Day 5 - July 9, 2011

We left Las Vegas and headed toward California this morning. Al said we should make sure to fill up the gas tank, because it would be more expensive in California.

Here's the sign where we stopped to fill up.



We made it to California! (though we were disappointed with the sign on this road)



We went through Death Valley on the way to Yosemite.



As we were going through Death Valley, it was hard to stop to look at the scenery. 113* and it was SO HOT!!! We kept talking about the pioneers who traveled west. What did they think when all they saw was desolation as far as they could see? How did they make it without water? You can see from these pictures this is also known as the "Bad Lands". It took us 4 - 5 hours to drive through the park and we were worn out. I can't begin to imagine riding a horse or wagon for days and days!





These are sand dunes from erosion from one mountain range and blows into a valley area before reaching another mountain range. A sign said the sand reaches 200* during the day, but holds moisture, so you are encouraged to dig down in it to feel that. We'll have to take their word for it.



A gas station in the middle of Death Valley



This is not too far out of Death Valley. It's unbelievable the change in just a few miles!



A rest area we stopped at



Mammoth Lake where we stayed the night tonight. It was 62* plus the wind was blowing. Brrrrr!! What a beautiful place though.



I talked to a man who lives here through the summer. He told me he came in May and it was 16*! There is a ski resort in this area as well. No wonder there is still snow!

Day 4 - July 8, 2011

Today we made our way to Las Vegas so we could meet Amy and Damian and their family to spend some fun time together. They were out west visiting with Damian's family, so it worked out for us to drive 30 something hours to see them :)





We listened to an information radio channel telling about the Hoover Dam as we were on the way and they kept encouraging people to take a 'Dam' tour, so that set us up for quite a punny day. It started with Leah saying, "Let's get this 'dam' tour over with, to Al saying, "That 'dam' tour is too expensive!" ($30 each) To Amy's, "Let's do this 'dam' thing." And Molly's, "This 'dam' bridge is too hot!" You see we took full advantage... :)




The Kerces and Andersons



The Kerces plus Merin (cause she loves her Uncle Al)






After we went to the Hoover Dam, we took some time to cool off by touring a chocolate factory. Apparently we hit it at the wrong time, because all we got to see them doing was folding boxes, but we did get two pieces of complimentary chocolate out of the deal.Then there was a cactus garden where we caught this of Leah, Merin and Hayden.



After a long day in the sun, Al and I decided we couldn't stay in Las Vegas without walking down the strip. We took Molly and Ashlyn, while Leah stayed with Aunt Amy and Uncle Damian to swim in the pool with Hayden, Zade, and Merin.

The famous sign we went back to get a picture of (more to the story later...)



Ashlyn and Molly waiting for the fountain show



The Elvis guys wanted our "Sweet Mamas" to take a picture with them



We saw the fountain show at the Belagio



Since we rode a bus from the resort we were staying in with Amy and Damian, we didn't get a chance to see everything we wanted to in Vegas by walking the strip. It only dropped off and picked up from certain places, so once we made it back to the hotel, we left again in our car. Al wanted to see the pawn shop from the show "Pawn Stars" on the History Channel. It's open 24 hours a day, so he knew we would have plenty of time. Also, Ashlyn wanted a picture of the Las Vegas Welcome sign, so she reluctantly went as well, though she didn't care anything about the pawn shop. We got the pictures of the welcome sign with no problem, then headed to the pawn shop. Once we pulled up I was a little nervous because it was in a "seedier" section of town, but what excitement we found! The doors were locked because they were filming a show. We could see through the door what was going on and we were the only ones around. Ashlyn went to take a picture, but their body guard quickly stepped in front of the door shaking his head no. We walked to the other door and Al, being the true fan, saw Big Hoss, so Ashlyn sweeltly asked through the plexiglass if he would take a picture with her. Then Al saw Chumley walk by and Ashlyn asked Big Hoss if Chumley would take a pic with her. He told her "probably not, but I'll ask" after a few seconds of conversation Chumley willingly came and took a picture with her. It was definitely HIS lucky day :) How funny that Al is the fan and Ashlyn is the one in the pictures, LOL!

Ashlyn with Big Hoss



Ashlyn with Chumley

Day 3 - July 7, 2011

We started out at Four Corners this morning, and man, was it HOT!! When we arrived, there were several tour buses there, so it was also super crowded. It seemed we would have to be pushy to get our picture at the point where the states meet, but it all worked out (even though we have extras in our family pics). There were Indians who had booths all around the monument (since it is on an Indian reservation) selling beautiful jewelery, paintings, and hand-made pottery.

After all the heat, we headed off to cool off in Lake Powell in northern Arizona.

Leah was the only one brave enough to jump in the cold water, but she said it felt really good once you were in.





The girls walking across the Navajo Bridge that crosses the Colorado River in Navajo Nation.


Colorado River

Then we headed to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon. It took quite a while to get there because the roads are constantly winding through the mountains

We made it!!



It's nice to stretch our legs when we can :)



The Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon

Day 2 - July 6, 2011

Here are a few pics to add to Leah's perspective (which was written by Leah)

We stopped at a state park in New Mexico and looked at some of the local historical Indian buildings. There was a museum we went through where Leah tried on some armor from soldiers,



Ashlyn tried out walking with a basket on her head,


and Molly is climbing into the Kievas, where the Indians performed religious ceremonies and there were paintings on the wall (no pics allowed). The weather is super hot and not that dry. It's typically over 100* and when the wind blows it isn't cool at all, but more hot air moving. It was refreshingly cool down in the Kieva, and the guide said the kieva is warm in the winter.


After this, we walked down and stepped in the Rio Grande. The river seemed to be smaller than normal, because we saw where there were dried river beds.



My favorite thing out west, the sunset :)

We did a lot of driving today and planned to make it to Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, but we arrived a little too late. They closed at 8:00 and we were there at 8:50. Al tried to get us to climb the barbed wire fence, but we decided we'll wait until morning.


This is the sign welcoming us to Four Corners :( TOO DARK!

Day 2 Leah's Perspective

WOW! What a day of tired Kerce's!!!!! I hope we will all get a good night sleep:) we drove all day to find that four corners closes at 8:00. We got there around 8:50. So instead of moping around we goofed off taking pictures in front of the colorodo sign. So Grand Canyon and Four Corners had better watch out because here comes Kerce's are coming for them:):)

Day 1 - July 5, 2011

What a day! We actually started out of our driveway at 9:45 last night. I drove until we got to Pensacola, then Al took over for the rest of the night. What a LONG night! We had a plan to drive, drive, drive until we got to the Grand Canyon, and that's pretty much what we've done. Al made it through Alabama, Mississippi, and most of Louisiana, then Ashlyn took us through a lot of Texas. She even handled driving in Dallas downtown like a pro. We stopped for the night in Santa Rosa (a close cousin of Santa Clause Al told the girls) so we are about 100 miles east of Albuquerque. Our plan is to go to Four Corners tomorrow, possibly Lake Powell, then on to the Grand Canyon North rim. Hopefully we'll get a good night sleep and get a fresh start tomorrow. This is how our car looks loaded down with our things to make it through this adventure.


So excited to be out of Texas

My favorite thing about our trips out West (or one of them) are the sunsets :)

Learning about boys

Since we don't have any little boys who live at our house, it's fun to have our nephews visit so we can learn what life with them is all about. A friend of Al's gave him some crawdads all the way from Louisiana, so we had a good time playing with them before they got eaten. (Only Hayden and Al were brave enough to actually try them) Leah looks like she is going to try eating a crawfish, but Hayden was the one who followed through, showing us the difference between boys and girls :)

These things were HUGE!















Zade and Hayden saved two crawfish to take home to their mom and dad.






Uncle Al taped the claws so no one would lose a finger. I think he was the only one they got tonight.

Zade kept his distance. He wasn't quite sure they were safe after all. He kept coming in to check things out, but he wasn't interested in holding or eating one.


Hayden putting the crawfish meat where his mouth is :)

Sucking the head?? I don't think so!! We couldn't talk Hayden into trying it, but I definitely don't blame him. I looked inside after Al pulled the meat out. UUGGHH!!










Even Leah wanted to be a good sport and try some. Yeah Right!!