Fall Break 2018 - Day 4: Pumpkins & Corn

The first thing we did after getting off the train was go to the corn slide area.  The kids could slide into this big area filled with corn.  Allie seemed to like this the most and had fun playing in the corn.
After we all went through the corn maze.  It was super cute and small but not too easy or hard for kids to get through.  I think the kids all like that.

After that we let the kids pick out their pumpkins.  We told them they had to be able to carry them their selves and not be too big since we would have to find places for them in the car for our drive home.
I think the kids all picked good pumpkins for them.  They had a pumpkin daycare area where you put your pumpkins while you do other things.  So we had the kids put their names on their pumpkin and then we put them in daycare.  Such a clever idea.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 4: Morning Train Ride

When we got to the train station we found out that they still had seats available for the morning train but that we wouldn't be able to all sit together.
While we were looking into tickets a man came and offered us three of his tickets that he wasn't going to need because his grand daughter got sick.
So we saw that the seats wouldn't be next to each other so I asked who wanted to come with me and Tyler and Megan volunteered.

Margie was then able to get three seats together and two seats together.  Josh wanted to go with Dad and Allie wanted to go with Margie and Lloyd.
The tickets that were given to us were for the enclosed "first"class train.  I was hoping maybe I could get people to trade seats so I could sit by my kids but it didn't work out that way.  Tyler was at a table of two at one end of the car and Megan was at the table right next to me.

Megan sat by a sweet girl about her age and they chatted and played together all the way there and back.  It worked out perfect for her and they even gave Megan their address so that they can be pen pals.
Tyler sat next to a guy maybe in his twenties, so not as fun for him.  So I gave him my phone to play and that made him happy.  I sat with a cute family with only one child.  They were really nice and fun to chat with.

Because we were in the more expensive car we got hot apple cider and chocolate covered marshmallows.  The man at my table let me have his marshmallows so that I had one for Allie and Josh (so nice).
The others were in open cars.  They said the sun warmed them up quickly and ended up taking off their coats, while we were pretty cold the whole ride up.
It was about a half an hour train ride up to the pumpkin patch.  It was a nice ride with fun city and farms to look at. They gave each of the kids bags for their treats and crafts that they would do once we got there.
On the ride back from the pumpkin patch they gave us mugs and certificates for the kids.  I gave my mug to the guy who gave us the tickets so he could take it to his granddaughter who was sick.  So then the guy at my table gave me his mug saying they didn't need three.  So nice, right!

Fall Break 2018 - Day 3: Mesa Verde - Pithouses & Pueblos

Next was an up close look at what the houses look like.  We were able to see into a Pithouse where they would live and then we got to see how they made different rooms and areas of their villages.  It was nice to see them up close and then we didn't feel so bad about not taking the guided tours.
These were the last of the sites that we saw before we went back to our hotel.  We ended our trip by doing one more little hike around to see different up close sites.  We all thought these were all so neat to see and we were glad that we were able to learn about these people and their homes.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 3: Mesa Verde - Navajo Canyon Overlook

We got some lunch at the lodge that is kind of in the middle of the touring area.  After lunch we then went to different look out points that were right off of the main road.  One was Navajo Canyon Overlook were we pulled over and walked down a little trail to see this section of homes.  The little ones had a harder time seeing this one, but for those of us who could see it, we thought it was really cool.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 3: Mesa Verde - Balcony House

To see the Balcony House we had to hike from the road to the look out point.  It had warmed up nicely and it was the perfect little hike for our family.
We saw some fun trees, animals, and plants on our way before getting to the look out point.  Another cool sections of homes in the mountain.  So fun.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 3: Mesa Verde - Cliff Palace

We then started our tour around the park and stopped at many different spots to see the different places.  Probably the biggest is the Cliff Palace.  We could have gone on tours to go into some of the places, but you had to climb up and down some really big make shift ladders.  We didn't think that the girls (or mom) would want to go up and down those crazy ladders, so we opted to just drive around and see the places.

The weather was a little chilly but nice and sunny.  It was crazy to see these villages in the mountain and to think about how they got in and out of them.  We really liked seeing this one because we could all see it really easily from the look out point. 

Fall Break 2018 - Day 3: Mesa Verde - Spruce Tree House

We started off our day by checking out the main gift shop/information center located at the bottom of the main entrance.  They gave us some good tips on what we should do and where we should go.
After making our plan we then made our way to our first stop by driving like 45 minutes into the park.

We went to the small gift shop/information center inside the park.  Right outside this building was the Spruce Tree House.  It is hard to see in the pictures, but it was really cool to see in person. 
It was so amazing to see how smart these people where to build these houses and towns in the cliffs and sides of mountains.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 2: Swimming

After lunch we made our way towards the Four Corners.  By the time we got to the Four Corners Monument it was about to close so we decided we didn't have enough time to see anything so we didn't stay.
It was only about a half an hour away to Cortez from the four corners.  We checked into our hotel and got all unpacked.  Then it was time for dinner.

We found a yummy local BBQ place and ate our fill of yummy BBQ food.  We even had left overs that we took back to our hotel.  After we got to our hotel we all got on our swimsuits to go swimming.  Our kids love the water and can't get enough of it.
The water was warm at first but then it seemed to get cold.  I didn't last very long in the pool before I went to the hot tub.  The girls came with me to enjoy the warmer water.

After about 10 or so minutes I was ready to go get ready for bed.  Allie and I went up to the room and got bathed and ready for bed.  Margie brought up Megan when she was done and then Tony and the boys came back about 15 or so minutes later.
After the boys showered they went over to Margie and Lloyd's room to sleep while Tony and I got the girls to sleep.  Margie and Tony then got some ice cream before we all got some much needed sleep.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 2: Mexican Hat

Next stop was Mexican Hat.  It was pretty neat to see the rock balancing on a smaller rock.  And it really does look like a sombrero upside down.
They even have a little town called Mexican Hat where we ate lunch.  The food was not the best, but it was an experience.  I don't think that we will eat there again.  But hey, now we can say we've been to Mexican Hat.

Fall Break 2018 - Day 2: Goose Neck

We decided to drive the scenic route around to Cortez.  Our first scenic stop was to Goose Neck.  We first drove the same road way that Forrest Gump ran on in the movie.  It is a beautiful area with amazing views of Monument Valley.
Goose Neck was really pretty too.  It was neat to see a river at the bottom of the valley winding around the mountain.  The water was really dirty looking, but still pretty.