Salt Lake City, UT

We took advantage of the long Labor Day weekend to visit Jamaica, Brian, and Bodhi in Salt Lake City! Unfortunately, because of construction near Mesquite, it took us way longer to get there (and get home) than we were expecting. Fortunately, the Ekbergs are totally worth the inconvenience!

The Ekbergs!

We spent the weekend visiting a Children’s Museum, catching up, and going to an Octoberfest Event at Snowbird Ski Resort.

Snowbird Ski Resort offered a beautiful backdrop to drink beer and be outside. While the adults were excited about drinking beer, the kids were excited about going down a toboggan-like slide a couple times. Bodhi is the sweetest kid and was happy to share his toys with Ella and Miles. We can’t wait to see them again in December!

Tom's Place, CA

Last summer we camped in Lone Pine, CA and saw some beautiful country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We told ourselves that we would come back the following summer….and we did! Along with the Maino Family, we camped for three nights at French Camp Campground and explored the surrounding areas.

Our first day, we drove north to Mammoth to do the gondola ride to the top of the 11,000 foot Mammoth Mountain. Fortunately, we chose to do this our first day because by the second day, smoke from nearby wildfires and settled into the air; there would have been no view from the top. What was even better than the gondola ride, however, was watch Ella and Olivia zip line! Not only did they do the 285-foot zip line without any adult walking up the platform with them, but they did it twice!

Our second day we went to the turquoise June Lake. With an incredibly large (and not freezing cold) shallow area for the kids to play in, this was the perfect spot. We swam, paddle boarded and kayaked the day away.

While at the campground, we fished, ate like kings and celebrated Olivia’s 4th birthday! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do so many other activities on our list so, I guess that means we will have to return next summer!

Ouray, CO

It’s that time of year again where the Lautzenheiser Family met for their annual jeep adventure! With three cabins rented alongside the Uncompahgre (pronounced Un-com-padre) River, we were ready to explore.

The fam just next to our cabins along the Uncompahgre River.

In order to break up the nearly 10 hour drive we stayed with Duane in an AirBnB on the north side of Moab. Although it was still incredibly warm, it was a beautiful space for the kids and Topo to walk around. Scott and Duane got the jeeps ready and we did one hot jeep ride in an attempt to see Gemini Arch. Unfortunately, our jeep got a flat tire, but Scott and Duane were able to replace it with the spare quickly. We attempted the short walk to Gemini Arch, but poor little Topo’s paws couldn’t take the hot sand so we abandon that ship.

After making the remainder of the drive to Ouray, we were grateful to be greeted with cloudier skies and cooler temperatures. The first day we drove up Corkscrew Gulch to view the beautiful red mountains. Three years ago the sides of this trail were packed with snow higher than the jeeps. This year, however, there was barely even any snow at the highest elevations. Unfortunately, yet again, our jeep had some electrical problems. Before going too far, we turned back. Fortunately, a very handy mechanic in Ouray replaced the burnt wire and we were ready to roll for the next day.

Because we had a rental jeep with us (that Duane’s friends John and Nicole were using) we were unable to do Black Bear Pass (which was fine by me because that trail is no joke)! We chose to do Yankee Boy Meadow and Imogene Pass. Both areas were exploding with wildflowers! Unfortunately (yet again), when we reached the summit it started hailing on us. We weren’t even at the peak long enough to take any pictures before we turned around.

With a 4-year old and a 2.5-year old that needed regular entertainment on the long jeep rides, I was ready for a break from the trails on our last day. We drove south to Silverton, CO (in the bigger, comfier truck) where we ate and shopped.

Although there wasn’t as much jeeping as some would have hoped, we ended the trip with awesome experiences in Marysvale, UT. To break up the long drive, we stayed in a refurbished train car right on the Sevier River! It was pretty cool for the kids, and for the adults! What made it even better is that we rented some tubes and we all (including Topo) floated down the river. For two hours, we either walked in the river or laid in the tubes and it was spectacular!

Long drives with two young kids isn’t always enjoyable (or even bearable at times), but Ouray, CO (known as little Switzerland) was well worth the trek!

Glen Arbor and Grand Haven, MI

Not much is better than Michigan beaches in the summer time! We enjoyed a week in Glen Arbor, MI with my entire family before spending a few days back in Grand Haven, MI.

Overlook on Empire Bluff Trial.

After an uneventful flight from Las Vegas to Grand Rapids, we spent a night at my parent’s condo in Ferrysburg, MI. With the ever changing MI weather, we took advantage of the warm skies and spent the following morning at North Beach Park. There was a shallow, warm water area that was just perfect to play in. Unfortunately, by the time we returned a week later, it was all bulldozed away. We then headed North to meet my brother and his family!

The AirBnB we rented was in a great location in Glen Arbor. We had lots of space inside and outside and it was wonderful to see Zaina and Vivi with the kids. We spent our first day at Empire Beach. Although the water was freezing, Zaina, Vivi and I spent lots of time jumping over the waves. My bathing suit may have come down on more than one occasion…little did they know they were going to see so much of Auntie Sara this vacation!

We spent the next five days exploring the area. We did dune climbs, hikes, bike rides, beaches, and toured the nearby beach towns. While at the house, we ate and drank and discovered a new game called Kan Jam!

A few of the high points of the trip were: watching Ella climb the dunes and hike the trails without complaint. Her little legs just go and go! Miles, on the other hand, who ended up getting quite sick, wanted to be held for most of it. Another highlight was Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Sutton’s Bay. This brewery has such a great location with just as impressive beer. Last summer, Miles wasn’t interested in the sand or the waves. This summer, however, was totally different; I’m so grateful that he loved it all. We also really enjoyed the Empire Bluff Trail and an ‘off the beaten path’ Esch Beach.

After leaving Glen Arbor, we drove south back to my parent’s condo. We spent the next three days trying to get Miles to feel better. Even though he was sick, we were able to spend time at the beach and an afternoon just the two of us walking around downtown Grand Haven and enjoying the beer at Odd Sides. On Friday evening we watched a great band, Drew Nelson and Highway 2, followed by the Musical Fountain. We ended the trip in Muskegon watching on the best fireworks shows I have ever seen. We were seated almost directly under the fireworks and for 25 minutes we all stared at the colorfully lit up sky.

We were very fortunate that unlike last year, we had beautiful weather that allowed us experience more of Michigan. See you next summer!

Brian Head, UT and almost Bryce Canyon, UT

What better way to spend a crazy hot Las Vegas weekend than not in Las Vegas?! We spent two nights on Duane’s property in Brian Head, UT with some of our favorite people…the Mainos!

After a long drive due to construction, we made it and set up camp. The kids loved the hammock and the adults loved the axe throwing. We spent the next day at Yankee Meadow and Bristlecone Pond trying our hand at catching some fish. Although we didn’t have a great fishing spot at Yankee Meadow, Topo and Wrigley loved the area. Fortunately, Bristlecone Pond, right in the heart of Brian Head, was well stocked. We caught about 10 fish and Ella and Miles were able to reel some in! I was even exited about it.

Unfortunately, Maxton, Olivia and Pat all caught the stomach bug so they packed up and headed home Sunday morning. Little did we know we were next.

We had a relaxing drive to Bryce Canyon and enjoyed a delicious cheeseburger dinner. About 2am, we all woke to Ella puking up that delicious dinner. She continued to vomit every 10 min. or so for the next hour and a half. Finally, there was nothing left and she fell asleep. During this time, Miles said that he didn’t feel well, but we thought he was just saying that because Ella was sick. Oh boy, we were wrong. Shortly after Ella had started throwing up, Miles joined in the fun. His pattern, however, was different. He would vomit every 2-3 hours and continued to do so even on the drive home. (We chose to leave a day early because camping and puking kids equals no fun). Fortunately, we were prepared and once we got home, he didn’t throw up again. Although we never made it to see Bryce Canyon we made other memories we will look back on and laugh at.

Tillamook, OR for Spring Break!

We rented the most picturesque AirBnB we have ever reserved with Duane and Beth for a cold, but beautiful five days on the coast!

The view south from our AirBnB!

We started out with an uneventful (thankfully) flight with the kids. After landing in Portland, getting our rental cars, and driving two hours west through snowy forests, we were amazed with our beautiful AirBnB. Not only was the view unreal, but the house itself, was modern and comfortable for everyone.

We spent the first day driving south to Newport to visit the aquarium. On our way, we stopped at Otter Rock to see the Devil’s Punchbowl landmark. Although the waves crashing into the circular rock formation was cool, it was underwhelming for sure. Unfortunately, the aquarium was too. BUT, because we don’t have exposure to much marine life, it was still worth visiting for both the adults and the kids. On the way home, we stopped in Pacific City where Pelican Brewing Company sits with views of gorgeous rocks out in the ocean.

The next day we drove inland to see Munson Creek Falls. It was a short half mile hike to get to the impressive falls. After braving the wet and cold, what better thing to do than go eat ice cream! We took a tour of the Tillamook Creamery and then enjoyed some deliciously rich treats.

After heading south the previous day, we drove north towards the famous Cannon Beach. Our first stop was Cape Meares Light House. This gave us another view of the coast that was just as impressive as all the others. Continuing north, we stopped just south of Cannon Beach (which we never made it to) to hike Sand Beach Trail. We walked through a dense forest only to come out the other side at a beautiful cove. The locals were surfing in the area and families were picnicking. Ella loved the waves and sand; she could have spent the entire day there!

Our final day was spent at the local Blue Heron French Cheese Company and the exploring Oceanside Beach, just below our AirBnB. The coolest thing about this beach is that you can walk through a 100ft tunnel through the rock cliffs to guess what? Yet another spectacular view!

Unfortunately, while we there low tide was between 6-8am and 6-8pm, which didn’t fit well with little kids’ schedules so we never got to explore any tide pools. I guess we just have to go back.

When we woke up the first morning and it was snowing (yes, it was snowing on the coast), I wasn’t sure how the week would go. But, without a doubt, the northern Oregon coast exceeded our expectations. We ate and drank in a gorgeous home with even more impressive views. And while the kids were not engaged with the scenery as much as the adults, there were just enough toys to keep the kids entertained. In Ella’s words, in April, “Oregon was great, but cold.”

Bryce Canyon, Utah with the Ekbergs

The Ekbergs and the Lautzenheisers met in Tropic, UT for a long overdue weekend! It had been almost an entire year since we had last met in Marysvale, UT. For the Martin Luther King weekend, we rented a 5-bedroom AirBnB that was so fun for the kids to explore and play hide-and-seek in!

The crew at the start of the Navajo Loop to Queens Garden Trail!

Sunday afternoon was spent exploring some of Bryce Canyon. We did a 3-mile loop (the same one we did last January) and it was just as spectacular this year! The snow contrasted with the red rock is hard not to stare at. The only distraction is the icy trail that you have to keep your eyes on.

Before we parted ways (us heading South back to Vegas and the Ekbergs heading North back to Salt Lake) we did the short Mossy Cave Trail. This trail is more fun for the kids because there are two bridges, mud puddles to stomp in, and a frozen waterfall!

On our way home, we had two wonderful stops. 1. Two bald eagles and their juveniles were hanging out on the side of the road. Scott was able to get some pictures. 2. We were able to drive up the canyon in Zion. It’s pretty amazing that as a short detour, we were able to see this magnificent geology again.

Although we live six hours apart, we are grateful that there is so much beauty (literal and figurative) between us. I sure hope we’re able to do another Ekberg-Lautzenheiser weekend this summer!

Christmastime in Kanab, UT

We celebrated Christmas with the family in Kanab, UT at a Route 66 themed, little (and I do mean literal “little”) house with snow all around us. Families drove from Utah, Nevada and Arizona to enjoy each other’s company for five days!

Family photo stop along Barricks Trail.

Unfortunately, Duane arrived sick. He was quite the trooper hanging out as much as he could, but he struggled through the days. The first day he finally felt well was the day we were all leaving and Scott, Evan and I started feeling sick (more on that later).

Our first full day in Kanab was spent driving north through the beautiful Johnson Canyon Road. The snow covered mountains were impossible not to stare at. While Ella played in the snow (and Miles avoided it) we all enjoyed the picturesque scenery.

The next day we took a quick 1 mile hike to the Toadstools. If it wasn’t so windy and family wasn’t waiting for our return from the hike, we would have explored this super unique hoodoo area more. We then took the HouseRockValley Road South towards Arizona where we made it to the state line! On this day and all the others, we would return home in the late afternoon with two sleeping kids and ready to play some Nintendo! Yes, Nintendo! Beth brought an upgraded Nintendo with all 600 original Nintendo games! I know you’re jealous!

On Friday, which was New Years Eve, Scott and I woke up with sore throats (we would later learn this was the omicron variant of the coronavirus). We spent the day exploring north of Kanab by river crossing (23 times total) along the Barricks Trail. It was a super cool trail. Unfortunately, because of the freezing temperatures, we didn’t do too much exploring outside of the vehicles.

New Years Day was spent driving home to Las Vegas, hoping we would feel better. Fortunately, Scott felt better by Sunday and I felt better by Wednesday. I was able to get a PCR-lab COVID test on Jan. 3rd and late on Jan. 4th, we learned I was positive. Because I thought Duane had the flu (he had tested negative for COVID upon his arrival), I was pretty surprised with the positive result. We’re both slightly happy that we got it and are able to put it behind us now. For nearly two years we were able to stay safe, but alas it was no more.

Thanksgiving in Mesa, AZ

Last Thanksgiving, amid the coronavirus pandemic, we had to cancel our flights to see my parents in Las Cruces. This year, however, we decided to meet halfway in Mesa, AZ! The five days we spent together did not disappoint: we hiked, we played games and we watched games, we ate, and we were more than merry!

At the start of the Treasure Loop Trail! Proud of this whole crew!

With Wednesday off of work, we set out an uneventful drive until about five minutes before arriving at the AirBnB. Ella woke up from her nap crying and wouldn’t say anything. Apparently, vomit was brewing, as she puked up her In-and-Out cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake all over herself. Nothing says, “Hi Grandma and Grandpa, we’ve missed you!” like fresh vomit! After a bath, which Miles pooped in, she was all clean (which we clearly cleaned out the tub and bathed them again). Thankfully, this was the most exciting as it got over the next five days.

Because Grandma K. slaved over the stove for the two days prior, we were able to spend Thanksgiving Day at the Phoenix Zoo! It was the perfect size for us to see a variety of animals while not feeling overwhelmed with too much. We ended the afternoon with a Raiders win and a delicious Thanksgiving dinner

We did a short hike in Usery Mtn Regional Park Friday morning where Topo and I got pricked with plenty of cacti so we switched hikes, but made the morning trip worth our while by logging a couple miles. While we were hiking, Grandma L. was on her way from Show Low! We caught up, played, and now that it was OFFICIALLY CHRISTMASTIME, went to a local Farm to see their Christmas lights!

I’ve learned that some of my favorite moments with my family (whether that is my parents or Scott and the kids is while we’re hiking). This day was no different. We drove to Lost Dutchman State Park and set out on a hike that I don’t think any of us thought was going to be as strenuous as it was: Treasure Loop Trail. Not only did we make it, but we had great conversations in between our heavy breathing! After the hike, we took a short drive up the 88 and got a glimpse of Canyon Lake. Most of this incredibly scenic highway was not passable at this time due to construction so we will save it for next Thanksgiving. :)

Camping in Gold Butte, NV & Cane Beds, AZ

We spent a couple nights of the Veterans Day weekend taking the pop-up trailer out! Our first stop was in Gold Butte National Monument. We did some rock scrambling behind our campsite and had fun simply hanging out. The next day we did a short hike to some petroglyphs, packed up, and drove northeast to Cane Beds, AZ to hang out with Duane and meet his girlfriend Beth!

We had a great time talking with Beth and again, simply hanging out. The kids were able to go on Duane’s new Side-by-side for a ride to some dinosaur tracks! It was an easy, fun weekend with family!

Fish Lake, UT

My Michigan heart will always crave Fall colors. Fish Lake, UT did not disappoint! For most of the weekend, I felt as if I was in a postcard; the colors in early Fall at 9,000ft elevation were so vibrant and bright!

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We left after work on Friday to set out on the 4.5 hour drive. Arriving well after sunset, we were welcomed by a huge, full moon rising just over Fish Lake. Although we didn’t capture the moment on camera, it was a thing of beauty!

Saturday morning we rented on Pontoon boat and took the kids fishing for their very first time! (Outside of one seasick experience on the Pacific Ocean) it was also my first time casting a reel! The water was so clear in some parts that we could see the Perch nipping at our lures. Scott and I were both able to catch a fish to reel in! Although Miles and Ella were just as whiny and disagreeable as usual, we had a beautiful backdrop to their cries. There were a few occasions where I caught myself enamored with the scenery and not paying attention to them.

In about the last five years, salmon have been added to Fish Lake. Interestingly, these salmon swim up a very small stream, call Twin Creeks, to spawn every Fall. Watching the many bright pink/grey fish use all their energy to flop up the stream was pretty cool. And even though Scott did not catch any, it just gives us reason to return next Fall. We ended our day with some rock skipping along the shore and a bike ride around the perimeter of the lake. I am certain that we will return to this area in the years to come!

Lompoc, CA

Over Labor Day weekend, we had our first of many Lautzenheiser-Maino Family vacations and it was awesome! We spent three nights at an adorable Farmhouse AirBnB in the misty valley of Lompoc, CA! While at the Farm, the kids had the opportunity to feed cows, watch chickens cluck around, listen to roosters crow each morning, and even watch a cow get milked. The wild turkeys and cows were regular visitors to our little abode!

The Lautzenheiser-Maino Crew at Surf Beach!

The Lautzenheiser-Maino Crew at Surf Beach!

We spent our first day exploring Santa Barbara. This included a morning bike ride and visit to the animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. We then enjoyed lunch at a delicious local brewery.

We spent the second day visiting the very touristy and popular Danish town of Solvang. After a afternoon nap, we ended the day at Surf Beach. Although the skies were cool and grey, we had a great time in the waves. Pat and I (the native Michiganders) even went for a swim in the 60 degree Pacific!

While Ella and Olivia were adorably fast asleep in bed together, the adults finally had time to hang out without kids! We drank, laughed and drank some more. Throughout the entire weekend, all the kids were troopers as we went about our days trying to squeeze in all the fun we could. We are definitely already looking forward to our next adventure together!

Marysvale, UT

Over the last several years, Scott, Duane, and Evan have been getting together to do jeep trips. They started out exploring Moab, UT, then moved on to the ever impressive Silverton and Ouray, CO areas and we recently spent a few nights in Marysvale, UT to drive its surrounding trails.

The Family at Fish Lake

The Family at Fish Lake

Desperate to get out of the Vegas heat, we left a day early with hopes of staying in Brian Head, UT (on Duane’s property) en route to Marysvale. With two kids, a dog, and trailer behind me, I drove the truck and Scott drove the jeep. I was a little nervous considering I had only driven the truck towing the trailer one other time. Fortunately, other than a tire blowout on the trailer while doing 75mph on the freeway, the drive with the kids was uneventful.

Our first day, with the family surprisingly comfortably crammed in the jeep, we drove up to Monroe Peak at over 11,000 feet. The views of the surrounding areas was amazing! Although it was a lot of hours in the jeep, Ella loved using the CB radio to talk to Tyler, Miles happily looked out the window for cows and I was content snuggling with Topo in the front seat. Our second day, although there weren’t any off road trails tackled, we explored the beautiful Fish Lake area. There were wildflowers everywhere!

We spent each evening hanging out at the campground trying to stay dry as it rained throughout the night. There were no complaints, however, as we all loved falling asleep to the patter of the rain and Ella and Miles were happy to play with Tyler in the fresh mud in the mornings.

Macomb, MI & Grand Haven, MI

Family time! We spent four days in Macomb with my brother and his family and a week in Grand Haven with my parents! Fortunately, the flights to and from the Great Lake State were relatively uneventful. Although it’s not easy to travel with Miles, he did well enough for being cooped up for four hrs.

My Dad at Lake Michigan

My Dad at Lake Michigan

The last time I saw my nieces, Zaina (12) and Vivi (almost 8) was two years ago when we flew to MI for a week. It was so good to see them and they were so awesome the entire visit. We celebrated Father’s Day with all the dads I love: my Scott, my brother Scott, and my Dad! We spent the time playing, eating, climbing around at an indoor playground, and strawberry picking. A family picture with a professional photographer was even on the schedule! On our way back to the west side of the state, we went to the Detroit Zoo.

While in Grand Haven for the week, it rained every day, but not the whole day, so we were able to get outside and do things! And as a matter of fact, we loved the weather: cloudy skies, naps listening to the rainfall, and sleeping with windows open!

Without question, our visit had to consist of as many brewery stops as we could fit in. Although a lot of the breweries we wanted to try were not open when we were out in the early afternoon, we were still able to go to: Odd Sides (amazing!), Founders (always good!), Unruly (way too watery!), Pigeon Hill (okay), and New Holland (delicious!).

Despite the weather, we were able to walk the Grand Haven Pier, attend the Grand Haven and Muskegon Art Festivals, tour a bit of downtown Grand Rapids, visit Windmill Island, play at North Shore Beach a few times, ride a horse and feed some goats, and visit with Aunt Lily, Nick, and Rebecca! And of course, lots of Grandma and Grandpa time!

Next summer, we might have to return to continue trying more breweries and let Ella play in the waves under warmer, sunnier conditions!

Lone Pine, CA

Oh my goodness!!! The Eastern Side of the Sierra Nevada Mtn Range is a must, must see! Lone Pine, CA sits on the 395 Hwy at the base of the tallest mountain in the continental US, Mt. Whitney. As you drive north along the 395 to Bishop and then continue on the Mammoth, the mountains remain just as impressive! We will definitely be coming back to this area to explore some more!

Marsh Lake, northwest of Bishop, CA

Marsh Lake, northwest of Bishop, CA

Home base for the three nights was Lone Pine Campground. We had site #2, which had an amazing view of Mt. Whitney. Our trip actually started a day early (to break up the long drive) when we decided to pick the kids up from Janet’s and stay the night in Beatty, NV. Any stop in Beatty must consist of a stop at the Happy Burro, which did then and on the way home.

Our first day there we drove up to Whitney Portal campground, which is the trailhead for those climbing Mt. Whitney. At almost 9,000 ft, hikers still had another 5,000 feet to climb to summit the 14,505 foot peak. In my most sarcastic tone, we’ll save that hike for another day!

Alabama Hills is a super unique area of granite rock that has been carved out into unusual shapes and arches. We did a short hike to Mobius Arch. Ella wanted to climb on the rocks, but the sharp granite layer didn’t make that possible. While the kids napped, we drove Horseshoe Meadow road to above 10,000 ft. The view of the valley below was impressive. This is also a great starting off spot to hike to various alpine lakes, which we did not do on this trip. We ended the day with a driving tour of Manzanar, one of the many Japanese internment camps during WWII.

Our last day, was THE BEST! We drove to Bishop, got some advice from a recreational store employee who told us about Toms Place just north of Bishop. There are a string of alpine likes that are relatively easily accessed. About one mile in, we hit our first gorgeous lake, Marsh Lake. Topo loved cooling off in the snowmelt water! We hiked the next lake and then decided to turn back. Three miles on a relatively flat trail, carrying two 25lb children is about all our backs can handle these days.

Our return home included a stop at the Dunes in Death Valley National Park and another stop at the Happy Burro in Beatty.

Our usual summer escape destinations include the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Ruby Mtns in Northern Nevada, but we will certainly be added the Eastern Sierras to our list.




Lake Las Vegas

Three years! Three years! That’s how long it had been that we had a night without kids! (And giving birth to Miles in the hospital while Ella stayed with my parents does not count)! Thanks to our amazing daycare provider, Ms. Janet, we had two nights of stay-cationing at Lake Las Vegas! When we initially asked her about watching the kids overnight, she said, “Bring $5 and cute pajamas.” She’s more than amazing!

Our first day was spent hiking Gold Strike Trail to the hot springs and Colorado River. We had done this hike five years ago, but didn’t make it to the river because we had Patches with us. Patches was a trooper going up and down all the ropes, but we weren’t aware there is so much rock scrambling. This time around, it was just the two of us and it felt a lot harder. Apparently two kids and a pandemic later has an effect on your physique. While in the area, we also stopped along the new 11 Freeway Bridge that crosses over the river and gives an amazing view of the Hoover Dam. This side stop was something that I was thrilled we did. The engineering is crazy impressive!

Waking up on my own accord, not as the result of a buzzing alarm or a demanding child, was glorious! We drove to Boulder City for breakfast and stopped at Hemingway Park to check out the grazing Bighorn Sheep. The remainder of the day was spent kayaking, paddle boarding, eating, and drinking around Lake Las Vegas. Amazingly, we got to have conversations without interruptions, quality time without distraction, and fun without crying!

Cane Beds, AZ

The Lautzenheiser side of the family met for a long weekend at Duane’s new property in Cane Beds, AZ. Just West of Kanab, this location is an amazing area to play and explore for adults and kids! So yes, Duane has a place for us to camp in the winter (Can Beds) and the summer (Brian Head)!

After a fun evening catching up, we woke the next morning and took a very, very long drive to the Toroweap Overlook of the Grand Canyon. Sixty miles on dirt roads, with lots stops along the way made for a long day, but the view was both spectacular and scary! Fortunately, the kids are used to long rides and did fantastic!

After plenty of play time and campfire time, the weekend was complete with a side by side ride on the sand dunes! Duane took all the kids for a ride and then Scott and I went for a spin with the kids. And of course, to no surprise, Ella fell asleep on the ride!

We look forward to making more memories with the Lautzenheiser family on this awesome piece of land! Until next time!

Kanab, UT

Kanab’s Annual Balloons and Tunes was a hit! The red cliffs were a beautiful backdrop to the colorful, floating, nylon envelopes. And the best part: my parents made the 10.5 hour drive from Las Cruces to meet us there!

Fortunately, because we have two early risers, named Ella and Miles, with us everywhere we go, we were able to see the launch on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Although the wind wasn’t ideal either day, many of the balloons were able to take off high into the sky. The adults were just as enthralled as the kids were!

Between launches, we wanted to show my parents Peekaboo Canyon, where we had ventured off to just before Christmas a couple months prior. After our first trip, we had learned that we had only explored one of the two slot canyons so we were excited to return. We all piled in Scott’s truck: parents in the front, me sandwiched between car seats in the back and the drive in and out to the canyon was some of the best time we had that weekend!

Marysvale, UT

We spent Valentine’s Day weekend with our favorite Utahans, the Ekbergs! The three day President’s Day weekend was the perfect opportunity to find a halfway spot to meet; the location was a very snowy Marysvale, UT.

We were hoping to explore some of the backcountry, but with a winter storm blowing over most of the country, we stayed off of the forest roads. Fortunately, it still turned out to be a fantastic weekend!

Our AirBnB was located on a ranch property. From our family room window we were able to see deer and cow meandering about in the intense snowstorm on the day we arrived. Fortunately, the next day brought quieter winds and a brighter sky. We were able to sled in the side yard and to explore two unique nearby areas: Butch Cassidy’s childhood home and Caboose Village. Caboose Village, although closed for the season, is home to about 15 old train cars that have been converted into quaint overnight motel rooms.

The kids (and adults) all played wonderfully together! The adults ended the weekend with an intense game of Exploding Kittens, which after plenty of whiskey, Scott faintly remembers winning. We look forward to biannual trips with the Ekbergs and a perfect excuse to discover more of central Utah!

Cannonville, UT

I have always wanted to see Bryce Canyon in the winter. We took advantage of a three day weekend to do just that; clearly it did not disappoint.

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Cannonville, UT is a prime location, central to so many beautiful areas in Southern Utah. And it has the most charming AirBnB that we were fortunate enough to call home for three nights. In addition to its unique character, this four bedroom home had stain glass windows, a clawfoot bathtub, and an original Nintendo. (Scott and I may or may not have stayed up way too late playing Contra).

We were a little nervous that the possibility of strong winds might put a damper on the weekend, but we had two gorgeous days in the low 40s, with little wind and tons of sun! Our first full day was spent exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. We drove through the entire park, stopping at overlooks and the visitor center (where I was so happy that we bought crampons for the icy trails) to give the sun a chance to warm the air. By 10am, we were ready to hike! With the kids happily plopped in their packs, we set out to do Navajo Loop Trail to Queens Fairy. After a half an hour into the hike, both kids were asleep and we were loving the scenery. The three mile trail into and back out of the canyon was perfect; breathtaking views around every turn and enough to wear us out. On our way back to the cutest AirBnB ever, we made a quick stop and hike up to Mossy Cave. Eight months out of the year, this cave has massive icicles hanging from every corner. Ella had a chance to play in the snow just as the sun was setting behind the mountains; it was a pretty magical day!

We started out day two hiking through Kodachrome Basin State Park. Unlike the sandstone hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, these rocks are much harder and not weathering away as quickly as the hoodoos. After a solid three mile hike through various formations, we left the state park to drive to Grosvenor Arch. Unaware of what this arch looked like, all we knew was that it was point of interest well off the beaten path. This double arch was ridiculously impressive! We rounded out the day with a disappointing hike to Willis Creek Slot Canyon. We had seen beautiful pictures of this sandstone canyon, but as we hiked to the entrance, we were met with an icy river. Although it would have been a great end to a great weekend, missing out on Willis Creek gives us a great excuse to come back!