The Platt Family Corps of Discovery: Grand Canyon (Day One)

We arrived in Grand Canyon in the evening and set up camp in the dark.  The most beautiful campsite (227) we have ever stayed at, we were taken back by how perfect it was.  After our first night we woke up to find an Elk in our campsite, a little ways away and enjoyed seeing our first wildlife. 

 We took it easy that morning with a pancake breakfast and then ventured out to the Visitor Center to find out all that Grand Canyon offers. 

 We checked in and got the Jr. Ranger assignments, saw the visitor center movie about the Grand Canyon (which dad fell asleep in) and then headed out to the Rim.  

We walked along the rim and even made it out (by bus) to the Hermit’s Rest (the tip of the hiking trails).  We stayed out that way and enjoyed the beautiful sunset of the Canyon at Hobi Point. 

 We headed out to Powell Point to see the stars after the sunset.  There were no lights out there and we were the last ones to leave the point.  It was dark and scary, but thankfully we caught the last bus back to the main route and weren’t left to hike back as some of us thought was going to happen. John and Jason saw a shooting star. 8)  It was a surreal feeling being the last ones off the Grand Canyon and the singing of the girls in the dark was amazing.  We were singing “Rejoice in the Lord always” and “This is the Day the Lord has made” and “Trust and Obey, hearing them pray and tell God they trusted Him to help them was memorable. 

Here are some other fun shots from day one:

The Platt Family Corps of Discovery: Oklahoma

Oklahoma, once past Tulsa, was flat as we anticipated.  We drove south to Quartz Mountain Nature Park to camp with Andy and Kristyn (My twin sister and her husband).  Driving in the flat land it was surprising to see before us “mountains” pop up. 

We got to Quartz Mountain and found a camping spot right in the middle of a field with more trees than any sight.  The outhouse was filled with stink bugs and mosquitos.  After the first night we hiked up the New Horizon Trail. 

The climb was some tough rock scramble.  The kids did a great job following dad off the main trail.  We were close to the top when Kiley and Emily decided to head back down. 

The beginning of the trail

The twins made it higher than this pic, they did great!

I took them back down and Dad, John and Karli went on to the very top of the trail. 

At the top!

It was a very hot day and they all did very well on the hike.  Afterwards we went back to the campsite and rested under the trees, wash clothes and dishes and hung out with Andy and Kristyn. 

Kiley resting in Andy and Kristyn's hammock

Karli sleeping on Susie in the tent

Washing some clothes

In the afternoon we went to check out the lake.  At first it seemed to be all mucky, but then after getting past the shore it was a great place to swim.  The afternoon was full of swimming. 

The "Lake" (it was actually a reservoir)

Andy and Kristyn, after we showered, took us into the nearest town, Altus, to Applebee’s for dinner. 

This lovely, freaky clown made balloons for all the kids.

It was nice to be in some air conditioning and eat a real meal.  We enjoyed a nice campfire, where Uncle Andy read to us from Chosen Ones (Aedyn Chronicles).  The kids enjoyed his reading around the fire.  He read from the book all three nights and allowed us to take the books with us on our journey to finish. 

The last day together we enjoyed time at the lake and a cookout with hamburgers and watermelon.  It was a great Fourth of July celebration and would not be complete without fireworks, so we went into town and saw them too.  The evenings got really windy, almost knocking out tents over, Jason and Andy had to get up in the middle of the night to secure the tent with extra stakes. 

Our last night was a crazy night.   We put the kids down earlier than us, and enjoyed sometime with Andy and Kristyn which lead to us watching some crazy teenagers almost setting the park on fire.  

The Platt Corps of Discovery: How it came about

A few years ago my husband kept talking about his childhood trip to Alaska that he went on when he was six.  He and his family traveled with both sets of Grandparents and headed out to Alaska.  It was the best trip of his lifetime and he wanted our family to do something like that, but not the same trip.  So, we kept a list of different places both of us had not been to but wanted to go.  Then our son started learning about Yosemite and kept talking about wanting to go see the big Sequoia trees.  Combine the ideas and bingo...our trip was formed.

So, the past January we sat down researched and confirmed spots in all the campgrounds we would be staying in.  Yes, we were going to be camping for an entire month.  This would be a hardcore vacation with lots of work.

I have kept a journal of how our trip went and am slowly adding it to this blog.  I have labeled them all The Platt Family Corps of Discovery.  I have put our campsite numbers in case you are looking for a place to camp and really like our photos and comments.  I will say, God was good to us in helping get FANTASTIC sites and they were blessings.  So, I hope you enjoy our journey as much as we enjoyed experiencing it.

Our family would like to encourage anyone out there looking to do a trip like this...just do it or it will never happen.  We didn't think we would have the funds, but our whole family drank water the entire trip; ate peanut butter and honey sandwiches and chips for lunch almost every day we were out there and we stretched the hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, bake beans and spaghetti as far as we could.  Our main cost was the gas, which thankfully (Praise God) took a downward spiral during our trip (for the most part) and when we did have eat out we all ate off the dollar menu at McDonald's/Jack-in-the-box.  It doesn't sound like fun if you look at it that way, but it enabled us to afford to go.  We also saved any gift cards we recieved over the year and those came in handy!  We didn't have to really pay for groceries for the first part of our trip because I used the Visa Gift Cards people had given us, as well as fast food ones too.

Despite the things we had to cut back on, it was an amazing trip.  Our kids learned the value of a dollar as they too had to save up their money to purchase any souvenirs that they wanted.  This was a bonding and building month for our family and I am thankful for the privilege to spend 24/7 with my whole family for a month.

Enjoy!

Baseball season

Baseball Season I love. Not only because I get to watch my son play.  I just love baseball.  And he is a lot of fun to watch!  I enjoy the smile on his face when his team makes a great play.  I love the passion that he gets to do his best.  I love the anticipation he has for the next play.  I love baseball.  I love watching my son play ball. He is a great player.  I am a little bias, but he is good. 8)  The best part is my husband is the coach.  The two of them are great together.  

One of the other reason I love it, the girls and I get to come and cheer our boys on!

Daddy Daughter Date at Chick-fil-a

Jason found out about this event at Chick-fil-a and signed himself and the girls to go.  They were so excited they got all dressed up and even helped dad with his outfit. 

They looked great.  Ready for a night at Chick-fil-a and time with their favorite man (and mine too, of course.)

The girls with Chick-fil-a cow was adorable.  The excitement in their faces undeniable!  

I love those girls! 

Daddy and Kiley

Having more fun! 

Daddy, the cow and Karli

The tables were beautifully decorated.  They had reservations, a waitress that took 

care of all their needs and  they also got to go in...

Something that made their faces look this excited...

A LIMO RIDE!!!!  

OH THE EXCITEMENT!!! (Check out the video below for their reactions)

After the Limo ride...they enjoyed a Cookies and Cream shake for desert.  8)  

 Apparently, Karli adored the cow and wouldn't stop giving her a hug.  So they gave finally good-byes to end a fun evening.  

What an AWESOME DADDY!  

They can't wait to do it again!

(Video of their fun reaction)