Museum of Natural History

Panning for Gold. 

Sedona! (be warned-- there are like 60 photos!)

 

We were blessed to be able to go to Sedona for the girls' Fall Break! Grandpa Byron and Nana had extra time share points and they were awesome to share them with us! This is our second time being able to do this, and third time going there. With the stunning red rock formations everywhere you look and plenty of places to hike and explore, Sedona is becoming our favorite place to go! Plus it is only 1 hour and 45 minutes away. This day, we were at Red Rock Crossing Park. We LOVED it!

Brooke LOVED her walking stick and had me take many photos of herself with it for two days. Sadly, when she tried to cross the creek, she lost it in the strong current. But she felt better when she found raspberries along the trail. 

It's very difficult for Alan to take vacations and enjoy himself. He has a hard time forgetting about working and letting go. It was good to see him climb a tree and walk through the creek with Emma, letting his shoes get soaked. I hope they will always remember their father as a man who was always climbing higher, looking towards The Son.

There are some STUNNING photo opportunities at Red Rock Crossing Park!

 

People make these Stone Stacks all along the trail. Sedona is believed to be a place where people gain extra spiritual strength through Energy Vortexes. Brooke made her own Stone Stack to contribute. 

 

Ryan was a trooper as he bumped along the trail in his stroller. We took him all over the place.

I took the kids back to the same spots later that day to try to get a Christmas Card photo with better lighting. (not so bright). I had to bribe the girls with $5.00 each to go back and pose for me.

I settled on the photo above for our Christmas card. I'm VERY excited about it!

Taken with my phone: 

Brooke made this menu of things in our kitchen so she could serve us. 

We LOVE Sedona and we'll be returning often I hope!