My little traveler.We just got back yesterday from our Grand Canyon trip with Grandma and Grandpa Buckholts and Great-Grandpa Madsen. Jonathan couldn't get the time off from work to come with so it was just Gwen and me. I was worried about not having her Daddy there to help, but it turns out that Grandma was the best substitution we could have hoped for. She even cried and cried when Grandma didn't stay with us after the trip. She really loves her.
The first day we drove and drove to Las Vegas and stayed in the Sam's Town Casino. It has this big indoor park with a stream and animatronic animals up on rocks in the center. A few times a day they do a water and laser show there. I wish I had my video camera running when Gwen walked into the casino for the first time. She was shocked by all the loud sounds and lights. She stood there frozen for a few moments until I prodded her out of her stupor. After finding our rooms Gwen and I changed into our swimming suits and went for a quick dip. Gwen is even more fearless in the water this year and every time we go swimming she gets more and more daring. She showed Grandma how she can blow bubbles in the water and "jump" into my arms from the side of the pool. Her jump in more of a collapse since she still doesn't have the coordination to do a real jump yet. After swimming, we went to dinner at a buffet which is a great choice if you're traveling with an almost 2-year-old. She could have olives, jello, pizza, and cherry tomatoes. I don't know where else you can get that combination. She finished her meal off with a messy chocolate ice cream cone. After I cleaning her up, we piled into the van again to go see the flowers and fountains at The Bellagio. Gwen loves flowers and has to say "hi" to all of them. She was almost overwhelmed by all the flowers in the Bellagio. I thought we'd be there forever greeting them all. Gwen was getting really sleepy though and we moved outside to watch the fountains. We had a nice moment together where she just put her head on my shoulder and watched the fountains that way. She was a little scared of them when they went off really high because they're a little bit loud. That night she slept in my bed with me. We didn't even ask for a crib knowing that she wouldn't stay in it anyway. She did fine in my bed though.
Gwen watching the water show. She knew all the animals and kept "roaring" at this bear.
She couldn't take her eyes off of it. She was wowed.
Gwen's chocolate ice cream messy face.
Saying "hi!" to all the flowers at the Belagio.
A scale model down all with plant material of the Belagio hotel and fountains.The next morning we drove the rest of the way to the Grand Canyon. Gwen did really well on the long drives. I had bought a portable DVD player and rented a bunch of Elmo and Signing Time videos from the library. That and a new coloring book seemed to keep her happy for the most part. When Gwen first saw the Grand Canyon she raised both of her hands over her head and said "Wow." I'm sure it was just how we all felt the first time we saw it in real life. We spent two days walking and driving all around the park. Gwen spent the time pushing her stroller around and wearing her doggy backpack (really a kid leash) so she didn't fall over the side. We even saw some "wild-life." Although, I think that by the way the deer and elk we saw just stood by the van and watched us, they're probably as wild as the burros they use to hike the canyon. Gwen loved seeing the elk and even tried to scare them by shouting "boo" at them. Too bad they couldn't hear her from inside the van. One night we went to a lecture on the canyon and Gwen fell asleep in Grandma's arms one night. I think that was probably one of her favorite parts of the trip. The other night we went to a star party and met a large number of geeks with expensive telescopes. I had this vision of my bored little girl trying to climb one and costing us thousands of dollars so we didn't stay too long. At our near-by hotel they only had king size beds so that meant that Grandma, Gwen, and I got to share one for two nights. It was funny because the littlest one definitely took up the most space in the bed. It was a fun and memorable trip- at least for me. Who knows how much if anything Gwen will remember, but at least I think she had a good time. 
Sitting on Grandma's lap looking out at the "Big Gully" as Grandpa Max calls it.
Yup, it's Grand alright.
Gwen and Mommy at the Grand Canyon. 
Even in the middle of the desert Gwen can find flowers to talk to.
Trying to climb the wall at Hopi Point. One disappointing part was that over half of the trail was closed due to construction. So we didn't get to see some of the neater places that we'd been to before.
Gwen was NOT going to be pushed around in her stroller - or let anyone else push it either. Remind me why I brought it again?
Gwen in her night-gown with her pacifier and sunglasses writing a love note for Grandma in the bathroom of our hotel room.
