They also had some old railroad cars there that we took a minute to look at. Then it was back to the cabin for dinner.
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Monday, June 17, 2013
Weekend Getaway Part 4: Stop on Route 66
On our way home from the Grand Canyon we drove through Williams, AZ. Jerry humored me and let us stop to take some photos by the big, cheesy Route 66 sign.
They also had some old railroad cars there that we took a minute to look at. Then it was back to the cabin for dinner.
They also had some old railroad cars there that we took a minute to look at. Then it was back to the cabin for dinner.
Weekend Away Part 2: Seven Natural Wonders
While we were up in Williams for the reunion we took a day to go to the Grand Canyon. Jerry and the three older boys were just there last month with 4-H. I hadn't been there since 1997. The rest of the gang had never seen it. It really is amazing! It doesn't even look real. I told the kids it's like a reverse mountain. The ground is flat and the mountain goes down instead of up. The colors are pretty much indescribable. It really is something you have to see in person.
And lot of people from all over the world DO come to see it every year. It was pretty packed when we were there. Despite the beautiful scenery to look at, pretty much everyone we walked by took time out to stare at us. Some even counted out loud as we walked by. One Italian couple (with one child) exclaimed when they sat across from us waiting for the bus. The woman said something and Jerry answered. One of the boys was surprised Dad understood Italian. Jerry said, "Are they all yours?" sounds the same in any language. She was even more surprised when I said "Seven!".
There were a few times it was down right ridiculous the way people were staring. When we stopped on some benches in the shade to eat lunch it was like we became an exhibit. One lady just had to say something (and we get this one A LOT now that Roz usually isn't with us) about us "finally getting a girl". People are always surprised to hear our oldest is a girl too. Then you can almost see their minds spinning... if they weren't trying for a girl why in the world did they have all these kids?
So there we were at the Grand Canyon, THE GRAND CANYON and people were staring at us. I said to Jerry, "Here we are at one of THE seven wonders of the world and these people are looking at us! They need to turn around!" He said something about having seven natural wonders of our own and told me that would make a good title for this blog post.
I guess we have gotten a bit spoiled living in the Valley of the Sun. Not too many people stare at us when we walk in somewhere. There seems to be more big families here than the Green Bay area. We see lots of 12 or 15 passenger vans with families driving around. Just the other day we were in McDonalds and saw a family with 8 kids. I just met one of the neighbor kids, he is the youngest of six and homeschooled too! I guess I kind of forgot just how rare big families are!
Okay, on to the photos!
There were some spots along the edge that made me nervous with all the kids! I much preferred the spots where there was a wall or fencing to keep people from plummeting.
What are the chances of running into people you know at the Grand Canyon? Pretty good if your up that way for a family reunion! We ran into three groups of the Gillaspy family: Uncle Lou and Aunt Karen with their gang, Great Uncle Roy, and Cousin Chopper with his family. Fun!
In the above photo you can just barely see the Colorado River. It's the greenish spot in the middle.
Wesley took this one of Jerry and I. Thanks, Wesley! Good job!
And lot of people from all over the world DO come to see it every year. It was pretty packed when we were there. Despite the beautiful scenery to look at, pretty much everyone we walked by took time out to stare at us. Some even counted out loud as we walked by. One Italian couple (with one child) exclaimed when they sat across from us waiting for the bus. The woman said something and Jerry answered. One of the boys was surprised Dad understood Italian. Jerry said, "Are they all yours?" sounds the same in any language. She was even more surprised when I said "Seven!".
There were a few times it was down right ridiculous the way people were staring. When we stopped on some benches in the shade to eat lunch it was like we became an exhibit. One lady just had to say something (and we get this one A LOT now that Roz usually isn't with us) about us "finally getting a girl". People are always surprised to hear our oldest is a girl too. Then you can almost see their minds spinning... if they weren't trying for a girl why in the world did they have all these kids?
So there we were at the Grand Canyon, THE GRAND CANYON and people were staring at us. I said to Jerry, "Here we are at one of THE seven wonders of the world and these people are looking at us! They need to turn around!" He said something about having seven natural wonders of our own and told me that would make a good title for this blog post.
I guess we have gotten a bit spoiled living in the Valley of the Sun. Not too many people stare at us when we walk in somewhere. There seems to be more big families here than the Green Bay area. We see lots of 12 or 15 passenger vans with families driving around. Just the other day we were in McDonalds and saw a family with 8 kids. I just met one of the neighbor kids, he is the youngest of six and homeschooled too! I guess I kind of forgot just how rare big families are!
Okay, on to the photos!
There were some spots along the edge that made me nervous with all the kids! I much preferred the spots where there was a wall or fencing to keep people from plummeting.
What are the chances of running into people you know at the Grand Canyon? Pretty good if your up that way for a family reunion! We ran into three groups of the Gillaspy family: Uncle Lou and Aunt Karen with their gang, Great Uncle Roy, and Cousin Chopper with his family. Fun!
In the above photo you can just barely see the Colorado River. It's the greenish spot in the middle.
Wesley took this one of Jerry and I. Thanks, Wesley! Good job!
Here we are with six of our seven natural wonders!
Footnote: We almost didn't have any photos to share for this post. I brought the wrong camera battery charger along on the trip. My old camera has a similar battery but they are not interchangeable. I was ready to stop at the store and buy a disposable camera. I couldn't go to the Grand Canyon and not take pictures! But on a whim I said a quick prayer and jammed the new battery into the old charger. The light went on so I was hopeful. Right before we left I put the battery in the camera and it worked! I had enough battery power to last the rest of the camping trip. Just as a little experiment I tried to do it again when we got home. No matter what I did the light wouldn't go on and the battery would not charge. How's that for an answered prayer?! :)
Footnote: We almost didn't have any photos to share for this post. I brought the wrong camera battery charger along on the trip. My old camera has a similar battery but they are not interchangeable. I was ready to stop at the store and buy a disposable camera. I couldn't go to the Grand Canyon and not take pictures! But on a whim I said a quick prayer and jammed the new battery into the old charger. The light went on so I was hopeful. Right before we left I put the battery in the camera and it worked! I had enough battery power to last the rest of the camping trip. Just as a little experiment I tried to do it again when we got home. No matter what I did the light wouldn't go on and the battery would not charge. How's that for an answered prayer?! :)
Weekend Away Part 1: Home Sweet Home Away from Home
Friday, after lunch at Taco Bell we dropped Roz off at the airport and headed out of town. Destination: Williams, AZ for a family reunion. It took us a bit under 4 hours to get there including a stop at McDonalds for a potty break. The reunion was at the KOA Campground. We decided to get a cabin instead of sleeping in the tent. When Jerry made the reservation the lady on the phone told him all 8 of us could squeeze into the one bedroom cabin.
The cabin was small. It had one full size bed and a set of (not quite) twin bunks. Two of the boys were going to sleep with Grandma and Grandpa in their cabin, but they couldn't make it so we had to get a bit creative with sleeping arrangements. Jerry and I took the full bed, of course. We put two boys on the bottom bunk and one on the top. Annabeth slept (and I use the term loosely) in her Pack N Play. And two boys slept in the van on the bench seats. Each night the boys rotated. Wesley was always in the van and since we were there three nights Hayden, Eli, and Justus each took a turn.
Here are a few photos of our home away from home...
The cabin, outdoor kitchen, and dining room.
The views were beautiful. Lots of trees and mountains. The weather was great too. Highs in the mid-80s and lows around 50. We didn't miss having AC at all. We slept with the windows open so we woke up cold each morning. It was great!
The master "bed" (above) and the kids bed (below).
It wasn't exactly cheap, we could have stayed at a hotel for almost the same price, but we were right by all the fun for the reunion. The campground had plenty to offer: pool/hot tub, wifi, hayrides, horseshoes, playground, and even mini-golf. We turned on the lights with a switch and had wifi so it wasn't really roughing it!
If I have one complaint it was the bathroom situation. The first two nights the campground was pretty full and there was always a line for the bathrooms, but then it cleared out for Sunday night and that situation improved.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay and wouldn't mind going back again sometime. They do have a two bedroom cabin with small kitchens and their own private bathrooms. If we go back, we just might have to give one of those a try!
The cabin was small. It had one full size bed and a set of (not quite) twin bunks. Two of the boys were going to sleep with Grandma and Grandpa in their cabin, but they couldn't make it so we had to get a bit creative with sleeping arrangements. Jerry and I took the full bed, of course. We put two boys on the bottom bunk and one on the top. Annabeth slept (and I use the term loosely) in her Pack N Play. And two boys slept in the van on the bench seats. Each night the boys rotated. Wesley was always in the van and since we were there three nights Hayden, Eli, and Justus each took a turn.
Here are a few photos of our home away from home...
The cabin, outdoor kitchen, and dining room.
The views were beautiful. Lots of trees and mountains. The weather was great too. Highs in the mid-80s and lows around 50. We didn't miss having AC at all. We slept with the windows open so we woke up cold each morning. It was great!
The master "bed" (above) and the kids bed (below).
It wasn't exactly cheap, we could have stayed at a hotel for almost the same price, but we were right by all the fun for the reunion. The campground had plenty to offer: pool/hot tub, wifi, hayrides, horseshoes, playground, and even mini-golf. We turned on the lights with a switch and had wifi so it wasn't really roughing it!
If I have one complaint it was the bathroom situation. The first two nights the campground was pretty full and there was always a line for the bathrooms, but then it cleared out for Sunday night and that situation improved.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay and wouldn't mind going back again sometime. They do have a two bedroom cabin with small kitchens and their own private bathrooms. If we go back, we just might have to give one of those a try!
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