Our 13th Anniversary Trip (in photos)

Josh and I celebrated our 13th anniversary on 10.17.11 and my parents were kind enough to keep the boys for us, so that we could enjoy some "couple" time! We got to sneak away for FOUR whole days and THREE whole nights...woo hoo! Josh and I could NOT come up with any great ideas for our trip...until...we remembered that my friend (Rebekah) had told us about a trip that she and her hubby had taken, to the Grand Canyon.

Rabbit Trail: Josh, the kids, and I had visited the Grand Canyon for the first time last summer....but it was kind of a "doozy" of a trip. We had to drive three hours in torrential rains....to arrive and see that the canyon was all covered in fog (and it was rainy). I remember saying to the Lord...."Lord....I would really love to see Your beauty! We did not drive all this way to see fog- covering up Your creation! Take it away, Jesus! Please open it up so that we can behold Your glory!" I must tell you that He was faithful that day (as He is everyday, even when we don't get the answers we want)....and we were able to behold the Grand Canyon's beauty. We stood there in awe (in 52 degree weather- wearing only flip flops, tank tops, and shorts!)....and tried to take it all in. We only got to stay for about an hour and a half, before we made the long drive back to our campground (in Zion, Utah).

Anyhow....as our anniversary approached this year, we kept trying to come up with an original idea. It was when we remembered what Rebekah had told us about her trip that we decided we'd try it, too. We booked a package deal...where you drive to Williams, AZ and stay a night (at the GC Railway Hotel)....then board a train that takes you into the GC. Once you're at the GC, you stay a second night at a lodge there. While you're at the canyon, you get a motor coach tour, and then you have about 24 hours to do whatever you want! On the third day, you board the train which takes you back to Williams. Several meals are included, and the Railway Hotel has a little Wild West Show, before you board the train! We upgraded our train tickets to "first class" and enjoyed comfy seats and finger foods!

The Grand Canyon is incredibly breathtaking. Josh and I both said that it seems "fake"...even when you're standing right above it. It is so vast and so beautiful. It's just like our God to create something so fabulous! Josh took his "good camera" and got some amazing shots. These photos are just from my phone, so I will post some of the professional ones soon! :)

The two of us had such a great time....relaxing, enjoying the jacuzzi at the hotel, driving into Flagstaff to see Courageous (a must see!!), eating without children for four days straight, taking the shuttle tour, watching the sunset over the GC, dining at a 5-star restaurant atop the GC, hiking down into the canyon, getting ice cream (more than once) at the GC, meeting new people on the same tour, watching the view(s) on the train ride, walking along the many trails, people watching, and just "getting away from everyday life!"

When the whole GC tour was over, we drove about three hours, to spend our last night away in Las Vegas. We aren't gamblers and we rarely drink....so why go to Sin City?! We went for the posh hotel room and the fantastic pools! We got a GREAT deal on a suite at THEHotel@Mandalay Bay! By the time we arrived in Vegas, it was after 9 pm. By the time we found our way to the "front desk"....it had to be 9:45! By the time we showered and got ready to go out for a LATE dinner, it was after 11:30. We walked through the large hotel for over an hour, in search of good food. We couldn't find anything that was open past midnight....so, at about 1 am, we decided to go back to our room and order room service. I must say....it was quite fun to eat dinner at 2:30 am!! I mean....when will we ever do that again?! We had pizza, salad, and ice cream...in bed....while we watched TV.....and it was pretty fun! We got to sleep in the next day....which was awesome! We got ready and spent our last hours away- at the pools....laying out and swimming....reading and eating.

It was a wonderful trip and the two of us really enjoyed the time away together! We are so thankful to have had 13 incredible years together. God has been so faithful and He has blessed us tremendously!