Virgin, UT

I’m just going to let these pictures speak for themselves.

Kolob Reservoir

Fall colors are a must for me so a quick visit to Duane’s in Virgin was just what I needed! Saturday, we did a drive up to Kolob Reservoir, where the aspens were simply on fire! I’ve read that the conditions need to be just right (temperature and precipitation) to get the orange and red pigments to show in the usually golden aspens. The conditions were spot on for me!

Sunday, I didn’t have many expectations (as I was completely satisfied from Saturday), as we set out to Browse Guard Station on the other side of the valley. Oh my goodness, the bigtooth maple leaves were an incredible vibrant red! I could not stop staring. And a bonus, there is a 100 foot sequoia tree at the guard station. It was planted as a sapling nearly 100 years ago; while many of the saplings didn’t take to the area, this one did!

Thank you, Duane, and Utah, for the splendid beauty!

Brain Head, UT

Labor Day has become one of my favorite holidays; mostly because it’s after the school year has started, we’ve gotten into our groove, and I can ‘hopefully’ breathe a sigh of relief.

We spent this Labor Day camping at Duane’s property in Brian Head, UT. We soaked up the cooler temperatures, time with family and friends, and quad riding, all while taking in the beauty of the area.

It was wonderful to hang out more with Beth’s daughter, Sarah, and we finally got to meet her boyfriend, Jordan. They were both so kind to Ella and Miles; Jordan even spent time teaching the kids to skip rocks. I’m pretty sure if there is a Guinness book of world record holder for rock skipping, Jordan would be champion.

The kids were thrilled to zip line again and tube down a giant hill. The prices at Brian Head for these activities are much less expensive than when we did this sort of thing at Mammoth, so this cheap mom was super happy to send them on their way! Camping in Brian Head never disappoints.

Michigan: The Grand Haven, Mackinac Island, and East Lansing Edition

Each summer we return to West Michigan to enjoy the cooler temps (cooler than Las Vegas), the beaches, and the time with family. This year we scheduled three ‘chunks’ for our 10 days there.

The family on MSU’s campus with Scott taking the picture.

We started with slow, relaxing time in Grand Haven at my parents, who get everything ready for us: car, booster seats, food, snacks, beds, and toys! While there, we were able to see my aunt and cousins, spend time in the waves, walk the Grand Haven Pier and thanks to the Madsens, go TUBING! The kids and I had so much fun bouncing across the wake as Mrs. Madsen drove the boat. The water in the Grand River was so warm that spent a little extra time just swimming.

Tubing!!

Because Miles (very strangely) threw up a couple of times one night, we spent one day relaxing around their condo and it was so nice. The kids played on the hammock and we helped my Dad put his new electric bike together. I’m not sure if it is because the kids are older, but our time there felt so peaceful.

Chunk number was to travel the four hours north to visit the well known Mackinac Island. We stayed in Mackinaw (yes, they are spelled differently, which I learned is slightly complicated, but partly based on Native American roots/English roots defining themselves as well as clearly indicating which is which for postal reasons). City. One of the few times I set an alarm this summer was to ensure we caught the ferry earlier enough to get to the island, beat the crowds, and grab the 16” wheel bikes that apparently are hard to come by on the island. My goal was to have the kids biked the entire 8.2 perimeter of the island and they killed it! Yes, I may have bribed them with fudge and lollipops, but after a bit of a rough start for Miles (too many people and too much rushing from his Mom), their little legs were amazing! Enjoying the peaceful sides of the islands (where the crowds are humungous) was very nice. We enjoyed a well deserved lunch at the local brewery, Great Turtle, who is only able to sell their beer on the island. While we’re grateful to have enjoyed great weather, it was extra humid this day so while I would’ve loved to have explored the fort on the island, I know not to push everyone’s limits. Because we were so close, I wanted to cross the Mackinac Bridge. We enjoyed breakfast a quick stop to take in the bridge from the Upper Peninsula side.

Our time lapse video driving south from the UP to LP.

Our drive back to Grand Haven included a stop in Ludington, where the water was crystal clear and incredibly warm. I wish we could’ve spent more time playing in the water because it was the perfect summer afternoon.

Our final chunk was probably what I was most excited for…a stop in East Lansing, where my alma mater, Michigan State is located. I had not been back to campus in any significant way since I graduated in 2004. (I made a small stop one Christmas break to put roses at the feet of the Sparty statue the year they made it to the Rose Bowl in 2014). I loved my time at Michigan State; I made so many friends, learned from so many different types of people, had my first ‘real’ boyfriend, learned to fail (literally failed two physics tests, but still managed to earn a 3.0), and grew up so much there that I graduated and at 21 years old, I drove across the country to teach in Las Vegas.

My oldest niece, Zaina, is starting her junior year in high school so she starting her college research and my brother’s family was headed there for a campus tour; the perfect halfway point to spend time together! We met them at a super cute college campus hotel, The Graduate (they have various hotels around the country on college campuses, all their decor is themed for the nearby university). It was super cute with key cards of famous Spartans, MSU wallpaper, and a very academic setting with lounge areas decorated with shelves and shelves of books. While Zaina and Vivi watched Ella and Miles in the hotel room, the adults walked down the hall to the outdoor bar, which had fun cocktail drinks and a great ambiance. It felt so refreshing to adult conversations with Scott and Gloria. There were plenty of laughs and we shut the bar down!

The next day, we met my parents for breakfast and walked around the campus. My mom saw her old dorm (Yakeley Hall), we stopped by Beaumont Tower, the student book store, and of course, the MSU Diary Store where enjoyed some incredible ice cream made by fellow Spartans. Ella and Miles loved spending time with her cousins and I was grateful for the opportunity to show Scott where some of the best four years of my life were spent.

Some of my favorite moments in Michigan, however, weren’t these highlights, but simple things; blueberry picking and the kids helping my mom make blueberry muffins, searching for turkeys and deer in the woods, and walking to the park with Ella and Miles. The kids learned the way to the 0.5 mile distance park from Grandma and showed me the first time I went. Part of the walk is through a forest and man, did I feel all the feels walking through there. It just felt like home.

Scott has always encouraged our summer visits to Michigan; I think he enjoys our time there more than I do. For some reason, this trip was especially magical.

San Juan Mountains, CO

The annual summer Lautzenheiser trip looked a little different this year without Grandma L, Evan, and Tyler, but we still managed to have a great time! Although the San Juan Mtns are far, and we’ve been there multiple times, it is still worth the drive to see the sights.

The Red Mountains along Corkscrew Gulch Trail.

In order to break up the 10 hour drive to our VRBO in Silverton, CO, we stayed a night in Williams, AZ. It was the perfect stop as we were able to explore Canyon Coaster Adventure Park and the new to us Poozeum. The Poozeum is, as you might be wondering, yes, a free museum dedicated to the fossilization of dinosaur poop. With Miles in full dinosaur phase this was a ‘must see.’ The owner was super nice, and the museum was really well done. We didn’t leave without a commemorative sticker, fossil, and Poozeum t-shirt! Next, we headed to the nearby Canyon Coaster Adventure Park with a unique mountain coaster. The kids had a great time and we were happy to be out of the Las Vegas heat.

We arrived in Silverton a day early and stayed in a super cute bed and breakfast, where after driving for seven hours, we were able to celebrate Scott’s 43rd birthday at a Mexican restaurant.

While we waiting for Duane to arrive, we hiked around Molas Lake (where Scott and I had camped probably nine years ago) giving Topo and the kids a chance to run around. The town of Silverton is incredibly quaint; we enjoyed the Golden Block Brewery and watching the trains (from Durango) bring in the tourists for the day.

The next three days were spent in the jeeps. Unlike three years ago (the last time we were here) when the kids were restless in the jeeps, this time (without carseats or booster seats), they had a blast. When the kids weren’t taking in the sights, we played lots of ‘20 questions.’ Although we didn’t see a bear as we had hoped to, we did see two moose very close. Miles kept track of all the wildlife he saw and has become quite adept at naming various birds. We saw alpine lakes, green rolling hills, wildflowers, waterfalls, snow pockets, and mountain summits. It was truly spectacular. Topo was thrilled to be in the snow, hunting marmots, chasing smells, and cooling off in ice cold lakes and streams. Watching her makes us all smile.

Our drive home was a little more eventful. Just as we were headed through Ridgway, Scott noticed the jeep pulling from side to side as we towed it behind us (this same thing happened before). Instead of going 50 mph the entire way home, we opted to rent a Uhaul trailer to tow the jeep on instead. In Grand Junction, Scott arranged for the rental of the flatbed and after a short delay, we were back on the road.

With all the hustle of getting going after getting the trailer rental, we forgot to get gas. I bet you can guess what happens next, haha. Pulling a flatbed with a jeep on top used up more gas than we thought and there are lots of rolling hills on the 70 between Grand Junction, CO and Salina, UT. Long story short, Scott will say that we technically did not run out of gas (as we had about 20 more miles we could’ve gone). I will say that I called roadside assistance in Salina, UT and Darrin drove the 40 miles to bring us gas. Prior to calling someone, however, Scott and I were trying to siphon gas out of the jeep (which was in no shape to drive). Despite our best McGuyver skills (using a Camelbak hose) we didn’t have any success.

The kids did a great job with all the driving. We listened to James and the Giant Peach as an audiobook, Miles spent most of his time simply looking out the window and Ella played Taylor Swift on her iPad. I do hope we can do a cross country road trip one of these summers. To be continued….

North Rim of the Grand Canyon, AZ

We spent Father’s Day weekend completely off the grid camping along a forest service road, just a couple hundred feet from the rim of the Grand Canyon!

No caption needed.

Jamaica had suggested this trip back in February and we were totally up for it; it had been four years since we had last been to the N. Rim of the Grand Canyon. Jamaica’s friends (Bart, Bonnie, Booker, and Bondi (their dog)) made the trek down too (after picking up their new camper in Denver) and everyone got along so well!

We met the group at the Sand Caves near Kanab, UT for a short, but hot hike to the caves along the side of the freeway. The caves were created as the hillside was mined for sand. The hike had a fun rope to assist in the ascent and descent of the cliff. Continuing on to Jacob Lake, we stayed the night in the cabins there so we could get an early start to find our campsite in the forest.

Although the spot that Jamaica and Brian had before was taken by other campers, we ended up with a great site not too far from Locust Point; close enough we walked to watch the sunset, but far enough away no kid (or dog) was going to find themselves at the edge of a cliff.

With Sunday being Father’s Day, we made sure to have a nature craft for the kids to create for their awesome dads. While Bart and Bonnie biked the Rainbow Trail, Jamaica and I facilitated the creation of “Dad, you rock!” cards, which I think turned out fantastic!

Throughout the slow days, the kids played while the adults chatted. Despite being at nearly 9,000 feet elevation, it was still quite warm with daytime temps reaching 80 degrees. Miles got more quad riding experience as he and Scott nearly had the forest service roads to themselves. I road with him one time and was in awe as I watched him navigate rocks and bumps in the road all by himself!

The weekend was much hotter than I thought it would be, however, it was quite nice to sit around catching up with Jamaica and learning more about Bart and Bonnie, who are avid runners and bikers. Their son, Booker, who is three, kept referring to me as “Whiskey” or “Frisky;” either of which I took as a compliment. We had a hilarious game of kid charades before watching the sunset over the massive canyon walls. With a couple cocktails in my system, reminiscing on all the laughter the day held, I quite literally fell asleep with a smile on my face that night.

With the Salt Lake City crew having a much longer drive home than us, they headed home while we decided to add a little more driving to our trip with a trek south to the N. Rim Visitor Center and Lodge. While there, Miles was able to stamp his National Parks book that he had been carrying around religiously, flipping through the pages that explained all of the national parks. Until our next stamp, kid!

Monterey, CA

The Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, and Washington) has been one of our favorite places lately. After we had to cancel our spring break trip to California, I was ready to book another trip to the central coast. While everyone was sleeping, I booked our flights, car, and AirBnB…I didn’t even ask Scott. Fortunately, I do most of our vacation bookings anyway, so I knew he wouldn’t care.

The stop at Bixby Bridge, south of Monterey.

Our AirBnB was only one block from the Monterey Aquarium, which is one of the best in the country! Scott has fond memories of this aquarium, which is why we made it stop number one of the trip! It was very cool to see the almost seamless blend of wildlife inside and outside of the aquarium: otters, sea lions, seals on the rocks nearby while sharks, kelp forests and penguins highlighted inside. Our favorite part was probably the ‘deep sea’ section which highlighted the creatures in the darkest, most unexplored parts of our oceans.

While our AirBnB was only one block from the aquarium (and decked out with classic arcade games), it didn’t have a kitchen, so we ate out….a lot. While Ella and I enjoyed the clam chowder specialties, Miles surprisingly chose dumplings on more than one occasion.

Destination number two was the central coast down to Big Sur. Although the kids were not thrilled with the drive, they were excited about tide pools and big trees. We started the day exploring the coast at low tide, before embarking on the 17-mile drive along the famous Pebble Beach golf course. We stopped for lunch at Carmel-by-the Sea, which has the cutest, most artistic houses (that aren’t huge) along the bluest water. The gusty winds kept us from spending more time at the white sand beaches. Much to everyone’s delight, the rest of the drive to Big Sur (and the giant redwood trees) was well worth it. A short walk through the scented, towering trees was a nice break from the coastal air.

Our last two days were spent covering other nearby attractions: Fisherman’s Wharf, Dennis the Menace Park, and the Monterey Zoo. While none of it was as impressive as our first two days, it was (dare I say it) nice to be cold.

I feel like we will continue find the closest tide pool once a year and maybe even Redwoods National Park might be worth the long drive.

Virgin, UT

We just can’t get enough of Duane’s new place!

My parents hadn’t planned a spring visit to Las Vegas and they hadn’t yet seen Duane’s new house, so we decided to invite ourselves to his space for Mother’s Day weekend and it was wonderful! We stayed in the motorhome, my parents stayed in the guest room, while Duane and Beth were amazing hosts.

The Mother’s Day crew!

Shortly after arriving, just as Beth was starting the microwave, we all heard a loud ‘bang’ down the road. A utility box had blown, but fortunately Duane was prepared with candles and a generator. While we would’ve been prepared for a weekend without electricity, a couple hours later we were back in action.

Saturday we took a drive along the back side of Zion. The red and white rocks were the perfect backdrop to the fluorescent green grasses. I felt like I was in The Sound of Music.

Later in the day, while the kids played the games on Duane’s Golden Tee arcade game, the adults enjoyed some peace and quiet. Saturday evening, while Beth headed back to Las Vegas to be with her daughter for Mother’s Day, we cooked up some killer pizza in Duane’s pizza oven and took the quads out for a ride. Miles did great riding home by himself! My Dad even took a quad for a spin!

Mother’s Day was Sunday and my mom and I got to go on a walk just the two of us. It was so good to have uninterrupted conversations with her.

Before heading back to Las Vegas, Duane took us to a cute park where we cooled off in the Virgin River.

Valley of Fire, NV

We spent Easter weekend with the Bonderov-Green Family camping surrounded by red rocks! This is our second time camping at Valley of Fire with Lili, Brian, and Nolan and every time we have a blast. The kids play great together and the adults get to have uninterrupted conversations.

Miles, Nolan, and Ella on White Dome Trail.

Before Easter weekend, we all agreed that if the temperature was going to be 85 or higher, we wouldn’t go. Fortunately, Friday brought in strong winds that cooled the weekend off enough for us to enjoy the not too hot days and the cool nights.

We hiked White Dome Trail, which was more impressive than I remember. Along the path, there is much variety, including slot canyons, sand, historical movie sites, and small bits of rock scrambling. It is also a hike the kids had never done.

It wouldn’t be a weekend in Valley of Fire without spending time climbing the sandstone rocks and searching for bighorn sheep; we were lucky enough to do both. The kids hunted for Easter eggs and played archers while the adults enjoyed beer and whisky. The weekend ended with a hilarious game of charades by the fire. Just imagine, five and six year olds acting out food.

Reservations have already been made for another Lautzenhseier-BonderGreen camping trip in January. This time, we’ll be hoping that it’s not too cold to keep us away from this nearby beauty.

Flagstaff, AZ

It’s not often that the Mainos have time during the school year to travel, but Pat had time off from the Golden Knights so we ventured to Flagstaff. We were hoping to be surrounded by a winter wonderland, but we didn’t have much snow.

The Maino-Lautzenheiser crew.

The kids (with the exception of Mason) were able to sleep together in a room with two sets of bunkbeds. It was so fun listening to their wild antics throughout the weekend.

Although there wasn’t a ton of snow, we were able to enjoy some of it at the AirBnB, a nearby park, and by driving up to the Lowell Observatory. The Observatory was impressive; we were able to view the sun through a solar telescope, the kids were able to play in a wonderful science focused area and we learned a lot about our solar system and beyond. Did you know, based on some fancy equation, there are an estimated 349 other planets home to intelligent life?

The next day we visited Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. This park is home to the remnants of a volcanic eruption 1,000 years ago. The landscape around the lava flow areas was beautiful with contrast of the black lava rocks, green trees, and snow capped mountains.

It wouldn’t be a Lautzenheiser-Maino trip without a visit to a couple breweries. Mother Road Brewing Company was a hit. They had great customer service, excellent beer, and unique tater tot dishes that were so delicious! There is no better way to spend Valentine’s Day weekend than with a family we love.

Virgin, UT

Glamping! We went glamping for the first time with the Ekbergs. Sometime in January or February we usually meet them somewhere between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. This year, we stayed in the covered wagons at Zion White Bison Resort. Despite the wind and cold, we had a weekend full of adventure and laughs.

The Ekberg-Lautzenheiser crew at Observation Point.

We explored lava tubes and sand dunes in Snow Canyon State Park. This state park is only two hours from Las Vegas and has so much to explore! Our second day we explored Zion National Park. With the hopes of driving up the canyon ourselves (the buses don’t usually run in Jan. and Feb.), we were unable to get past the Lodge as there were already too many people. A hike to Observation Point made up for it though.

The glamping wagons were super nice; we had a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, hammock, and firepit to enjoy while we were there. Even Duane was able to join us Sunday evening for dinner and s’mores around the campfire. It is always a good time with Brian, Jamaica, and Bodhi.



La Jolla, CA

After exhausting many of the areas in the AZ, UT, NV, NM area, we ventured West to San Diego for Family Christmas! Duane, Beth, and my parents made the trek out. Even Aunt Shirley was able to join us for a day, Unfortunately, Scott’s mom, Evan and Tyler weren’t able to join us.

The crew, except for my mom and me.

We made it pretty clear to kids that their Christmas gift this year was theme park fun: Sea World and Legoland. Fortunately, friends and other family members’ gifts still made Christmas morning fun.

Our home for four nights was a solid AirBnB just a block from the ocean! My mom and I got to walk together one cool, cloudy morning and the kids got to navigate the tight, hilly streets of La Jolla on their bikes for a somewhat ‘don’t let them get hit by a car’ stressful adventure for me.

Day one was spent with everyone enjoying Sea World! The kids did a few kid friendly rides and then we right to the sea animals…that’s what we came for. The dolphin, sea lion, and orca shows were incredible. Surprisingly, the sea lion show was super funny and entertaining. We were also able to enjoy beluga whales, walruses and penguins. Miles was thrilled watching the walrus swim right up to the glass where he was standing. Even though it was neither sunny, nor warm, the highlight was probably enjoying the Shipwreck Rapids Tube ride that everyone but my mom and Miles (he wasn’t tall enough) were able to go on. Thanks to my Dad for initiating the idea to get just a little more soaked.

Day two was spent at the coast near our AirBnB, exploring the tide pools (just as the sun came out) and enjoying a hilarious, fun-filled Christmas dinner.

For the kids, we saved the best for last: Legoland! Duane and Beth joined us, while my parents relaxed at the house. We squeezed in all the rides we could, including the kids’ first legit rollercoaster: The Dragon, which they both loved and we would’ve done again if it weren’t for the long lines. The lego creations throughout the park were impressive; from Miniland (recreations of cities all over the world) to the humungous Christmas tree, there was always something incredible to look at. It wouldn’t be amusement park fun with playing a few of the overpriced games to win the giant stuffed animal prizes.

Although we didn’t have all of the family with us, it was still a wonderful trip with people we love.

Jerome, AZ

We met family in the cutest, hillside town of Jerome. As we are exhausting all the meetup locations for holidays between Las Vegas and Las Cruces, we went back to this cute, old mining town. My parents, Scott’s Mom and brother Duane, were able to meet at a 122-year old restored AirBnB.

When we first arrived and realized how many stairs it took to get from the parking area to the house, and noticed that the stairs connecting the top floor to the bottom floor were outside (yes, you read that correctly), none of us were thrilled. The house we stayed in, however, turned out to be amazing. The views were gorgeous and the kids loved running around the entire house, carefully navigating the steep, run-down stairs with Topo dashing close behind.

My Mom and I started Thanksgiving Day walking the crumbling streets of Jerome. The city was so quiet on the holiday; it was nice to explore without the busy sidewalks. We then spent Thanksgiving Day watching the Lions win a close one against the Bears and feasting on a delicious meal prepared ahead of time by my Mom.

The next day, while waiting for Duane to arrive, we explored downtown Jerome and all the cute shops it has to offer. We drove to nearby Clarkdale, AZ to hop on the Verde Valley Santa Train. The train depot was so well done with tons of amenities prior to hopping on the Santa Train. Beautiful golden cottonwood trees lined the tracks as we chugged along to the ‘North Pole.’ When Santa arrived, he gave Ella and Miles some reindeer boogers (green jelly bellies).

Saturday was my 42nd birthday. I was able to watch the sunrise over Sedona with Miles on my lap and received the most adorable hand-painted wine glasses by Scott and the kids. After we sent Scott’s Mom on her way back to Show Low, we drove to Cottonwood to enjoy a hike on Jail Trail. This hike, at the site of an old town jail, meandered along a nearby creek with yellow leaves covering the trees and ground. It really was a perfect birthday hike for me as fall colors will always have my heart. Scott, Duane, and I went out on the town while my parents watched the kids for the evening. Jerome’s streets were lined with luminaries, its sidewalks showcased carolers singing holiday favorites and they had Santa in their firehouse. While I wish the kids could have seen all of this, it was so nice to enjoy a dinner out without their constant demands.

I will always do my best to be with my parents for the Thanksgiving holiday and while it was nice to travel to someplace other than Las Cruces for the holiday, we will most like do Thanksgiving in Las Cruces or Las Vegas next year. Up next: San Diego for Christmas!

Virgin, UT

It had been nearly four months since we’d been out of town and I was itching to go somewhere. With the three-day Veterans Day weekend upon us, with nothing on the calendar, we reached out to Duane to see if wanted some company in his big, new house in Virgin, UT. With beautiful weather in store, we set out to spend a couple of days with Beth and Duane.

Our amazing hosts, Beth and Duane!

Our first day there, we rode bikes, the kids drove the quad around, Topo ran wild, and we made homemade pizzas on Duane’s new pizza oven. The next day, I was set on Miles using his new Camelbak that he received, but has barely used, for his 5th birthday in September. We drove to the Lambs Knoll area and found a beautiful area, full of fallen leaves, some still hanging on, and even a surprise slot canyon that made me a bit claustrophobic. We drove up to Kolob Resevoir, where there were pockets of snow on the ground. While we were out and about, Beth was back at the house prepping food for some afternoon football.

We left on Monday morning, but not without a visit to the ghost town of Grafton, UT. Established when LDS members traveled from Salt Lake City, they settled in Grafton over 150 years ago.

Although it was a quick trip, it felt amazing to be surrounded by fall colors again. With two kids and a dog, we managed to leave Duane’s beautiful home in tact.

Mammoth Lakes, CA

Camping with the Maino Family is one of our favorite things to do. The kids play so well together and the adults do too! Haha!

We camped for three nights at Tuff Campground, just south of Mammoth Lakes.

The kids at Lake Sabrina

The first day we went to Mammoth Ski Area for the kids to zipline and rock climb. Two years ago, Ella and Olivia ziplined at this exact location; this year Ella, Olivia, Miles, and Maxton all zip lined! All of the kids were so brave! I’m sure in a couple more years, Mason will join in on the fun! From there, the kids did the climbing wall, which wasn’t as much of a success; there was a bit more frustration and tears here.

We then drove to June Lake, a beautiful alpine lake; unfortunately a storm was rolling in just as we were getting settled in so we didn’t spend much time there.

Back at the campsite each night, we enjoyed s’mores and drinks by the campfire.

The next day, while the Mainos were packing up to leave, the kids took turns riding our newly purchased quad. Our campsite was perfectly located next to the ATV trails with easy access. They had so much fun riding over the days we were there.

Before the Mainos traveled back to Las Vegas, we drove to Lake Sabrina for a hike along the ridge of this alpine lake. The views were gorgeous, but unfortunately those afternoon storms are consistent in the mountains, so we ended our hike early.

Despite our friends being gone, we enjoyed a lunch at a local brewery in Bishop and we were grateful to enjoy one more night away from the Vegas heat.

Grand Haven, MI

Lake Michigan summers are the best! We spent a week at my parent’s condo in Grand Haven with most of our time spent at the beach. When we weren’t playing in the water, we were eating ice cream, walking the pier, or drinking local beer.

Taking an evening swim.

We did venture north one day to Lewis Farms. This was a perfect place for kids our age. They had animals, games, slides, a splashpad, and apple cannons; yes, we shot apples at targets out of a cannon and it…was…awesome! Although we didn’t get a chance to see my brother’s family, we did get to see my Aunt and cousins! It was so nice to catch up with them.

We are always grateful for the hospitality my parents provide. We show up with some clothes and they do the rest; a car, car seats, food, towels, step stools, etc; all of the little things that make traveling with kids so much easier. And we will be back again next summer!

Helper, UT

We spent our Lautzenheiser Family summer trip in the small, historic town of Helper, UT. Once know for its helper engines that would assist trains over a nearby summit, Helper, UT did not disappoint.

The family at Scofield Reservoir

To break up the six hour drive, we stopped in Marysvale, UT on the drive out. We stayed in a train car in Caboose Village (for our third time staying here) along the Sevier River. We biked, played in the grass and floated down the Sevier River. The kids met a young boy, William, staying in one of the other train cars. We played freeze tag and football with him. After two nights in Marysvale, we drove on to Helper to meet the family!

One of the highlights of the area is the scenic 9-mile canyon, although this canyon is much longer than nine miles. We spotted petroglyphs around nearly every turn and enjoyed driving through the picturesque canyon walls. Of course, the kids loved playing with cousin Tyler and Ella even lost her first tooth while playing with Grandma L. Our AirBnB was a great size for all of the family and dogs, but it was especially cool because we had train tracks directly across the street. The kids were able to have countless coins smashed by the trains as they rolled by fulfilling a kid-right of passage.

Unfortunately, Miles behavior on this trip (and the Seattle trip prior) was not good. Miles pushed every boundary and his defiance was at its peak. To be honest, I never cried so much as I did in June of 2024. Fortunately, as I write this, he is excelling in pre-K and although he is still defiant at home, he is nothing like he was this month. So although, these trips look amazing, which they were, they also carried intense moments full of heartache.

Seattle, WA and more!

Since our Spring Break trip two years ago to the Oregon Coast, we have haven’t to return to the Pacific Northwest. Duane had a friend who lived on Whidbey Island he wanted to see, so we booked an AirBnB on Bainbridge Island as the initial start of the trip. After that, I learned my girlfriends, Jamaica and Michelle, wanted to get their families together over Memorial Day weekend so we booked the Richland, WA segment of the trip. I then added the Olympic National Park leg of the trip to wrap up the 10 day trip away from Topo, which is as many days as we can take away from our girl.

The Bainbridge Island Crew

While Michelle lives in nearby Paso, Jamaica and the fam rented an AirBnB in Richland, WA. This tri-city area (with Kennewick) in rich in agriculture including nearby vineyards. We spent the days visiting nearby wineries, including the adorable town of Walla Walla and the evenings in Michelle and Justin’s backyard while the kids played and the adults caught up. It was such a heart fulfilling visit with lifelong friends.

From Richland, we traveled back West to Bainbridge Island to stay with Beth and Duane. We had the most unique AirBnB right on the sound where we watched the tide roll in and out and the sea life (crabs, sea birds, and even otters) that comes with it.

We spent our first full day there exploring Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium. Ella tried clam chowder for the first time and liked! We got to take the ferry there and back and while it was new and entertaining, we also learned that the population leaving Seattle to Bainbridge Island in the evening was a lot. It took us an hour waiting in the ferry line to catch the next one. We learned our lesson for the next time, however, and made sure we left our adventures to get in line sooner.

The next day, to give ourselves a break from the long ferry line and busy schedule, we stayed on Bainbridge Island, walking along the beaches and the downtown area.

I had purchased a City Pass from the Seattle Tourism site and while it was a huge savings, we needed to go back to Seattle to get our money’s worth. We loved the next day at the Space Needle! Although, not nearly has high as our local Las Vegas Stratosphere, the Space Needle has much better views and a rotating glass floor. We spent way more time a top than we thought we would, but it was worth it. We spent some time asking the lead glass technician, Paul, some questions about the newly added (since 2018) glass floor. I think he appreciated our interest in the new addition, so he offered to let the kids stop the rotating floor and then change its direction! Miles stopped the floor and Ella hit the switch to change the direction…it was a very unique experience that we are grateful for.

After that, we said our goodbyes to Duane and Beth while they were heading back to LV, we drove around the Olympic Peninsula to start our rainforest leg of the trip.

We spent two nights at Lake Quinault Lodge. The drive along the coast was wonderfully scenic with Ruby Beach being the highlight. Unfortunately, Miles was sleeping once we got to Ruby Beach so we didn’t spend as much time there as we would have wanted.

Once we settled in, we enjoyed the large grassy area the lodge provided. The next day hiked to nearby waterfalls and the largest Sitka Spruce tree in the world as the clouds stayed low and a constant mist was in the air. We were originally supposed to stay at the lodge nights, however our final day there was going to be very cold (50 degrees) and pouring rain, so we used that as a travel day back to Seattle. There is so much more to Olympic National Park that we didn’t get to see, however, I am grateful we were able to see what we did.

Although it was cold and rainy in Seattle, we were able to explore the Pacific Science Center and the Chihuly Glass Museum (both of which were essentially free as I had already paid for the Seattle City Pass and was set on getting our money’s worth, haha!) We could have spent so much more time at the Science Center; they had a incredible butterfly exhibit and so many fun exploratory areas for the kids. I know the kids appreciated the time for what they wanted to do. The Chihuly Glass Museum was absolutely amazing and we were so impressed that the kids too such interested in the informational videos on how the glass pieces were created.

Washington State has so many beautiful areas and we just scratched the surface. As disappointing as it is to leave areas unexplored and sites left unseen when we leave, it is also motivation to return to pick up where we left off.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE near Austin, TX

We were fortunate enough to experience a once in a lifetime event on April 9th, 2024 at approximately 1:00pm CST. We saw TOTALITY! The Sun was completely covered by the moon, thereby turning daylight into night.

Totality!! Photo credit: Don

I booked our AirBnB, flights, and car rental almost 9 months in advance to ensure we had the greatest chance to see this event. (The next total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. will be in 20 years)! Although we had a few hiccups along the way, we were able to see what we came for…TOTALITY!

We arranged for Makenna, Ella’s morning sitter, and her husband Ayden, to watch the kids from Saturday morning to Tuesday evening. They had a great four days together and we are so grateful that everything went well at home.

Our flight took us to Austin, TX, which I had so many wonderful things about. Austin did not disappoint. We were able to spend Sunday exploring Texas’s capitol, where we found breweries, authentic Texas BBQ, and live music. It was a great day (without kids)!

I reserved our rental car from Easirent. They were supposed to pick us up in a shuttle when we landed and bring us to the rental agency. Unfortunately, about 20 of us were never picked up and eventually told that they gave our rentals away. You can imagine the anxiety I had then trying to reserve a car last minute, when it felt like the entire country was flying into Austin or Dallas for this solar show. Fortunately, AVIS came through and we were able to drive to our less than stellar AirBnB in Killeen, TX where we met Don and Chris who had come into Dallas from Apple Valley, CA. We chose to stay here because it was directly on the centerline of totality. While we had never experienced anything like this before, Don and Chris both saw totality in WY in 2017.

As we anxiously checked weather apps for cloud cover, we decided to drive west towards Goldthwaite, TX as this small town had a lower percentage of cloud coverage expected for that day. We got up bright and early to make the trek and settled near a city park with a couple hundred other eclipse chasers. By 9:00am cameras with filters were set, crowds were gathering and we simply had to wait for the show.

And what a show it was! All of the emotions leading up to this point (leaving the kids, endlessly scanning weather apps, not knowing if we’d get to see what we had come for) were incredibly overwhelming as soon as we were able to take off our eclipse glasses and just stare at the Sun.

I later learned from Don that the high level of prominences (solar flares) that we were able to see was because the Sun was in solar maximum. Basically, the Sun was tightly wound; and like rubber bands unleashing themselves after being tightly wound, the flares were plenty; so much that we could see them with the naked eye!

I’m not sure if we will ever see something like this again; it’s hard to put into words the experience as the pictures posted here don’t capture it all. I can’t speak for others, but for me, I felt incredibly small and insignificant, yet wonderfully alive.

Kirkcreek Campground, CA

We are grateful that our schedules allow us to have so many vacation days together, including Spring Break. With the school district scheduling Spring Break to fall in mid March every year, we have lots of options of where we want to spend it. I wanted to go to Big Sur and see the beautiful central CA coast so I scoped out Kirkcreek campground, one of the few campgrounds in central CA that is right on the ocean. And this campground has one of the best views of any campground we have ever stayed at!

Our amazing campsite complete with the sounds of the crashing waves below.

Although we didn’t get a spot directly on the cliff, we had a beautiful view and we able to fall asleep and wake up to the waves crashing on the shore. Unfortunately, because of heavy rains, the 1 HWY just north of our site was closed for over a year as they repaired the washed out highway. We were hoping that this would open up before our trip, but as more roads were washed out, they actually extended the road closure even more. Despite not seeing a good chunk of the area we were hoping to see, we were still able to see some incredible areas.

We all know that getting to these beautiful places takes time; for this specific trip the drive time was eight hours. We stayed in Tehachapi on the drive out and in Paso Robles on the drive back. The AirBnB we stayed at in Tehachapi was literally in the clouds. It had a beautiful grassy area for the kids to swing in and for Topo run around in. This stop allowed us to break up the eight hours into something more manageable for everyone.

We love that the kids love camping and we were fortunate that we had great weather for the entire trip except for the first day; the clouds rolled in and the day was full of a misty rain. Despite the cool, wet weather, we made the most of it and visited Sand Dollar beach just south of us; everything we did was south of where we stay because of the road closure north of us. We stopped for lunch in the small town of Ragged Point. Fortunately, after we ate the skies started to clear up a little bit and we were able to check out some tidepools where we saw a crab. We also saw whale spouts in the distance! It was incredible!

The next few days were amazing…wonderfully warm temps with the sun’s rays making us hot at times. We went to a couple nearby beaches (Mill Creek and Willow Creek) where we searched for seashells and the kids got clobbered by the waves. We enjoyed the lack of cell service, camp fires (with s’mores of course), and all sleeping together on one side of the trailer.

Because we were getting a bit tired of driving the same winding roads south with no option to go north, we packed up a day early. We stopped for a second time in San Simeon to see the huge elephant seals basking in the sun, and then we had our own beach fun in San Simeon where Ella (and Topo) played in the waves and Miles built creations in the sand. Our last stop along the coast before heading inland to Paso Robles, was the small coastal town of Cambria where we enjoyed the quaint shops and some delicious pizza.

Although we didn’t get to see all of Big Sur, I do think that because of the road closure, there were very few visitors in the area. For each beach we went to, we basically had the entire area to ourselves! It made it easy for Topo to run free and for us to simply enjoy the beauty. I look forward to traveling to the Monterey area in the coming years and getting a chance to see what we missed. The beauty of the Western coast of the U.S. will never get old to us.

Brian Head, UT

Each morning on the way to daycare, Miles would see the peak of Mt. Charleston and ask to go play in the snow. With the snow at Mt. Charleston not quite heavy enough and lots of daily crowds in the mountain, we decided to go play in the snow at a bigger mountain, Brian Head.

We rented an AirBnB with a view of the ski lifts and enjoyed a weekend FULL of snow. We would sled/play for 45 min. and then come inside to warm up. The kids loved it, but you know who loved it more? Topo! She would run after us through the deep snow each time we sled down the hill; she was basically submerged in the snow and it was hilarious to watch her happy self run around. I even surprised myself with how warm I stayed and was the last person who wanted to go inside to warm up; must be my Michigan roots.

Scott even had the chance to go snowmobiling for the first time and loved it.