The sights of New York City!

Red eye flight...the beginning of Day 1 in New York City! Ah, I couldn't wait to be there again. The reality of the fact wasn't quite settling in! Our flight flew out of SLC around 11:30pm and landed in NYC about 5:30am. A family friend connected us with a shuttle service that would take us to our hotel, so since we all had carry ons, which was so nice, we headed to the pickup area and were off to NYC!

The boys try to act so tough!

Emily and I looking over the endless buildings that make up Manhattan! I'm always amazed at how big Central Park is compared to the rest of the island!

The kids at the entrance to the Empire State Building! Does the wall in back look familiar? We had fun naming different movies that this building has been in. Too many to count!

Times Square, my love of NYC! I love the fun, alive atmosphere! I love looking at all the lights, moving billboards, Musical billboards, and of course just watching the many people enjoying the same atmosphere as me!

We bought tickets to see Phantom of The Opera! We weren't sure which shows were clean, so we felt most safe with Phantom. Plus, Neal loves Phantom and I know he really wanted to see it. Yet, note, remember that red eye flight we took, ya it's the same day and we haven't really slept. Not really a good idea to put 6 sleep deprived people in a dark theater, what happens is, we all feel asleep at different moments throughout the show! However, the Phantom is the best I've seen yet!

The Disney Store in Times Square was amazing! I just had to put one of these on and mom indulged me by putting one on as well.

Do we look tired? Well we are, but we're also so excited for PHANTOM!

Neal loves the PHANTOM! A few months ago, he asked me if I was coming home. I told him yes, and his next question was "Can you bring Phantom, the movie, with you?" After dinner that night, we watched it, just the two of us! He's so cute! He may act all big but deep inside he still cuddles next to me and rests his head on my lap when enjoying a great movie!

So after Phantom, no one could make a decision. We were hungry and tired, and just wanted to go back to the hotel room! Once in the room, we all crashed for a good 2-3 hours! Emily and my dad woke up at one point, took orders for Subway sandwiches, and after eating them, I feel asleep again for another hour. Emily, my mom, and I all woke up around 8pm and decided to take the subway to see a few sights. We told dad where we were headed and set out. The results were Radio City Music Hall, an amazing Black Cow (root beer float) at Stardust Diner, and the Late Show.

I love this cozy diner! The waiters and waitresses are all dressed up in poodle dog suits and dresses and they all take turns singing Broadway tunes as you eat! I recommend this place to anyone wanting a unique taste of Broadway while in NYC!

Emily ordered a shake, while I ordered a fantastic root beer float!

Hiking one of the seven natural wonders of the world...the Grand Canyon!

The Grand Canyon! I love this place! This year marked my fourth time hiking this natural wonder! I can't wait to come back again! This year we hiked it a little different since we didn't have a driver, which is required if you want to hike the south rim to the north rim. Instead, this year we started at the north rim Kaibab trail and hiked down to the Cottonwoods. My brother, dad, uncle Jeff, and I went on to Ribbon Falls, which is another 1.5 miles. Total our round trip back to the north rim was 17 miles! And I'm feeling it, two mornings after I have slight soreness in my calves and buttocks! Yeah! I love the feeling of a good workout! My mom and aunt LuAnn also hiked it with us but didn't join us to Ribbon Falls! Bryce and I caught up with them on the way back and had a great time hiking up the steep switchbacks with them!

Bryce at the beginning of the north Kaibab trail

A beautiful morning on the North Rim! We were so blessed, just the day before, the bottom of the canyon and the top experienced 55 mph winds. We stayed in our log hotel/cabin to take shelter from the ridiculous weather! I was so glad to see the sun and feel not much wind for our hike on Monday!

These weird trees, the skinny ones with the twist on top always remind me of a tree out of a Dr. Seuss book! I love them!

I love my dad! He's so cute. He bought this booklet that has all the flowers categorized and named in it. He's like Kronk, in The Emperor's New Groove, where he found each flower he came upon in his book and told us all its name!

The water in the canyon was raging! I love the sounds of the rushing water as it echoes in the canyon!

I was lucky to be able to catch this little guy before he slithered off!

Simply beautiful!

Bryce hiking in front of me on our way to Ribbon Falls!

 

Dad, Bryce, and I on the backside of Ribbon Falls! It is such a peaceful place! I'd love to capture a few moments alone back there someday and just listen to the water drip off the moss and grass as it flows down the rocks in the river below!

Ribbon Falls! Surprisingly it was my first time at the falls! We've always been too rushed for time to go before. I won't miss it again!

I got a kick out of this sign! "This yard is not a toilet!" Bryce of course had me take a picture of him in the action of using it as a toilet! :)

Catching a few cashews in his mouth!

The meadow of the Grand Canyon! I love the diverse plants the canyon offers. There are not many places you can have spectacular waterfalls, pools, moss, green grass, and meadows all within a desert climate!

Hiking back from Ribbon Falls, this is the valley floor, coming up is the Cottonwoods. The Cottonwoods is one of our favorite rest stops because we know we are getting close to our ascent up and out!

The trail leading to the Cottonwoods. I turned around on our way back from Ribbon Falls! I love the mix of the green, the water, and the shade casting over the trail!

My attempt to be artistic with an up close shot of the rock wall next to the trail. I think it turned out pretty cool!

I caught these vibrant shades of green on our way back up to the north rim. I love the contrast against the red rock!

 My mom and aunt LuAnn hiking up the north Kaibab trail, we were getting tired, so we told ourselves, one step at a time!

Indian paintbrush!

Exploring Willis Canyon, Bull Valley Gorge, and Bryce Canyon!

Willis Canyon! I never even knew the place existed! I love Utah! Once again, another weekend brought another camping trip with my friends! Justin Rae, Lis Taylor, and Danny Privitt joined me in our journey to the area of Escalante, Utah! I just wish I could've seen this area when it was formed! I love the narrow canyons and waterfalls!

Carving my name into the mud! I didn't know Justin was taking pictures of me ;)

Evidence of how narrow the canyon was! Danny, Lis, and I span the distance!

I'm looking pretty sweet in these shades, oh yeah! The weather was sunny to start and then it became overcast, all in all a great weekend outdoors!

 

Bull Valley Gorge! The story is in the 1950s, a truck with 3 passengers crossed a narrow bridge at this gorge, rolled back, and fell into the narrow slot canyon! All 3 were killed, bodies recovered, but the truck was stuck. It still remains there to this day! The new bridge is made of layers of dirt and tree branches which cover the truck! All that is visible today from the trail above is the silver fender and a tire!

Justin and I jumped down into the Bull Valley Gorge even though it had been raining and a flash flood chance was high, stupid, I know! But we only went for 5-10minutes, it was beautiful!

The truck stuck in the slot canyon, this picture must have been taken years ago, because most of it is covered up now with dirt!

Valley of the Goblins and Beyond!

 

Looking up into the wonders of Goblin Valley! Actually, we helped Justin climb up this hole and then he captured an amazing picture of all of us below! I love my friends! I have the best friends in the world! This past weekend, we headed down to Goblin Valley State Park, near Hanksville, UT! We really enjoyed our time with each other, which included hikes into Crack Canyon, San Rafeal Swell, and Little Wild Horse Canyon!

Valley of the Goblins! It always makes me think of a giants playground, like they sat down and just stacked mud globs on top of each other!

 

 The back side which is amazing, but then it's just desert

Justin Rae, his friend Natalie Watkins from his work, myself, Kristine Gracey, and Sarah Murray!

The group relaxing after we hiked to the far end of the Goblins! Sarah Murray and Natalie Watkins on far left, Kristine Gracey, Danny Privitt, Jenny Kyle, and Curtis Sorenson!

Ok, so you have to look at these pictures in order, we were coming down and as I stepped down, my right foot got a good grip on the rock and thus my leg got stuck! I love my face, hilarious!

I'm starting to think...ugh...come on foot!

Oh man! I laughed so hard!

Look at the monkey, who goes by Justin! Goblin Valley truly is a playground!

Planned! But still a great picture! Love it! It makes me think of Mario Kart!

Dude Crush in the rock sense! I loved this moment, when I found my main turtle in Crack Canyon! Can you see his front fin, it's so there!

Liz Gerke and I straddling the rock walls in Crack Canyon!

Jared and I emptying our shoes out after we collected half the canyon on the hike!

The walls of the canyon were beautiful, I love how Justin captured us hiking through the river bed!

This was such a fun part of the Little Wild Horse Canyon hike, there were two slot canyons! This one was incredible, I ended up straddling the walls so high up, someone could've walked up right under me!

Kristine Gracey and I! I love this girl, she rocks my face!

The entire group! Diana Cuadrado, Justin Rae, Liz Gerke, Jessica Smith, Sarah Jolley, Curtis Sorenson, Matt Dame, myself, Jenny Kyle, Phil Barker, Danny Privitt, Kristine Gracey, Jared Rich, Natalie Watkins, and Lauren Eliason!

A moment in history!

This past weekend has been a whirlwind of historical events! Prince William of Wales married his long time girlfriend Kate Middleton on Friday, April 29th! It was a royal wedding to remember! 

 

And second, Osama bin Laden is dead! President Obama announced and confirmed to the nation Sunday night, May 1st. His death has sparked a celebration that will not only celebrate our freedom but also the lives of those who who died on that fateful September 11th day in 2001. Thank you Troops! God bless the USA! And may I say...bin Laden got Jimmered!!!

Happy Easter!

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.