The Canyon of Grandeur and Rock Houses!

So on to the next stop of my vacation, which part I was MOST excited for! The GRAND CANYON! I've wanted to see this beautiful place since I first saw a Mickey Mouse movie on it a bazillion years ago. Definitely on the bucket list! So we woke up early because we wanted to hike before it got too hot (and you know once we got there I realized I didn't bring a pair of tennis shoes more on that later). So we left Flagstaff and headed out on the open road. All the way to the Grand Canyon, iPhone and I studied everything there was to know about it (I know I'm a werido), but it's just fascinating. how it's just like flat everywhere than BAM a HUGE canyon.

So finally we arrived and I was so excited, and it was early enough there wasn’t very many tourists. OK so side note about this entire road trip. There are more foreigners visiting these National Parks than Americans. PEOPLE GET OUT AND SEE YOUR COUNTRY! Ok sorry rant over. We went the main lookout point first, and it was just breathtaking. Seriously, I can't describe how grand it really is. When we went to another side of the Canyon we even got to see some Condors. They are HUGE birds!  That was really special. My dad has his binoculars so we could see to the bottom of the Canyon, best idea EVER! I could just sit and look at it all day. I just felt really blessed and thankful for God and his creations when I stood there at the edge of something so beautiful.

 So here I am! I made it.

 Dad, me, and mom. You have to ride a bus now to get to the other side of the park. And those bus drivers are RUDE!

 I so wanted to take a donkey ride.

 Seriously beautiful!

 I LOVE how my dad looks like a tourist. Camera, binoculars, hat the whole works.

 Our attempt to hike, BUT my flip flops weren't going to cut it.

This sign has it's own parking lot, just FYI!

 

 This wannabe guide was telling a bunch of gullible tourists all these stories about the Canyon. Best one "take your pictures vertical, you see more the Canyon that way"... ha!

 The place where you can hike to the bottom of the Canyon.

 

 

A rainstorm hit while we were there. It was just so cool to see the clouds pass over it like that.

That Canyon was everything and more. I can't wait to take my kids there someday, to white water raft down that river, to take a donkey ride, to camp with my entire family, and to see the North Rim. We just saw the South Rim. When we were leaving it starting pouring so Mom and I had blankets around us, and mom's hair was in braided pigtails and this "foreigner" asked if we were Indians and wanted to take pictures with us. I mean I'm 1/16th Indian so technically yes... We laughed forever about that. On the way to St.George my dad wanted me to see this house built out of the rocks in the 1930's. So we stopped and I took a few pictures:

 It was freaky and cool all at the same time.

View from the back window!

The drive from the Canyon to St. George was absolutely spectacular. The scenery is breathtaking, really a must see. The mountains and canyons are incredible! We made it to St. George late that night but I still got to see Ashley Tippetts, another highlight of my trip. I don't know why I didn't take any pictures. Hold on because our next stop is Zion's National Park and Bryce Canyon!

Lesson of the Day

And that my friends is what this week HAS to be all about. You get lost in the moment all too often to remember that you have to take of #1 before anything else.

Four Places at Once and Hookah Pipes!

So my parents are big into National Parks, and hiking and all that Jazz. A couple years ago they took the girls on this whirlwind trip through all the different National Parks and really it upset me, why do such fun things AFTER I leave the house (I know I’ve been gone for like 10 years but still). Anyway, since I wanted to see what the Southwest had to offer, I traveled back to Salt Lake with my parents. It seriously was one of the best things ever. I haven’t spent quality one on one time with my parents like that I think ever, and really I had an amazing time. Our first stop was Shiprock ok, so I didn’t take any pictures, but I wanted to see it since Emma always talks about it. HA! We stopped at a flea market there and I fell in love with the amazing jewelry and pottery. Little did I know I would see this EVERYWHERE! Anyway, since we were so close I made my parents stop at Four Corners, USA. So I was standing in 4 places at one time. Now the Indians own this land, so it cost us $3 a person to get in, but it was actually pretty cool (minus the whole gift shop which was actually a 5^th Wheel trailer). It was hot but that was expected. The drive from there to Flagstaff, AZ was a long one, but the desert has its own beauty I must say. The canyons and rock formations out there were pretty impressive. My mom is OBSESSED with Sonic fast food, so if we see one we have to stop (just a side note, because I think it’s pretty funny, she has like a Sonic radar or something). So my parents wanted to take me to Sedona, AZ, so after we unloaded at hotel we made our way down there. It was absolutely gorgeous. The red rock was amazing! We walked around trying to find a place to eat for a little while, and in the meantime found cute little shops. We got caught in a downpour, so we stopped and enjoyed the awesome lightning storm as well. 

 Driving Through New Mexico, and on to Arizona!

 Sedona, AZ

 Sedona, AZ

 Sedona... I know AGAIN. But seriously I cannot tell you how beautiful it was.

 I don't look like a tourist at all... HA!

 

 Hookah pipes, at the gift shop!

 Oh mom, so silly!

Four Corners, USA!

 Check this off the Bucket List!

Four places at once yo!

 This picture of my dad just cracks me up. What a dork! HA!

 Sight seeing fools!

Here is the gift shop/cafe/bathroom...

So stay tuned. Next stop THE GRAND CANYON!!

Farmington, NM - The Land of Enchantment...

I hope you haven't given up on me yet. You know the life of Savanna is just crazy and especially in July. Never fails that July every year is NUTS! So after the 4th of July festivities, Mariah and I jumped on a plane to Hyrum's reception in Farmington, NM. I was already a little anxious flying because our connection was super tight, and people were just lollygagging around on the plane. PEOPLE HELLO! Anyway, we got seated got put on the Tarmac, only to find out that Denver (where our connection was) was shut down due to nasty weather. Really in July? So we waited, and waited, and waited for two hours. Then we pulled back to gate and waited another hour. So by now super anxiety about the flight connections. So when we arrived Ry and I ran across that huge airport to get our flight only to have it bumped 4 times until they just cancelled it. Great. So they put us up for the night at a hotel and scheduled our next flight out for first thing in the morning. 2 hours after that original time we finally left. Ry and I were delirious by then, so when we got on the SMALLEST plane EVER we just laughed until we cried. It was definitely scary, I would much rather fly in a big plane than a small one. 

Ry in front of our large aircraft!

And we were upset because we thought we didn't have seats next to each other!

24 hours with little to no sleep, AWESOME!

 We made it to New Mexico though, and went to Mesa Verde National Park that day and Durango, CO. That night was the reception in Emma's backyard, it was so beautiful and then just like clockwork a sudden downpour came and forced us all inside. DANGIT! But never fear the Blaylock family saved the day by busting out our dance moves. What a great night! I wish my entire family could have been there, but you know, we were all there for the wedding so that is all that matters!

Me, Dad, Ry - at one of the cave dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park

Don't worry, I made sure I got my picture in front of every National Park Sign!

Dancing with the Padre! Love him!

The parents and the happy couple!

My beautiful parents!

With my mom! Isn't she stunning?

Look a rainbow! How awesome!

More of Mesa Verde. It was pretty awesome.

Farmington was great, well interesting. Emma's family is so nice and had a beautiful home. I wish I could have spent more than 12 hours there, thank you weather for cooperating. So stay tuned for round two. Where I go on a National Park visiting spree!

Dear Blog...

Dear Blog I love you. Someday I will have the time to update on my adventures to the Southwest and California. Someday when I'm not up to my eyeballs in work and in the process of moving, and rearranging my ward and trying to keep up with everything. Someday. Don't lose faith in me....

Love,
Savanna wholovesthesummerbutalsocan'twaitforittobeoversoIcanhavesomepeacearoundhere Blaylock

4th of July Spectacular

My 4^th of July weekend was seriously one of the best ever. My life has been a whirlwind since the wedding and I hope I remember everything that happened. So B transferred from San Antonio, TX office to Salt Lake City. I know, so great. So Friday we headed down to SLC to see him and then on Saturday do some shopping at Park City with Riana and Monica. It was so good to finally touch and see the person who I had been talking to for months. We had dinner and watched a movie. The next day we all had breakfast in Sugarhouse and then B had to go sell so we went shopping at the Park City Outlets. Loved them. We shopped for a LONG time and I loved every minute of it. We then got some Chick-Fil-A, you know since they don’t have it in Idaho, and headed home. We got back around 8 or so and were all so exhausted. By that time, B and Anthony headed over to come pick us up and we went to Transformers (I actually really liked this one, a lot better than #2). Sunday was good, I had to teach a lesson and it actually turned out pretty good. That night we headed over to Anthony’s house in Roberts for some BBQ and fireworks! It was really fun, we rode the dirt bikes, ate some amazing food, played baseball, and blew things up... oh and of course laughed (that's what we do best). Monday the actual day of the 4th was a crazy one (and HOT), B and Anthony came over and we went to Gator Jacks, my favorite place ever, and then took a walk through Porter Park. B had this amazing idea to go float the river so that's what we did. So fun, and really so relaxing. The water was perfect, and we just all had a good time enjoying Idaho in the summer. That night we decided to make the trek to Idaho Falls and watch the fireworks. I love fireworks so much, and these are the best I have ever seen. Thanks to the boys for letting me watch them right on the greenbelt! We had to walk a bazillion miles back to our car but totally worth it. We actually got home at a decent hour, and then watched the Justin Bieber movie of course!

 Anthony grilling! He is the grill master!

 Ri and I... seriously love her!

 Our feast (you can't see the meat though, but that was really good too)

 Softball! Hooray!

 Anthony showing us how you play baseball by yourself!

 Go B!

 Yes we are pyro's and proud of it!

 Sparklers are seriously my favorite!

 Thank you Rocky Mountain!

 Love them!

 Roman candles are the only way to celebrate the 4th!

 Ok and love them too!

 This is the face that B often gives me when I say something ridiculous. HA! I love it!

 Precious (I wish I was as tan as him, haha)!

 The twins... seriously. HA!

 Megan and I enjoying the fireworks and Oreos!

 Hooray for fireworks!

Tuesday we decided to have a fire and go shoot guns (I know, officially from Idaho!) It was fun, except for the fact that we got ATTACKED and I mean attacked by mosquitoes. Poor Josh rode his motorcycle out there and was swarmed by a million of them. Wednesday I had to go to work, BOO... but that night we left for Salt Lake for my next adventure of New Mexico. 

 A-town spraying down Josh. I'm surprised he didn't get West Nile.

 Obviously NOT in the mood for a picture.

 Oh sister I love you.

 Shooting, I know I look so hard core!

 

Ry and Anthony!

One of the best 4th's ever. I mean what if I was still working at Rocky Mountain Fireworks and Fur? I would have never had this opportunity, and most of the time while I was relaxing in the river I was remember how bad my feet hurt by that time of the day in years past. Happy Birthday America!