We left Thursday evening and drove the Benazir and Nathan's in Las Vegas. The kids were enthralled with their hamster Asma. We stayed the night with them and then got up Friday morning and drove the Grams house. The first order of business was of course jumping in her pool. Derek and the kids swam with all the many pool toys she blew up for us and I visited with Grams.
Then, we got a bunch of Costco rotisserie chickens for dinner and hanged at Grams house. She gave Liv her birthday presents while we were there. Liv spaced them out so she would open just one every morning and evening we were there. Grams also got the boys a couple gifts. Camden was thrilled about the new Iron man lego set she got him and played with it nonstop all weekend. He would always climb out of the pool first so that he could get inside and play uninterrupted for a while before everyone else came in and made him share.
She also got the boys some new star wars shirts which they wear all the time now. She got Liv these cute little sewing kids that allow her to make her own cute stuffed pillows. She was pretty excited about that.
And, Grams even had an ice cream cake purchased that said Happy Birthday Livy on it and we all sang happy birthday and let her blow our candles and enjoyed that.
Saturday morning, Derek met his buddies for golf and I took a turn in the pool with the kids. I tried to relax on one of the pool floaties, but the kids kept trying to climb on with me and flipping me. Then, Grams treated us all to the Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale. It happened to be the opening day for this ocean exhibit near by and they had both spiderman and Ariel to help pass the time while people waited in line to get in. They kids enjoyed that. Spiderman showed the kids how to shoot webs out of their hands.
Butterfly Wonderland was cool. They had a 3D movie you watch about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. It looks like the butterflies are flying right in front of you when you are wearing the 3D glasses and the kids kept standing up and trying to catch them. They had a cocoon room where you could watch butterflies and moths emerging from cocoons. Then, they let you in a little garden with beautiful fountains and flowers and plants. Tons of gorgeous butterflies flying around.
The kids were disappointed none of the butterflies landed on them, but I don't think they held still long enough. One landed on my arm and stayed for a while. 
They also had a little shark and sting ray pool and some aquarium type tanks with "finding dori fish" as the kids referred to them. They had some cages with spiders and lizards and snakes. After that, we went back to Grams place and of course the kids jumped back in the pool with Derek before he headed to the game. Grams and I attempted to take the kids to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. They were terrible. Honestly, the worst they have ever been in a restaurant. Running all over the place and not listening until we finally just boxed up our food and ate it at home. Derek on the other hand had a fabulous evening with Geoff Hill enjoying the game from a suite.
Sunday morning, we found a ward that met at 8am. So, we went to an early sacrament meeting and then back to Grams for you guessed it one more pools swim. Grams house was like a dream come true for these kids. Wake up, walk out to the pool, swim, eat, swim some more. Derek and I talked about how we should try to make it out there yearly since the kids love it so much. After we packed up, we hit the road and decided to drive home on a different route. We stopped in Flagstaff and explored the Walnut Creek Indian Cave dwellings. We got in for free with our annual parks pass. The kids actually really enjoyed this. There are 280 something stairs down a mile loop and then 280 something stairs back up. The kids did great. They climbed in every cave dwelling the were allowed to enter.
It was a nice way to break up the drive. After that, we drove to Kanab, UT and stayed in a hotel to all the kids delight! They were all so tired that they went to sleep so easily and slept straight until morning.
Monday morning, we drove to Bryce Canyon National Park. We parked at the edge of the park and road the bus in which was nice because we didn't have to worry about parking at all the trailheads which were kind of full. The kids actually loved riding the bus.
We hiked the Queens Garden and Navajo Trail. It was 3 miles round trip and quite steep down and back up. Start of the hike...
The kids did great!
We would see squirrels that would come right up to you looking for food. The kids always wanted me to take a picture of them.
Camden at one point asked me to take his picture and then posed and gave me the biggest cheese ever.
Every log we found the kids would want to sit and have a snack.
They got a little tired in the middle, but as soon as they could see the end they plowed right up all the steep switchbacks.
At the tops of the trailhead the kids looks back over everything they hiked through.
Then, we rode the bus to a little pizza joint for lunch and then the visitors center so the kids could get stamps in their passports. They had these cute little prairie dog tunnels you could crawl through.
Then, we climbed back in the car and drove home. We took the road less traveled on the way home and Derek and I were amazed how long we drove before seeing A) another car and B) a gas station. The kids were so good in the car. Every long car ride we made it only having to stop once for a bathroom stop or meal. Driving trips are finally not such a hair-pulling event. Such a great trip. I just love visiting my Grams (and the kids did too).
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