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We woke in Albuquerque, New Mexico!!! Day 7  … Here we come!!!! We choose the black/grey/purple thirts for today … these were actually not printed correctly … I even tried to bleach them to lighten them up … I brought them along anyone so we could have 8 colors that match … this is what Stormy Cloud picked for today

We parked in Wal*Mart parking lot(FREE!!) after the Captain did some crazy sailing thru the night … till around 3:00 AM …..  It’s much easier for him to drive at night … especially with the little guys sleeping … the security guards where great … they even came and parked near us … how nice was that!!!

First … I should explain that I am writing and posting this on Friday from Bailey’s computer. I’m very sad … but it appears the hard drive on my macbook has died … I have called Apple and they have been wonderful about trying to help … but I need to make it to an Apple Store … very very sad … I had finally figured everything out … had a good rhythm going for loading to FB and getting the slides on our website … but hopefully in a few days I will get  corrected … we slayed the tire drag and now a new dragon has attacked …. just keep swimming … just keep swimming … all kidding aside … we are still having a great time and this is just another bump that will be ironed out …

Now … back to the events of today – Thursday …
We drove from Albuquerque, New Mexico to the Petrified Forest and Painted desert in Arizona … what a beautiful place … the pictures probably won’t tell the whole story … if was SUPER hot and we heard some complaining but nothing we couldn’t work thru .. we bought the America the Beautiful pass earlier this year … so it get us into all the parks … yea … love being thrifty

The kids earned their first Junior Ranger badges … the program here was free … they each got some worksheets to do (including Jordan … yea… all 4 worked on them) … and when they were completed, they got a small badge to pin on … and a larger patch that can be ironed on …

Here was what we were able to accomplish in a about half a day with 4 kids (with such a wide age range):

• Hiked the Painted Desert Rim Trail … a one mile loop .. great views of the Painted Desert
• Hiked the Puerco Pueblo Trail …. a 0.3 mile loop to see the ruins of the ancestral Pueblon people
• Hiked the Blue Mesa … 1 i mile loop … down and back up the mesa … to see the badland hills of bluish bentonite clay … a lots of petrified wood…
• Stopped at the Painted Desert Visitors Center
• Toured the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
• Stopped at Overlooks:
  • Chinde Point
  • Pintado Point
  • Nizhonl Point
  • Whipple Point
  • Lacey Point
  • Historic Old Route 66 Road
  • Newspaper Rock
• Stopped at Rainbow Forest Museum …. we watch the movie here … we also walked around and check out the giant longs on the Giant Log Trail
• We also stopped at the Gift Shop
• During the day … Jessie got another hiking medallion … I got 2 hiking medallions: Painted Desert and Petrified Forest … Bailey gota necklace that’s a butterfly that says “Daddy’s Girl”… I also bought a small box of petrified wood …

After a hot day in the desert … we hopped back in the Flying Dutchman and heading to Winslow, Arizona …. of course, we had to stopped and get our picture taken “standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona” … of course, the kids have no idea what we are talking about and think we are crazy …. but they loved the fact that we walked across the street to a local restaurant .. Bojo’s … and they got to “eat-out” … everyone had their own seat … and A/C … and got to eat something other than easy mac or sandwiches … our waitress’ name was Rose … she was awesome … very patient with the 6 of us …. fun times!!!

Almost forgot, till Julie just reminded me, we found the Tee Pee Lodge that they modeled the cone motel in the disney movie CARS … so cool … Sea Monkey LOVES cars … and anything Lightening McQueen … so he is loving everything on Route 66 … it is just awesome … since that’s where the idea for CARS came from ….

Then … mom and dad were ready to crash … some long nights recently … and hot days … across different time zones … us adults were ready for some sleep (they get to sleep while we are driving) … so … we headed for Meteor Crater RV park … check this out … it was $12 with our Good Sam’s club … that is only for water and electric … no sewer hook up … but they have a dump station …. or you could pay $27 for water/electric/sewer …. I’m sure you know that we went for the $12 …we are just spending the night and heading out in the morning …. they do have great shower houses here … it’s the kind that has individual rooms with their own sink/toilet/shower … so I can take everyone to one room if I need to ….

For tonight … the RV tank is pretty much empty so …. Everyone can take a quick shower in the RV … and if needed we can use the bathhouse in the morning …

I’m sure I’ll remember things I want to add to this post … but for now … Off to bed … will load pics as soon as I can figure how from Bailey’s computer