Pictures at the Grand Canyon

At the end of our day, we listened to a ranger tell about the Condors that are be rehabitated and brought out of almost extinction. There are 74 condors living in the Grand Canyon area and are saved at about 1 million dollars apiece (mostly private funding). We sat on the grass to rest our weary feet and no kidding 6 condors flew directly overhead of us and at close range, too. It was awesome. We could see the numbers and the tracking devices they wear. They have white underneath their 9 foot wingspan. The young condors have black heads and when mature enough to mate (which is for life) their heads are red (reminds me of the baboons bottoms). It was so fun having time with Janae and Scott and Candice AND getting to experience the Grand Canyon. We saw sheep and deer on our way back to Flagstaff, too.

The Grand Canyon for Spring break.

Scott, Candice and Mom drove on my birthday (3/16) evening to Flagstaff and spent the evening with Janae and Heath. We saw a real bald eagle flying overhead on our drive up north - cool! The next morning Janae joined us on our trek to the Grand Canyon. It is less than 1 1/2 hours to drive from Flagstaff. We went through Ponderosa Pines and then to the Pinyon Pines and back to Ponderosas. We took the Grand Canyon bus through a series of 9 stops on the west side of the south rim at the Grand Canyon. There were plenty of idiots who tried to get as close to the edge for a "great" photo. I had to walk away and not look - ahhhhhh! Scott said it looked like a picture, it just didn't look real. It was massive. The weather was perfect with sunny blue skies and a slight cool breeze. Seeing the many layers of rock reminds us that this earth is pretty old and how powerful the elements are. The Colorado river etching out this canyon for how long? It was 5000 feet down to the Colorado and it stretches 270 miles over 4 states called the Colorado Plateau: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.

Stan, Candice, Scott and I had just left Uncle David and Aunt Christina's home for their goodbye party. Elizabeth calls and says her water broke at 3:30 that Sat. afternoon and they were now heading off to the hospital and it was 7:30 pm. Oh my! the baby is early! So Stan and I hurry home to pack up and arrange things. Scott gathered a cooler for us with juice, water and yummy snacks. Candice put away frozen food David and left with us and that was perfect to take care of the family while we were gone - tender mercy there! We finally left about 10 pm (mom had to put up homeschool assignments, you know) and were off for Whittier, CA.

We arrived at 3:30 am with NO traffice problems. It was great to see Lizzy and Trevor and so exciting to think baby was almost here. Trevor was the best coach for her, the epidural doctor returned often to tune her up and Liz breathed through the last hour like a pro. It was time! Out came the head in a very elongated way - oh my goodness this baby is huge! Yes, he was 9 lbs. and 22 inches long. Oh how love just floods the room and the hearts of those in the room - the Holy Ghost is the source of that love and it just filled our hearts and eyes. Oh, yes, forgot to mention that Stan was in the room behind the curtain hearing all and praying for Lizzy. What a sweet time. There is always room for one more in your heart - amazing! Isn't that hair marvelous. Benjamin Trevor Weed is named after is Uncle Benjamin and his dad, Trevor.