Cross-Country Trip Day 8 - Moab, Utah & Arches National Park

WOW - what an AWESOME day!!! It started with breakfast in a little steakhouse diner in Moab. From there we headed 5 minutes away (such a LONG drive - LOL) to Arches National Park. We hadn't even fully entered the park before both Don & I were like kids at Christmas. It was so incredibly beautiful. I know I've gushed about other sites we've seen - but today was absolutely AMAZING. We started our adventure in the Visitor's Center so I could get my park stamp in my national parks passport book. We watched a movie, shopping in the bookstore and headed out to see the sites. As we drove along the winding road to the back of the park, we kept stopping, taking pictures and laughing at how many times we both said "WOW" as we drove along. We got out at the back of the park to walk to Landscape Arch. It was a little rough with the boys because the path was covered in snow & ice - but the little troopers did well. We got some amazing pictures. OF COURSE - on the way back my camera decided to start being funky and the battery died. SO I missed a couple of pictures. We got in the car and started taking batteries out of EVERYTHING - the boys' toys, the glove compartment, the diaper bag - and wouldn't you know - not ONE single set of batteries had enough juice for my camera. SO - we drove back to the visitor's center, picked up some batteries and headed back up to the back of the park. We took some more pictures and drove to other sites in the park. We saw some amazing arches. As we headed out of the park, the sun was setting and you would not believe the amazing light that shed on the canyon walls and arches. It was the most incredible experience!!! I can't wait to share the pictures!! I am up to 415 pictures - and we're only one week into our 4 week trip!!! As we drove back into Moab to go back to Pasta Joe's to eat (Patrick wouldn't stop asking for more ravioli today and since they were so good and brave today we gave in) - it dawned on me that in less than a week I'll be running a half-marathon!! I can't believe we'll be in Phoenix in 3 days!! This trip is flying by! Although we've had a couple of moments when we've second-guessed doing this trip - I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. No matter what happens on Sunday at the half-marathon, I'll never forget this trip. It has been one adventure after another, and one learning experience after another. I hope & pray that the boys will remember this - at least parts of it. At least they'll have a million pictures to help jar those memories for years to come!!! Tomorrow we head southwest to Saint George, Utah - stopping in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks on the way.