Here are some pictures.
Both of these are from the Peabody Hotel.I am gonna go to bed now and try to get as much sleep as possible. Signing off for the last time.
Sarah
Sunday, July 26, 2009
My last Blog. :(
Hey well sadly this was the last day of the vac. :( !!!!!!~!~!~!~!~!~ AHH! well i had a great time! We made it home safely. (and this time all the way home) Yesterday was alot of fun. We got to go to Peabody hotel! that was so cool. There are just ducks waddling around the hotel. Also we got to go to this DELICIOUS BBQ place. It was featured on Food Network. (yea it's just that good...mmmmmm) If you ever have a chance GO THERE!(O yea is in Memphis,TN) We aslo got to go to Graceland where Elvis Presly used to live. ( but we didnt get to go in it.) Then we traveled to Birmingham, AL to see some friends. Mr.Mike and Mrs.Liz. There we had BBQ again because our FAVORITE BBQ place is in Birmingham. It's call Johney Rays. If you ever have a chance again GO THERE! (you wil not regret it. plus there pie is GREAT!!~~!!) Today we got up and traveled home. We stoped at a state park and had another picnic. Our last one for a LONG time. Tomorrow I leave for camp. Anoher long week. But I am looking foward to it. Gonna try to get as much sleep as I can in my OWN bed.
Here are some pictures.
Both of these are from the Peabody Hotel.
I am gonna go to bed now and try to get as much sleep as possible. Signing off for the last time.
Sarah
Here are some pictures.
Both of these are from the Peabody Hotel.I am gonna go to bed now and try to get as much sleep as possible. Signing off for the last time.
Sarah
Last Day of Traveling (Sydney)
Today was our last day of traveling. Me and Sarah started to cry [Sarah takes issue with this remembrance], but we we survived. At the SC welcome center the bathrooms were really nasty. When we got home we did everything we normally do to feel at home (at least I did). For example, I went outside and played soccer at 8:00 pm.
Some of the favorite people I met were Haley in Fort Worth and Sydney Elizabeth from CA. I don't remember the name of the girl from Santa Rosa, NM. I also met Marissa and Orien in Farmington. And that was all the people.
It was exhausting in the car - and boring. All I did was watch movies and play with my silly putty.
My favorite movie was Cow Belles.
My favorite sight: The Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde (but first Grand Canyon - it was awesome [this was a catch phrase of the girls]).
Thanks for looking at our blog. This has been good times. "The eagle is flying for the last time" [from the Princess Diaries]. This really means it is the last time I am writing.
Sydney
ps - we're logged off.
Some of the favorite people I met were Haley in Fort Worth and Sydney Elizabeth from CA. I don't remember the name of the girl from Santa Rosa, NM. I also met Marissa and Orien in Farmington. And that was all the people.
It was exhausting in the car - and boring. All I did was watch movies and play with my silly putty.
My favorite movie was Cow Belles.
My favorite sight: The Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde (but first Grand Canyon - it was awesome [this was a catch phrase of the girls]).
Thanks for looking at our blog. This has been good times. "The eagle is flying for the last time" [from the Princess Diaries]. This really means it is the last time I am writing.
Sydney
ps - we're logged off.
Home in Beaufort - Finally!
Fun Statistics from our cross country adventure:
Sydney Elizabeth from California on shuttle ride from Hermits Rest on the W Canyon. Both Sydney's became fast friends in a few moments. Here's a picture.
Two girls in Santa Rosa, NM when we stopped for a fast swim at a local lake and water slide. Lots of fun.
Fran at the Midway Cafe on Rt. 66 in Adrian, TX (AKA Flo from the movie cars).
There are lots of other great folks from around the world who have shaped our trip: the people from France who shared the laudramat with us in Page, AZ. Adam, the owner of Tom's BBQ in Memphis that kept thanking us for coming to eat there (the food's worth it), all of the old friends we saw along the way - who made time or space for us in their lives. They mean so much to us and it was always so much fun to share our family with theirs. That's enough for me. Let me let the girls share (they helped pick out these final thoughts). Eric
- 13 Separate States (5 states we cross over 2 times)
- 4,935 miles total travel.
- 1 rock in the windshield
- 2 complete cups spilled by dad
- 3 total tiredness breakdowns (and then recovery - we love each other and know each other better now than before).
- At least 3 catch phrases from the girls - repeated many times over the miles.
- 12 movies - favorites included Cow Belles (watched 4 times) and Cars (3 times - and we didn't buy this until we were at the Midpoint Cafe in TX on Rt. 66).
- Favorite State signs - OK, TX, LA and AR.
- Least favorite - TN - didn't have one at the welcome center in Memphis - just a welcome to Memphis.
- Favorite Foods - Toms BBQ in Memphis (here's the link: http://www.tomsbarbq.com/video.php. Don't miss this food. Adam, the owner was great. The Rib tips are the best. If you go through W TN, you need to stop), Breakfast at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon (only could afford one meal and breakfast at that), and Uncle Julios in FW, TX.
- Least Favorite - finally picnic lunch at High Falls State Park in GA today. After 2 weeks of the same food, we were just plain tired of it.
- Least Favorite Welcome Center bathrooms: SC.
- 902 pictures taken on the trip between 2 cameras. Thank Jesus for digital cameras.
Sydney Elizabeth from California on shuttle ride from Hermits Rest on the W Canyon. Both Sydney's became fast friends in a few moments. Here's a picture.
Two girls in Santa Rosa, NM when we stopped for a fast swim at a local lake and water slide. Lots of fun.
Fran at the Midway Cafe on Rt. 66 in Adrian, TX (AKA Flo from the movie cars).
There are lots of other great folks from around the world who have shaped our trip: the people from France who shared the laudramat with us in Page, AZ. Adam, the owner of Tom's BBQ in Memphis that kept thanking us for coming to eat there (the food's worth it), all of the old friends we saw along the way - who made time or space for us in their lives. They mean so much to us and it was always so much fun to share our family with theirs. That's enough for me. Let me let the girls share (they helped pick out these final thoughts). Eric
Friday, July 24, 2009
Still Traveling East - with pictures!
From Sarah -
Well today was a long day of traveling...again. :( And is not exciting because there is nothing to look forward to at the end. I am excited though that we made it home safely. Well, almost home. We are now in Fort Smith, AR. Today we went to Oklahoma City and saw the memorial there. Such a sad thing. Yesterday we got to go to Petrified Forest. That is so cool that a tree can turn into a stone~!~ Today we also got to go swimming at our hotel in a indoor pool thank goodness. We went to eat a Chili's. Tomorrow we are going to go see some friends.
The Grand Canyon was AMAZING! I cried I didn't want to leave. It is so beautiful there and I have decided that I am going to apply for a summer job there when I am in college. Can't wait. I took tons pics for everyone to see. Can't wait to get home.
Sarah
From Sydney -
These are the things I will remember about the Grand Canyon:
Every thing else I will remember about the Grand Canyon.
Here are a few pictures -
The Dees Family in Farmington, NM. Thanks for the hospitality. So sad our picture with all of us got corrupted somehow. (Not sure why one of our cameras does this. Lost several really good pics.)
A picture from Mesa Verde. Sydney's first Junior Ranger badge!
Marcia has been chasing pictorglyphs (I never can tell the difference) around the SW. This was her first spotting at the bottom of Marble Canyon (130 degrees. See Sydney's blog earlier).
We finally arrived at the Grand Canyon. What you can't see is just as we arrive it starts to thunder and lightening. We've just gotten done reading how dangerous lightening is on the rim of the canyon. We freak, but still get the picture!
Famous spot at the Western end of the Canyon. Just before our family adventure hike with the ranger.
The picture we tried all we week to capture. Caught this on the last night as we waited for an everning vesper service to begin. Not a bad place to worship our Father! [Kids say - notice dad's beard he worked all 2 weeks to grow.]
Well today was a long day of traveling...again. :( And is not exciting because there is nothing to look forward to at the end. I am excited though that we made it home safely. Well, almost home. We are now in Fort Smith, AR. Today we went to Oklahoma City and saw the memorial there. Such a sad thing. Yesterday we got to go to Petrified Forest. That is so cool that a tree can turn into a stone~!~ Today we also got to go swimming at our hotel in a indoor pool thank goodness. We went to eat a Chili's. Tomorrow we are going to go see some friends.
The Grand Canyon was AMAZING! I cried I didn't want to leave. It is so beautiful there and I have decided that I am going to apply for a summer job there when I am in college. Can't wait. I took tons pics for everyone to see. Can't wait to get home.
Sarah
From Sydney -
These are the things I will remember about the Grand Canyon:
- I saw tons of elk (well ... really 3). They make a beautiful noise.
- The canyon was really beautiful when the sun rised and set. We woke up very early. But my dad forgot to set the timer. And he forgot to do a wakeup call. But we got to the canyon was just coming up. Hallelujah! We still got to see it.
- We got to see the milkway, the scorpio, and the Big Dipper. I got to stay up really late. It was really cool, because the Milky Way looked like a bunch of clouds, but it was the Milky Way really. The stars looked like a bunch a polky dots or kinda of like 101 Dalmatians.
Every thing else I will remember about the Grand Canyon.
Here are a few pictures -
The Dees Family in Farmington, NM. Thanks for the hospitality. So sad our picture with all of us got corrupted somehow. (Not sure why one of our cameras does this. Lost several really good pics.)
A picture from Mesa Verde. Sydney's first Junior Ranger badge!
Marcia has been chasing pictorglyphs (I never can tell the difference) around the SW. This was her first spotting at the bottom of Marble Canyon (130 degrees. See Sydney's blog earlier).
We finally arrived at the Grand Canyon. What you can't see is just as we arrive it starts to thunder and lightening. We've just gotten done reading how dangerous lightening is on the rim of the canyon. We freak, but still get the picture!
Famous spot at the Western end of the Canyon. Just before our family adventure hike with the ranger.
The picture we tried all we week to capture. Caught this on the last night as we waited for an everning vesper service to begin. Not a bad place to worship our Father! [Kids say - notice dad's beard he worked all 2 weeks to grow.]
Long Day - By Sydney
Yesterday we traveled a long way. We watched three movies. We didn't want to leave the Grand Canyon.
Today we have another long day of traveling. The End!
Sydney
Today we have another long day of traveling. The End!
Sydney
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Traveling East!
It's late. Trying to get to sleep in a motel in Eastern New Mexico just off Rt. 66. No great internet connection so we still can't upload any good pictures. You'll just get my reflections on 2 weeks of a family vacation.
First, my mom, Jean Spivey finally went home today. Thanks for all who cared and prayed. I've been calling nurses and her room usually two times a day. We're just glad she's feeling better..
Second - time. We've been trying to think of the last time all 4 members of our family have been together at the same for this long. I don't think it has ever happened. Between work, school and activities we all move all the time. We have learned lots about all of our personalities. We've each been stretched to readjust our attitudes. We've seen what tiredness does to us and what a new day and sleep can provide.
First, my mom, Jean Spivey finally went home today. Thanks for all who cared and prayed. I've been calling nurses and her room usually two times a day. We're just glad she's feeling better..
Second - time. We've been trying to think of the last time all 4 members of our family have been together at the same for this long. I don't think it has ever happened. Between work, school and activities we all move all the time. We have learned lots about all of our personalities. We've each been stretched to readjust our attitudes. We've seen what tiredness does to us and what a new day and sleep can provide.
3rd - As a Dad, I've also seen how wonderful my girls are. I love being with them and seeing them explore and learn and enjoy. My challenge comes in allowing them the opportunity to do so - to not put a damper on things. They've come up with their own catch phrases from the trip that I'm not allowed to participate - partly because dad's are weird. Go figure.
4th - I loved unplugging in the GC. Cell service was bad. There was no internet connection. I had not watch. Just allowing the day to progress were a wonderful gift. The ranger activities. The meal overlooking the canyon. The storms coming in over the north rim.T he elk and squirrels. It's not very often that we can take our own advice (I preached on this a few weeks ago), but it was very good.
Hopefully, tonight we can get more photos up. We have tons.
Eric
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The GRAND Canyon
Well, everyone else in the Spivey clan has had input on our big road trip, so it is time for me to share. We have spent the last 2 1/2 days in the Grand Canyon. What a time we have had! We have been busy with casual hikes, ranger talks, story telling, star watching (the kind in the sky, not Hollywood), searching for wildlife and people watching! Each of us has picked an activity we wanted to experience. Sarah took us to a ranger talk on condors. Sydney has led us to several Junior Ranger programs (including a 1 mile hike down- and up- into the Canyon. Eric went on another ranger led hike into the canyon at 7 a.m. this morning. We chose to sleep! I'm about to sit in on a talk about the history of people in the canyon, followed by a Native American dance presented by Hopi Indians.
The last two afternoons have met us with thunderstorms. We learned that this is monsoon season in the Grand Canyon. Who knew? Watching storms roll into the chasm is exciting. But, the lightening in a bit intimidating. Also a bit unnerving for me is seeing all the people who chose to jump barriers and hang out on the "edge" of the canyon. Crazy, huh? the mom in me makes my stomach fall to see people so daring (and stupid!).
The view here is indescribable. I've often heard friends say that they wonder how someone can look at this place and not believe in God. With all the evidence of scientific history, I can understand how someone might lean on that as evidence. Yet, to see the Grand Canyon and not have a Creator for whom to worship in the presence of it is really a great loss! I hope you all get the chance to experience this beautiful treasure of our country.
We're having a fantastic stay!
Marcia
The last two afternoons have met us with thunderstorms. We learned that this is monsoon season in the Grand Canyon. Who knew? Watching storms roll into the chasm is exciting. But, the lightening in a bit intimidating. Also a bit unnerving for me is seeing all the people who chose to jump barriers and hang out on the "edge" of the canyon. Crazy, huh? the mom in me makes my stomach fall to see people so daring (and stupid!).
The view here is indescribable. I've often heard friends say that they wonder how someone can look at this place and not believe in God. With all the evidence of scientific history, I can understand how someone might lean on that as evidence. Yet, to see the Grand Canyon and not have a Creator for whom to worship in the presence of it is really a great loss! I hope you all get the chance to experience this beautiful treasure of our country.
We're having a fantastic stay!
Marcia
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