As part of our summer travels we took my sister, Alli to Grand Junction, thus allowing her to check off a huge bucket list item. She has made it her sole purpose in life to get to every national park in existence, so the Colorado National Monument has been high on her list for a while. This summer we made it happen!
The day after Lagoon we said goodbye to Rock, who was headed home for some alone time, and picked up Alli. We stopped at Walmart to get snacks after eating lunch at In-n-Out Burger and Liberty provided this gem without any prompting at all. Every once in a while she shows that she is the only girl in a family of boys.
Then we were off to Colorado.
Our first day in GJ we did the Monument.
Disclaimer: None of these pictures do the Monument justice. Grand vistas and vibrant colors just don’t look that great on a phone camera. I’m trying to justify a purchase of a newer iphone just so I can do justice to the grand vistas and vibrant colors. Rock isn’t convinced.
Another thing you can’t tell in these pictures is how close to a cliff someone is. Most of these pictures were taken right next to a cliff. It’s a miracle we ever survive trips like this. It’s a miracle I don’t have a heart attack from worry that my kids will fall off a cliff, a miracle my kids don’t throw me off a cliff for constantly trying to stop them from falling off a cliff and a miracle my mother in law even agrees to take me because I’m the mom who is constantly trying to keep her children from falling off a cliff.
Alli REALLY likes cliffs.
These two are definitely kindred spirits. Nancy loves to talk about the Monument and Alli loved learning about it. I wish they could have gone off on their own for a day without my kiddos and me in tow.
Goofy Grin
Levi spent the entire day begging to go exploring for animals. He asked at every. single. stop. Everyone got to practice patience that day.
Independence Rock
Yes, that really is the same rock, Alli.
Nancy took us to the coolest spot for lunch! Overlook Everything!
More exploring for Levi.
Alli was a huge help and together we tag teamed the “Levi exploration buddy” assignment. Levi is out in this picture somewhere exploring and if you look closely you can see Alli following close behind.
We stopped at the Visitor’s Center on our way out of the park and Liberty found a book about Arches National Park. The kids and Rock went to Arches over spring break and I have been lamenting the fact that I haven’t gotten to see it yet. When I exclaimed over the book, she said, “It’s OK, Mommy, you will see it someday, just don’t die.”
Then as we drove out of the parking lot, we saw this arch in the sky!!
On our way home that day we stopped to see Great Grandma Dot. So glad this neat lady is still around!
Great Grandma insisted on walking us out to the car and giving her daughter a hug goodbye.
Stay tuned for our day on the Grand Mesa. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long…..
Short n Sweet 