Grand Canyon North Rim

Grand Canyon National Park- North Rim

June 2010

North Rim Views:

Kellisa is fully loaded at the trailhead:

Our backcountry campsite in the middle of mountain lion country:

Kellisa was still on Eastern Time:

Kellisa and Lisa on top of Window Rock:

Zoomed:

Arizona's Highpoint- Humphreys Peak (12,633ft.) beyond the North Rim:

Enjoying a short trail:

Greenland Lake:

North Rim Views:

After two days at the North Rim, we headed to Las Vegas for a couple of days:

To Kellisa's delight, we rode the Monorail endlessly one afternoon:

Kid fun along the strip:

NATIONAL PARKS

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Doodle Doo's

Kellisa's First Haircut

July 31, 2012

When wet, Kellisa's hair was almost down to her waist. With the length and curls, it was getting too hard to maintain. It was surprisingly hard to decide to bring Kellisa for her first haircut. Lisa called around to find a place that could handle cutting Kellisa's hair. After making a few calls and even getting several recommendations, Lisa found the perfect place- Doodle Doo's. 

Getting ready:

The first cut:

Kellisa was able to watch The Wiggles:

A little glitter:

and sparkly nail polish:

The final result:

X-rays (1.11.11)

The hardware (now removed) for Kellisa's hips can be seen in the x-rays below. You can also see the tube leading down to her stomach cavity that drains her shunt:

Bottom of the Ocean

Kellisa enjoying the aquarium at Atlantis in the Bahamas. Long story short- this is a rare picture of Kellisa without her glasses because they sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after falling over the side of a cruise ship. I'll add that her lightweight, scratch resistant and transition glasses were less than two months old.

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

Lowest Point in North America

282 ft. Below Sea Level

Death Valley National Park

November 2010

Four Corners

Four Corners

Arizona-Utah-Colorado-New Mexico

June 2007

4 wheels - 4 states

The only place in the United States where four states border each other. Besides standing in four states, you are also standing in the Navajo Nation.

Southernmost Point

Southernmost Point

Continental U.S.A.

Key West, FL

November 8, 2003

Tropical Storm Beryl (2012)

Tropical Storm Beryl

Jacksonville, FL

May 27 and 28, 2012

Tracking as of 2pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012:

Satellite image of Beryl as it makes landfall:

1,345,596 people in metro Jacksonville and only four were at the south beach (accessible boardwalk) of Guana State Park as Tropical Storm Beryl (70mph sustained winds- just 5mph under hurricane strength) made landfall:

Egypt was a little hesitant, but this was her first tropical storm:

We tried to arrive just as the outer bands came ashore, butwe were a few minutes early. Kellisa was not as interested as she has been in the past (Flashback: Fay 2008):

However, after 15 minutes, the wind, rain and waves really started to meet our expectations. Egypt was done and went to the car with Lisa. As the weather deteriorated, Kellisa's enjoyment increased:

Looking south:

Three short clips of Kellisa enjoying the storm:

We lost one tree during the storm:

We were lucky, it fell within 10 feet of the house and Lisa's van:

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

New Mexico

March 2012

The Organ Mountains rise between Las Cruces and White Sands National Monument:

Our last training hike (7 miles) before the 2012 Bataan Memorial Death March:

Sierra Blanca rises to 11,981ft. above the sand dunes. After talking to a family from Albuquerque, we learned that Ski Apache on the slopes of Sierra Blanca Peak offers skiing for the disabled. Look for pictures of Kellisa snow skiing next year... 

Kellisa is all smiles after our hike as we drive back to the hotel: