After our visits to Walnut Canyon National Monument, Winslow AZ, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with Gramm Cracker & Peepa — we had a rainy day of shopping

and then B & I went on our first date in months! We loved it and were so grateful. We went to the gym, walked to dinner and then finished with ice cream!

It was perfect.  You could probably hear me happily chattering away all the way from NC!

Saturday we had such a special day as we visited the Grand Canyon for the first time! I will be doing many different posts on the G.C. because we are learning so much and there’s so much to share…. but for now, our first look at the Canyon!

Here we are, ready for our first glimpse. We’ve waited a long time for this.

We had the kids close their eyes and we led them to the railing at the first look out point.

The girls were all giggles and RR’s cheeks were like a chipmunk’s…. then “3 – 2 – 1 – open!”.

A quiet and reverent-like “Woooooooow” was breathed out by each of us . What an overwhelming experience. I had tears in my eyes and chills from the top of my head to my toes. I’ll never forget that first glimpse.

The kids were so adorable just staring in wonder.

Beauty beauty beauty all around

Thanks Gramma-photographer for capturing the moment for us!

Look at Gramm Cracker and Peepa climbing up there:

It was special we got to experience this with them!

After Mather Point we checked out Bright Angel Trail which we will hike later this week:

Then we made our way to Hopi Point for sunset, stopping at a few points along the way.

 We loved finding quiet places where nobody was around:

During some of the walking, AB took the shuttles with Gma & Peepa and they got their own special views:

Those mule deer (ELK) are huge! Can’t believe how they close they were.

They all started their Junior Ranger assignments too:

At Hopi Point, we got more glimpses of the Colorado River.

Peepa hung in there with us despite terrible sinus and congestion issues.

We tried to stay out of the wind so we could make it until sunset. What amazing color changes!

It really was cold up there but despite a few moments where we weren’t sure we could endure:

We were able to stay and enjoy those last droplets of sun!

It was such a great first experience at the Canyon.

I think RR and B were the most moved/ enthralled because of all the reading and studying they had done in preparation! Much more to come….