Amazing Race Part 16

I can't believe I have time to post another blog....but at the same time I can't believe I am still documenting our summer trip :). Oh well.

Today we woke up to the news that all gas in DFW will be out over the Labor Day weekend. Great. We had plans to drive 2 hours to watch Goober's first cross country meet and then to Dallas for a fun overnight deal at the Perot. My hubby isn't too worried so we are going to carry on like normal for now. Thankfully my brain couldn't sleep and I was up way early this morning. So I went and filled up my tank (for a crazy price) and hit up a SPIN class....ouch, my thighs are still screaming at me!!

I am counting my blessings though that no gas is the only thing we have suffered through during his awful Hurricane. I am so overwhelmed with how many people are helping out and standing in line to volunteer!!! GO TEXAS!! GO JESUS!!!

I also have to mention that today is our Gotcha Day Anniversary for Goober and Ribbit. On this day in 2011 we went to court and made our family official. This was the day that two siblings, who would have been considered step siblings to the rest of the world, were made WHOLE, fully WHOLE siblings with the same mom and dad and promised to forever be treated as ours.....whether they like it or not :). I slipped some fun little notes in their lunchboxes for them to find later on today and we will probably celebrate tonight!


ok...On to the next day on our Amazing Race.

After a great night of sleep in our Tipi, Goober and I headed back over to Monument Valley High and even though my lungs were burning and I had a nosebleed at the end I got in 5 great miles. It was cool and I barely broke a sweat ------could have even used a jacket!

We headed back to camp, ate some oatmeal, took another long hot bath (not knowing when our next one would be) and found our next clue. We were to drive through the Valley of the Gods and name all the monuments before we looked up their real name. This was super fun for the kiddos and gave us something to do as we would through back country roads. The valley is low and it was quite foggy. We saw several people camping out in the middle of no-where and we didn't pity them at all ;).

We all guessed things like Train. Locomotive, etc. But this is 7 Sailors Monument

I'm telling you ...Ninja Warrior training happened everywhere out West!

My ninjas!

This was Lady in a Bathtub...our guesses were nothing close :)

From there we left and headed to Gooseneck State Park which is almost a replica of Horseshoe Bend but its a double oxbow. There was no good way to take pictures and it was really just a quick scenic stop. We were glad it was still open on the Fourth of July as some of our other stops were unfortunately closed. However, God had a plan and our next stop was one of Adam and I's favorite!!

Isn't it beautiful? How can people see things like this and not believe in a Creator?

We headed to Fort Bluff Historic Site and from the minute we pulled up we knew it was going to be AWESOME. It is run by the Mormon church and they have done an amazing job of restoring and keeping the old Bluff City fort and cabins in tact. Its a small village filled with amazing history and facts and looks as if you  have stepped back in time everywhere you go. The staff was amazing and so delightful. They knew we were coming and had everyone ready to give us our clue once our kiddos completed the scavenger hunt--which led them to learn about everyday life at Fort Bluff.

Learning to lasso

Panning for Gold...we found some nuggets!

Inside the old church

Our first mission though upon arrival was LUNCH. They didn't have any lunch type foods and all the restaurants were closed for 4th of July so we did what we had to do and ate cookies, brownies and ice cream for lunch. It was all homemade and SO STINKING GOOD!!! Then we headed over to get dressed up like pioneers and learn!! The kids loved seeing weaving looms, hewn pegs, original furniture and Goober said the best part was the clean bathrooms :). We all agree that if we are ever anywhere close again we will go back to Fort Bluff Historic Site.

Hey guys, come in my TIPI!!

My sweet cowboys and pinoeer lady!

This was soooo much fun for everyone!

After we completed our scavenger hunt we were handed a clue that told us to head to the 4 Corners to take a picture in the corner of all 4 states; AZ, CO, UT and NM. This was fun and we only had to wait about 30  minutes to get our picture since so many others ventured out to do the same.

CHEESE

We were all covered in dirt, had great sock tan lines and were trying to take a quick picture since the line was growing behind us!

From there we headed to our final state COLORADO!!! I was personally so ready to see this state that my dad has spent my whole life telling me about. He grew up traveling around the world and yet most of his stories and best memories are from Japan and Colorado. As we headed into Cortez there was another drastic scenic change. We were all of sudden in the presence of trees again and fast food places. It sounds awful but I felt relaxed and like I was home the minute I saw trees...the West is breathtaking but dagum do I like the look of trees!

TREES....at least a little!

Retro Inn..stay here if you head to Mesa Verde or Cortez, Co!!!

We checked into our RETRO INN, a neat little spot on the main street filled with vinyl records, giant elvis statues, fun retro colors and a retro camper and ALL 5 of us immediately LAID IN THE BEDS....ahhh, beds, not on the floor, with mattresses and pillows! We didn't move for a solid hour and then our stomachs began to rumble. Since it was the 4th we decided to go out and celebrate with the locals. We found THE BEST hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, La Casitas and sat out on the porch in the great weather eating some of the best chips, dip, chicken, beef, fajitas we have ever had!

An hour long chess game....I think Dad won?

Hanging out with our good friend Elvis!

Inside the retro camper! Super cute!

We also found a great hill to park at to see the Cortez fireworks and the kids loved sitting on top of the van to watch them! Adam, Goober and Ribbit also enjoyed playing a game of chess with the giant size chess board at our hotel. Goober is pretty good!!!

Awesome way to spend the 4th of July!

Not too shabby

Everyone listed their favorite part of the day and fell into a deep sleep that night after getting in late from watching the fireworks.

Goober-touching 4 states at once
Ribbit-dressing up in pioneer clothes
Little Man-panning for gold at the Fort
Mom-LUNCH OF ICE CREAM AND BROWNIES ( i mean we had to right?)
Dad-all of the history at the Fort