Tickles 'n' Giggles: Mesa Verde and Four Corners

We were able to go with Brian's family for our second annual spring break trip to a national park. Last year we went to Moab, and this year we decided to go to Colorado to Mesa Verde National Park. At first we thought it would be warm since it is further south than us, but after reading up on it, it was actually the same if not colder than we were because it is so high in elevation. So we decided we would stay in a hotel instead of camping it (plus we didn't have to haul as much stuff that way).
On the way down we stopped in Monticello to see the temple there. It is such a little temple! But also so beautiful since its out in the open with very few buildings (since the town is so little).

Then we went on a very fun adventure to some cliff dwellings. These were not well advertised, park-like cliff dwellings, it was just some out on probably someone's private land. Anyway, we got the directions which were really vague. We drove out through a bunch of dirt roads and had some heated discussions (well atleast in Grandma & Grandpa's car- Avery thought it was pretty funny. We were told (since he was in the their car) that he said, "Grandma and Grandpa are fighting over the directions, HaHaHa." Silly kid.) Well we did finally find the place and it was pretty cool. We got to climb up into the dwellings and everything. Mason loved getting to go in the backpack.

Brian's dad had to hold our feet as we climbed down because the first part was a long drop

Then we had more discusions about how to find out way out of all the dirt roads. We ended up going the long way to Colorado through Arizona and New Mexico. We tried to get to the Four Corners Monument in time, but didn't make it. We took a picture at sign right by it anyway.

Then we drove to Cortez, Co and had got all settled in. The next day we awoke to 2-3 inches of snow! It was pretty chilly and didn't want to do alot of hiking so we decided to go up to the Anazasi Center and look at the Museum there. We learned all about the Pueblos and the history of the land there. Then we got to go through the museum that had alot of interactive things to do. Lily and Avery really liked crushed the corn into meal with a rock. They all liked the microscopes of different plants as well.

the extinct Mountain Lion or something like that

Then we saw some ruins (which we had to hike 1/2 mile up to). At first you couldn't see them at the top of the hill and Brian was like, "what where are they? Did they take it all?" However, upon walking around we did discover the actual ruins.

Then we went to Hovenweep Park where there were more ruins. The snow had melted by then.

Lily & Kate- pretty much inseparable

Lily and Kate were our stragglers on this big hike around to a bunch of cliff dwellings. The whole time they were getting distracted as well as belting out "Let it Go!" along with all the actions. Lily has quite the attitude when it comes to the "the cold never bothered me anyway" part. Then they decided they were Elsa and tried to "move" the sky as shown in the following picture.

Then next day we were able to go up to Mesa Verde. Its high up in the mountains and mesas. Most of the cliff dwellings were closed (we were a week too early for opening). However, we were able to go into one of them which was really neat. We even got to go down in one of the kievas, which is used for spiritual ceremonies. Avery also got to do the Junior Ranger Program and get a cool little badge. He thought that was really neat and even let Lily wear it the next day.

there were like 30 different cliff dwellings along these mesas.

walking through the ruins

he was such a good kid the whole time!

Cliff Palace- it looked pretty cool from far away but it was closed to go inside

The next day we spent listening to conference, lounging about and doing a little mountain biking. Brian and his brother both got new mountain bikes and were itching to do some riding. There was short trail ride to some waterfalls by our hotel.

Then we went to the Four Corners Monument where we actually got to go into the monument and stand in 4 places at once- Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. There were also a bunch of Native Americans selling jewlery and things. Avery really wanted to get something so he chose a blue dream catcher. Lily got a red necklace with a kitty charm. Avery is very convinced that his dream catcher has been working at catching all his bad dreams that he has been having (which he has been sleeping better).