You Never Know What Drinking Might Lead To…


…drinking coffee, that is. πŸ™‚
So about a month ago I called a friend to meet up for coffee. Harmless enough, right?
So we begin to sip our lovely drinks and conversation ensues.
Next thing I know we’re packing our bags for the road trip of a lifetime with this family!

Oh, I skipped some parts?
No, not really. That’s pretty much how it all went down.

She extended the invitation to join them on their family’s 10-day spring break road trip to Grand Canyon, Disney Land, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Zion Canyon.
They were leaving in TWO days.



With a quick check of the finances, approval for vacation from Ty’s boss, and the overwhelming sense that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we couldn’t help but say “YES!” 

On 3 hours of sleep we departed for Grand Canyon at 6am Friday morning.



We had to make a stop at the 4-Corners monument where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet πŸ™‚

 Grand Canyon, AZ
 The Hanson Family
 Me & My Two Boys
 Little Archeologists
 Amazing friend…good coffee…hiking the Grand Canyon…
LIFE. IS. GOOD.
 The opportunity to experience these sights and activities with friends just multiplied the fun for everyone!
 
 The girls found the friendliest group of squirrels we’ve ever met!
 These friendly little guys were letting us pet them!
 These four girls are all so precious together ~ watching them do life together for 10 days was an absolute joy!

Disney Land
 Now entering The Happiest Place On Earth πŸ™‚


 Yes, that is a 6’3″ man wedged into a child-sized rocket…going round and round and round…
Alright, I confess… I did ride some roller coasters… judge if you want to, but baby is still kicking πŸ™‚
And again, a 6’3″ man going round and round…
Pregnant momma who’s already prone to motion sickness got a free ticket out of these rides…THIS time.
3-D Bugs Life Experience
My fearless roller-coaster rider.

Nya, front row, hands in the air, on “Screamin”, the biggest coaster ride at California Adventure Land

 

               
Towards the end of Day 2 at Disney πŸ™‚
 Fun back at the hotel splash pad
This is what happens when we let the girls have coffee in the hotel room with us πŸ™‚ Not a single sugar or creamer left.

San Francisco, CA


Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz

A rare exhibit at the Exploratorium Museum in San Fran    
Napa Valley, CA



Two little princesses standing at the entrance to a real castle!
The
owner of this castle in Napa Valley owns a winery and built this castle
out-of-pocket without any debts or loans. Most of the materials were
imported from Europe.
But instead of paying the money to tour the inside of a castle we decided it would be more fun to go play in the dirt!



  

Lake Tahoe, NV
Vikingsholm Castle on Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe built for Josephine Knight in the early 1900’s
(It was a freezing cold, windy day so I was literally wearing like 7 layers of shirts and jackets… with skinny jeans no less)

Zion Canyon, UT


And Back Home… Durango, CO

This trip was truly a gift! 
Our friends had done such an amazing job of planning and preparing in advance, so we honestly felt like we just got to come along and enjoy the ride without any stress. It was like a constant chorus of ooohs and ahhhhs as we traveled through breath-taking scenery.
The memories are rich and full of flavor as we laughed, indulged, and explored with such dear friends!

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