A Grand Birthday
Posted: June 28, 2009 Filed under: Family | Tags: arizona, children, day trip, Family, grand canyon, nature, vacation 63 Comments
My birthday party this year was a grand event.
The day started bright and early with my family of six piling into my truck like sardines. We drove for four hours, the wind coming in the windows growing considerably cooler as we drove north. The speakers maintained a continuous stream of music ranging from brand new pop music that made the teenagers happy to the classics that make my husband and I feel young while at the same time, reminds our children how old we are.
The Grand Canyon is incredible.
We left the Natural wonder of the world at 9:30 pm and didn’t arrive home until nearly 2 am. The radio crooned quietly to not disturb the sleeping children, both big and small alike and the wind through the windows changed from chilly to fiery as we drove south.
I’m sharing some of the pictures, but this post isn’t about the beauty of the grand canyon.
This post is about spending over seventeen hours in close quarters with my husband and children and enjoying the experience.
It was a great birthday.
Claire Collins 
Glad you guys had a great time….the photos are awesome.
Raven
http://cherokeebydesign.wordpress.com/
Thank you very much! It was a wonderful trip.
Happy birthday. I’m glad you had such a good time. I love the Grand Canyon, although when I went I was only about ten and I had a really bad experience with a hairy foreign woman. But other than that it was great.
I dont think any of my children had mind warping experiences with any foreigners. I must admit that I have never heard so many languages spoken in one day. It was really neat though to see that all of the people there were very considerate of others. I really couldn’t have asked for a more perfect experience.
happy b’day! Did u get to see the sunrise/sunset there?
Thanks Spike! Actually, we did go down to the west end and catch the sunset. We are planning on going again next year, and camping in the park and being there for sunrise and sunset both! I’m already looking forward to it!
Wonderful photos and a lovely post, Claire.
Sounds like a fabulous birthday.
Your pal,
Alan
Thanks Alan!
I couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Sooo… what did you get me for my birthday?
Well, I wanted it to be special, of course. So I got you a case of whiskey, an all expense paid week at O’Malley’s Dog Track, and pure morphine…
I wanted to send a card too, but, the fact is I ended up spending the rest of my free time with this gal called Ty. Sorry, but I’ve been busy listening to her story. It’s a very captivating and entertaining one…
You always give the best presents.
Tell Ty I said Hi. She’s an interesting girl. I’m glad you like her.
That was beautiful and eloquent as always Claire! You know I love photography and those are some great pics!
Congrats on spending quality time with your family with no problems, that’s hard to believe for me. But then again my family made “The Sopranos’ look like a Norman Rockwell fantasy.
I already wished you a happy birthday but I didn’t tell you what I bought you. It was going to be a surprise but oh well; next time you to the local poker den you will find that your ‘tab’ has been cleared! Yep, all $5,345!!! You will also find I left you a bottle of Grey Goose with Freddy! And when you next see ‘Dirty Martha,’ follow her into the bathroom!!
Happy Birthday!!
Damn comments you can’t rescind. That’s the last time I comment without reading the other comments thoroughly. Alan beat me to the punch, just like you did with the damn 1pound burger.
I am so glad you can’t rescind your comment Scott. Your comment was a riot! Thanks for all of the birthday presents!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!! You Crab!
Thanks!! You Bear!
So…are you a crab also? Or are you a gemini twin, Bear?
CRABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
ohhhh a fellow crab.. So sometime between the 22 and the 30th. That narrows it down a LOT. And it makes it within the last week or so. Will you tell me a day? Like,,, hmmm last Tuesday?
😉
Happy Birthday! Seeing the beauty of nature is all fine in itself, but it’s so much better with friends. Thanks for your comment! Made me laugh XD
Great to see you Spamwarrior! I’m glad the comment made you laugh because me in a swimsuit would make you shudder. 🙂
Was the lazy eldest child with you? Did he sleep the whole time?
Actually, the fresh air regenerated him. He started making plans to go back to the canyon and camp and hike with his younger brother. More incentive to get a job.
You’ve certianly earned a nice birthday.
Happy belated birthday!
Thank you Rooster! All I did to earn it was to be born! I’ll let my mother know.
Certainly.
Absolutely 🙂
I could’ve fixed the typo… but this is more fun.
Any child will tell you it’s not all that hard to give birth to a child. They do a lot of the work, plus you should just be grateful that they blessed you with their soul.
I always thought birthdays should be for the parents, not the kid.
Everything is for the kids, I thought you of all people could relate to that…
You’re right Rooster. I’m going to talk to Don Mills about this. I’m sure we’re doing something wrong when everything we do is for the kids.
Please let me know the error of my ways.
We need a bigger forum for that RR. 😉
O U C H ! ! !
Happy Birthday CC, sounded like an awesome time. All the best, FJ.
Thank you FJ! I actually thought about you when I posted the pictures. I almost wrote, “Not as good as Fundamentaljelly would do, but I’m an amateur.”
What a great birthday! (Happy day, Claire!) To have a day with family, cool breezes and the Grand Canyon…I think I’ll steal it for my birthday some day.
Thanks for the pics – wonderful vicarious pleasure.
Thank you Pamela! It was a beautiful day. I think everyone should go at least once. You really realize how incredible and mind blowing nature is.
Dear Claire,
I just found your blog, only to find out I missed your Birthday! So here is a belated Many Happy Returns.
I’m so pleased you had a wonderful time and thank you for the photos of your trip. What an adventure!
All the best,
Lily Fossil
Lily, I am glad you found me! Thank you for the birthday wishes! Come visit again soon.
what a great way to spend your birthday! was there cake as well 😉
We had pie at work. We get to pick what we want and our receptionist picks it up and brings it in for the office. It’s been so hot lately that I decided some nice fruit pies would be good, so we had cherry, apple, and lemon meringue pies from Village Inn. They were excellent.
I had little debbie brownies after lunch at the canyon. Does that count as cake?
WOW! that looks fantastic!
I have to get to your country one day and see it for myself! LOSTL! It will be grand, just like your adventure!
And have a happy birthday as well!
Bob
Bob, when you come visit, we will go to the drive in and then the grand canyon!
HOLY MOSES! FER SURE! wowsers! Now i just need to get an acting job to get me over the seas!
Bob
Sounds like Hell to me but Happy Birthday, Claire. Glad you enjoyed your trip.
And, Eric, if you’re reading, my old dad used to always say that a really bad experience with a hairy foreign woman is better than no experience with a hairy foreign woman. Not sure what that means but if he said it, it must be true.
All the best
DOn
Thanks Don! Your dad really shouldn’t talk about your mom that way.
I would think you would like the grand canyon. There’s not much else out there older than you is there, my friend?
Ha!
Claire, you’re baiting the bear. Good thing he’s asleep.
Shhh Alan, don’t poke him. I owe him one, okay a couple… he likes picking on me.
I wouldn’t poke him. He’s not my type. Plus he’s too old.
But seriously ladies and germs…
And crabby. Don’t forget crabby. Next thing you know, there will be a post that the problem with young people is that they don’t know how to poke.
Too scary!
It will be if he offers to show them how to do it right…
sounds wonderful.
It was, Gryph. Good to see you again.
the photography is inspiring….nice shots.
Thanks Lynn! I don’t think it’s possible to take a bad picture of the grand canyon unless you are out of focus or something. The entire thing is just breath taking.
Happy Birthday! The Grand Canyon is spectacular. Spent last fall there and my son was amazed. Great place to take someone and watch as they see it for the first time. I also love road trips with my kids. Nice shot of the Elk!
Thanks Timm! Nice to see you in my neck of the canyon. I love road trips. It was a great adventure. The elk was incredible. I was walking with the youngest two kids and we turned onto the path and he was standing there right in front of us. He wasn’t bothered by us at all and he was the most magnificent animal I’ve seen up close in the wild.
I hope all is well. I know I haven’t commented in a while, it has been a crazy few days
Hi Eric! It’s all good. I have the same problem at times. I try to get everywhere at once and I just can’t do it.
Just tell me you’re spending your time pampering you wife before you have to pamper the baby!
Do you have any idea how hard she’s working creating life?
Wow. Looks awesome! I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon in awhile, but it would be a great place to have a birthday!
Thanks Nate! I love the grand canyon. And it’s great to see you visiting over here!
I’ve been checking for new posts, but it’s been a while since you last wrote. I’ll keep on checking so I can say something nice for you. I love saying nice things sometimes.
I wish I had been to Grand Canyon when I lived in the U.S. I’ll go some day.
Ivan,
You are correct, and thank you for pointing out my lack of blogability. I have rectified the situation just for you. 🙂