Thank You!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making this trip as wonderful as it was. All of our friends and family were so generous in so many ways. Thank you Jenni for helping me to create this blog. It has really been fun. Thank you to all of our friends for their warm clothing donations! We surely needed them. Thanks to my Dad who took us and picked us up from the airport (as late as it was) and loaned me his laptop and his camera. I've learned a lot from your many photography lectures! Like I said, thank you to all our friends and family, what seemed like a little gesture for you meant the world to us.

I hope you have enjoyed our trip as much as we have and we look forward to our next adventure!

Love, Jeremy, Cindy, Adam and Bailey

Our Final Days

Well, to catch you up, on Monday we spoke with some people around Williams including the sheriff and he informed us that if we wanted to get out of town anytime soon that we ought to head out right away. The snowstorm was going to drop a lot of snow and they may close down the interstate. Since our flight was scheduled to leave on Tuesday we really had no choice. We did however go see the Polar Express before we left. We just couldn't ride it. So off we headed back to Vegas. And lucky we did...Williams had 15 inches of snow by morning and more was coming down. They had closed many roads including some to the Grand Canyon so our timing for that day was perfect. Just north of Las Vegas even got four inches of snow!

We stayed in New York, New York for the night and then headed back to DeLand, Florida the next day. Of course we had to make a pit stop and get our picture with the Las Vegas sign!

Overall, we had an absolutely wonderful trip! I wouldn't have changed anything for the world!

The Grand Canyon

Yesterday we spent the day at the Grand Canyon. It was breathtaking but very cooooold! The kids also became Junior Park Rangers. They had to complete a booklet, attend a Park Ranger talk and be sworn in. They thought that was great! I know the pictures don't do it justice but enjoy the scenery.

Today we are not sure what the plans are. They are expecting up to 25" of snow starting at noon and continuing through the night. We have to fly out of Vegas tomorrow and that is about 300 miles from where we are. We wanted to stay and play but not so sure about that being a good idea. We'll keep you posted.

Fun in the Snow!

Here are some pictures showing just how much fun the kids are having in the snow. Jenni, the snow angels are for you. And the train, that is where we are staying while in Williams, AZ. They made an old cabose into a suite. It's really neat.

The Wolcotts in Arizona

Yesterday we made our way to Arizona and boy was it cold. We headed up to Flagstaff to check out the sights there. First we stopped by the Lowell Observatory and took their tour but we couldn't look out the huge telescope because it was snowing! Lots! The kids just kept running around with their mouths open catching the snow. Then the visitor center informed us that their annual Christmas parade was going on tonight. Of course we had to stay for it since we missed the DeLand Christmas parade this year. It was just like the DeLand parade except it was about 20 degrees and snowing! We had hot cocoa and enjoyed the show...well most of it until we couldn't feel our toes anymore.

This morning we woke up to about three inches of snow on the ground and I believe it is 9 degrees out. Yes 9. The kids can't wait to get out and play in the snow. We'll let them play for a little while and then we are heading to the Grand Canyon. This adventure has been so much fun I do not want it to end!

Having Fun at Valley of Fire State Park

Today we headed out to the Valley of Fire State Park. The kids had so much fun at Red Rock Canyon we thought this would be fun as well. We were right. The kids just wanted to climb on every rock they saw. It really was beautiful. This park is also really neat because there were drawings on many of the rocks left by Indians over 4000 years ago. Bailey said she was studying this in Mrs. Myers’ class just last week. We had to take lots of pictures for her to bring to school. Mom, the scenery picture is what I was looking at when you called. What a sight, huh? Well, it’s off to Williams, Arizona in the morning. We are looking forward to another world of adventures there! It looks like it might even snow on Sunday or Monday!

Museums and Cowboys

After Red Rock Canyon on Wednesday we went to see a really neat Christmas light show, The Gift of Lights. Then we stopped by the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden which was all lit up for the holidays. It was beautiful.

Yesterday we went to the Lied Children’s Discovery Museum. The kids had fun playing with all the hands-on exhibits. Next it was off to the cowboy show. This week is the National Rodeo Finals and everybody in Las Vegas is a cowboy. The kids were able to get some autographs with some of the cowboys competing in the finals. They thought that was really cool.

A Visit to Red Rock Canyon

Today we headed to Red Rock Canyon. I think today was probably our best day here yet. We had so much fun exploring and climbing. We even took our books up to the top of one of the mountains and relaxed and read a bit. This trip just keeps getting better and better!

Hanging Around Town

On Monday night after the Hoover Dam we went and watched the fountains at the Biligio and they were really beautiful. Then yesterday we decided to hang around town and check out the sights. The hotels are really incredible. Adam loved ESPN Zone the most. Jer’s favorite was the Pinball Hall of Fame that we just had to go to. We ended our evening at Fremont Street with a Christmas tree lighting and ice skating show.

A Day at the Hoover Dam

Did you know the Hoover Dam is 726.4 feet from foundation rock to the roadway and weighs more than 6,600,000 tons? Today we went to the Hoover Dam. We took the tour and got to look over the edge from the top. We saw some really huge fish way down in Lake Mead. We went underground and saw the power plant. Did you know the Hoover Dam separates Arizona and Nevada and two time zones? This was a really cool day so far and it's not even over yet!

Just Some Additonal Notes

We started our morning yesterday looking out our window to see the Las Vegas Marathon going on. We saw lots of Santas, brides and Elvis characters. Quite the sight.

Also, yesterday's trip to Mt. Charleston took us from Las Vegas to an elevation of 10,236 feet. Way above what we are used to...sea level in Florida.

After the mountains we headed to the M&M World and the MGM Hotel to see the lions. The kids thought both were fun.

I've also posted a picture of the view from our condo balcony. Mom this one is for you.

Hopefully, the time change won't take too much longer to get used to. Bailey is falling asleep by 6:00 p.m. and everyone is up and ready to go by 4:00 a.m. At least we are getting an early start.

First Time Seeing Snow on the Mountain

Today we went to Mt. Charleston to check out the snow. We went to Las Vegas Ski Resort and made snow angels and threw snow balls at each other. It was a blast! Everybody decided that they liked the snow.