Summer part 4

The trip home

We decided to take 10 days and explore on our way home. We got to spend the night with Ryans cousin in Midland Tx.  We had a great time with the Hufmans!  We had along drive ahead of us.

When we were talking about our return trip I really wanted to see Matt and Sarah in New Mexico.  It helped us decide which way to go home.  Im so glad we were able to see them.  Here they are posing in front of the largest pistachio.  It was so fun to spend time with them.  The boys were so impressed with them and wanted to ride in their truck.   I think seeing Matt on his motorcycle will stick with them.  They think he is the coolest person on earth.  Which he is.   They took us to White Sands National Park.  I didn't take pictures cause my cameras batteries were dead.  It was a very amazing place. 

In Arizona we needed a break and saw that The petrified Forest National Park was on the way.  It was a wonderful park.  The children always love these stops!  They really are great travelers.

Checking out the petraglyphs

Ruins 

Homage to historic route 66

Cant stop to take pictures!

Unedited Arizona sunset

The Grandest Canyon I've ever seen.  South Rim

I love rangers.  Its my dream empty nester job

Disneyland for a Day! Mia is thrilled.

Well we HAD to check out cars land

 I really love these pictures

San Fran!

Ok our air conditioner went out.  We had fixed it 4 times in the last 2 years.  We needed it on our way back.  It was 100 degrees in southern Cali.  We were so looking forward to our arrival in San Fransisco.  It literally went from 99 to 60 in a half hour.  Thats a 40 degree swing people!  We decided we were freezing having gotten used to the heat and only one sweater between the 6 of us.  We ate a bowl of chowder and called our trip to San Fran good.  

 I will be glad for this summer- nothing but family time.  Can't beat that!

Golden Gate in all her glory.

The Redwood National park.  

We not only saw amazing trees, we saw wild life too!  We saw whales migrating and the largest herd of Roosevelt Elk.  It was so exciting to see the whales come out of the water and spray out their blow holes! We also saw a bear only it was dead and in the road and we also hit it because it was dark and curvy road.  crazy hu?

the black is a root ball of a fallen Redwood.  If a tree falls in the forrest and nobody is there does is make a sound?

SO big

This beach reminds us of home

This is was a spontaneous stop on our way out of the park.  The scenery was too gorgeous to pass up.  The water was crystal clear with a sandy beach and a deep swimming hole.   We didn't swim, but we enjoyed throwing rocks. This place was our last stop before home!

On our way back HOME!