Toni's Tribute to All Countries, But Mostly America

My two-year plan to visit all the National Parks and LDS Temples before (submitting our foreign-mission application) continues albeit with interruptions. Lovely fun-filled interruptions, such as... A trip to the surprisingly well-executed Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah, of all places, accompanied by my most adorable son Christian... ...and a visit to a couple of southern Utah gems with one the most endearing couples we know, Aunt Carlene and Uncle Robert.  Included in our day of play were some hidden , protected, and quite colorful petroglyphs near Coral Sand Dunes State Park outside of Kanab where Robert was born and raised... ...followed by a stop at the intriguing Grafton Ghost Town along the Virgin River outside of Zion National Park.  I love spending time with these guys; their generosity and gentle love know no bounds.  

One of the more brilliant museums we've been to, the lowly and humble Edge of the Cedars Utah State Park, sits within a neighborhood in Blanding, UT, is housed within a magnificent red-stone building, and hosts the excavated and partially restored ruins of what was once a large Ancestral Puebloan community about 1000 years ago.  The museum is beautifully decorated with replicas of several of the local pictograph panels we've visited... ...houses millions of artifacts including this red macaw feather apron (the macaw feathers having been traded with peoples from Mexico from over 1000 miles away).... ...a hogan to explore... ...and the ruins of Great House with several rooms and entrances which housed more than 80 people. But the best part was the reconstructed kiva (living quarters) which visitors are allowed to climb down into.  Every other kiva site we've ever been to is completely unapproachable.  It was a trip highlight to spend a half hour in this kiva looking at the ...

                                                 Three amazing things: #1 - Sipapu Bridge:  Arches are formed by erosion and are usually found high up on mesas or cliffs.  Natural bridges look similar to arches but differ in that they are formed by rivers cutting underneath the rock and are therefore deep in low canyons.  A fabulous albeit out of the way national monument that I've long wanted to visit was finally explored today at Natural Bridges National Monument just outside of Blanding in southeastern Utah.  We snagged a fabulously gorgeous boondock spot deep in a thick stand of Utah Juniper trees.  Aaron is now 10 weeks post-op and thoroughly sick to death of his boot and the shackle it is.  So today he decided to join me on all of the days hikes.  I am super proud of him;  he covered about 5 miles...all in a stupid boo...