Carlsbad Caverns

So we decided to go down to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico yesterday. It is a little drive-- over 3 hours each way. We left in the morning and made it to the town of Carlsbad for lunch. We then drove the rest of the way to the caverns. We stopped by the visitor's center first to buy our tickets and look at some of the exhibits. Ethan liked playing in the mock cave that they have!

Ethan in the mock cave in the visitor's center

Ethan looks like he's ready to go caving!

 

Adalyn too!

There are two different ways to get down to the cave. You can either go through the natural entrance and walk in through cave passages for an hour until you get to the main cavern. The other option is to take an elevator ride straight from the visitor's center down to the main cavern! Since we had two little kids, we decided to take the easier way! The elevator takes you 750 feet down into a side cavern that has been converted to a below ground rest area, complete with gift shop, restrooms, and drinking fountains.

The main cavern is HUGE. They have built a paved walking path with hand railings so you can walk around it. The walk takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours! We were probably about 2 hours since we were slow and took a few breaks. They have also put some lights throughout the caverns, but trust me, it is still mostly black and dark. The pictures I have are some of the most well lit parts and I tried to take lots more that were too dark to see. I can only imagine being an early cave explorer with only hand lanterns. It would be very difficult to figure out where you are and how massive it truly is.

It seemed like we were some of the only ones crazy enough to bring such young kids into the cave! It was a lot of work since you can't take strollers. Ethan insisted on being carried a good portion of the trip too... However, it was worth it to see this natural wonder.

These stalactites looked like crystals on the ceiling

You can see the hand railings lining the trail

 

 

A column in the cave they call "Rock of Ages"

June and July fun

We have had a busy and memorable visit to Logan and Idaho Falls!

We started out with a visit to Logan. We had a lot of fun visiting with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Lana, my parents, and my brothers. We got to see Uncle Roy and Aunt Helen and Paul and Lisa as well!

We went down the Park City to ride the Alpine slide, went to the Smash Lab with Paul, visited Aunt Lana at USU (including her friend "Snappy the turtle"), had a great picnic in the park, went to the Logan city pool and water slide, went to the new movie Inside Out, went shopping, and everything in between. Enjoyed lots of good food together. Ethan had fun being a "crazy driver" on Aunt Lana's power wheels. As usual, he was fascinated with the stairs the whole trip and climbed up and down them everywhere we went. Adalyn was sweet as usual and loved meeting everyone!

Adalyn cuddling with Mimi

Adalyn cuddling with Uncle Ben

Ben and I on the alpine slide. Looks like I won!

After our Logan visit, we headed up to Idaho Falls to welcome home Kristen's younger brother Michael from his mission to Ghana. Everything worked out well with his flights so we didn't have to load up and drive down the Salt Lake like the other family waiting at the airport had to do! (They were all lined up at the airport with their signs and everything when they received word that their missionary wasn't on the flight because she had missed the connection in SLC).

Welcome home, Elder Gardner!

The three babies under the age of 9 months! (L to R: Finn, Ty, and Adalyn)

We did a day trip up to Kristen's grandmother's ranch in Salmon, Idaho. The kids had fun playing on the swing over the creek. We had a lot of fun riding the four wheeler and a little Honda dirtbike around on the trails.

Ethan eating some ice cream with some of his cousins (L to R: Ethan, Paige, Cade, and Ellie)

The pretty creek right next to the house

The kids went with Grandma Great to collect fresh eggs from the chicken coop (L to R: Emma, Grandma Great, Ellie, Cade, Ethan, Paige)

 One of the fields and surrounding beauty of the ranch

Another field with the creek

Ethan loved the swing! All the kids took turns. The adults took turns pushing them!

Ethan and I on the four wheeler. I thought Ethan would want to go on a ride with me but he just wanted me to drop him off at the swing 50 feet away!

We also did a trip to Mesa Falls. It is about an hour and a half drive away from Idaho Falls. Very beautiful area. Birders like Uncle Neil would like it as there are nesting hawks and other birds around. (Quick funny story: Ethan is potty training but on the long car rides we put him in a diaper just in case. We were pulling in to the parking lot at Mesa Falls when he asked "Am I wearing a diaper?" Quite the ominous question from a 3 year old, especially since we both knew that he wasn't wearing one... Sure enough, he had an accident!)

Mesa Falls, ID

Kristen, Adalyn, and Ethan before the short walk to the falls

Family picture at the falls

Kristen with Adalyn in her carrier

Of course, we also spent plenty of time in Idaho Falls with family. The girls all went shopping together, we went frisbee golfing, we set up some kid pools and an inflatable water slide in the yard, we went to the Rexburg temple, we went to the Fourth of July fireworks. Lots of cooking, eating, laughing, and fun.

Adalyn with her cousin Emma (middle child of Kim and Ryan)

Ethan playing with his cousin Ty (youngest of Jenn and Clay)

Adalyn all dressed up for church

Fireworks show

Such a memorable trip! We are happy to be safely back home. Big thank you to everyone who made it possible!

Ethan on the car ride, eating fruit snacks and watching Paw Patrol. Two days in the car each way made for a long trip with kids!