Arches National Park on December 31, 2011.

A sampling of photos from Canyonlands National Park.

We just got back from a big trip:  4000 miles, 14 states, 13 days.  We drove through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming on the way out to Utah.  We spent the first night in western Kansas with my Aunt Stephanie.  The next night was in Fort Collins at my cousin Katie's house with her and my Aunt Georjean.  Katie came with us to Utah where we spent five and a half days in suburban Salt Lake City with Michael's family over Christmas.  After our visit in northern Utah, I dropped Katie off at the SLC airport so she could visit her boyfriend in Texas, and Michael, Pika, Nacho and I headed down to Moab.  We did some sightseeing and spent a night in Moab, and then drove through southern Utah and Colorado to Santa Fe where we stayed with my Uncle Jack and celebrated the new year.  On the way back to Alabama, we drove through eastern New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

The trip highlights for me are as follows:

(1)  Katie's safe return from Afghanistan on December 20 and getting to spend six days with her.

(2)  Skiing at Alta and hiking in Millcreek Canyon with Michael, Katie, and Michaels' dad (and of course Pika and Nacho!).

(3)  Seeing southern Utah for the first time and touring through Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

(4)  Green chile in Santa Fe on New Year's Eve.

Sunday adventures!  Michael is in red.  I'm in white.

LOVE.

Hard at work piloting the plane, huh?  Likely story!  oxoxoxo

A few more photos from our AT backpacking trip in October!  The top three photos, taken by me, are from our campsite.  The bottom gnarly tree, taken by Michael, is from the second day of hiking.