-on experiences for kids of all ages. We explored as much as we could: dinosaurs, bubbles, the human body, rivers, China, a grocery store and a toy invention room. The outdoor structure was a huge hit with the everyone -- the girls even got me to go down the three story slide with them!

Checking out groceries

Climbing the mammoth fossil

Victorian architecture play house

African village playhouse

Inside the climbing maze

Road Trip!

Abby wanted to visit with her cousins in California for her birthday this year. So we decided that since we were going to be out on the road, we might as well make a true adventure (and great geography lesson) out of it. So we all piled into the minivan and spent 16 days traveling throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Idaho. We picnicked, swam, hiked, and explored every landmark, historical site, and natural wonder that we saw along the way. The entire trip went so smoothly -- the girls are absolutely the best little world travelers.

The car is loaded and we are ready to head out early on the first day.

We packed the cooler with picnic lunches and hit every rest stop along the way.

Sisters hamming it up

If you give a kid a camera . . .

. . . they will have lots of fun and might even take some really good photos!

A couple of days ago Abby and Ellie were needing something new to do so I sent them outside with my camera and told them to take some pictures of each other and their little sisters. My little digital camera is basically on its last legs anyway so I figured they couldn't do it any harm -- and if they did, oh well, I would have an excuse to get a new camera!

They came back inside about an hour later asking what the big red words were on the camera screen. Did they break it? NO -- they completely filled up the memory card! So we downloaded the photos on to the computer and they were so excited to see how all their hard work turned out. It was fun to see how the girls acted with each other when Mom wasn't around. I think that they did a great job -- we just may have a couple of budding photographers on our hands.