One Day, Two National Parks and a National Forest

 Because we had stayed in Fountain Green an extra night, we had a three-hour drive ahead of us to get to Bryce.  I had to wake up the kids really early, but they were good sports.  The Europeans aren't used to such long road trips.  For me, a three-hour drive is a piece of cake.  For Chloe, if she started at her home in Lyon, she could practically cross two countries in three hours!  Also, tolls and gas prices are prohibitive in Europe.  I told Chloe that my favorite freedom is the freedom to go anywhere I want in my car.  This day, we totally took advantage of that freedom, as well as the privilege of enjoying our country's incredible national lands.

Caption for this Instagram:  "In which we attempt to impress our European friends with a very old, religiously significant, architecturally stunning structure.  #notredameeverheardofit #chartresmaybe #howaboutsagradafamilia.

 Much more impressive were the red rock canyons of Dixie National Forest and Bryce Canyon National Park.  We took a hundred pictures before we even crossed into the parks!

 Who is that movie star everyone is taking pictures of!?

 Ptolemy got this FREE t-shirt at a thrift store in one of the little towns.  He loved it and wore it every day.

 Celebrating National Dance Day

 All the kids were exceptionally nice to Ptolemy, but especially Victor.

 Another meal from the cooler!

 Well hello, mountain goat!  Don't let us get in your way!

 The kids took turns hanging out of the sunroof to take pictures.  This was after Bryce, on our way through Zion.

 When we got to Springville and there was wifi at the cafe, the teens were like starved, lost souls, gobbling up all the news and media they had missed during the past few days.  Internet connection in Fountain Green was almost nil.

 We took full advantage of Zion, driving the southern Hwy 89 route, then taking the bus in to see the rest of the park.  We rode the bus all the way to the narrows and hiked from there.

 We took the last bus out of Zion and left in the absolute dark.  On our way to the car, Ptolemy caught two frogs!  When we arrived at our hotel in St. George, it was late.  The poor kids were exhausted, and it's a good thing because we had to cram into our hotel room!  It was the smallest room of the trip, with 4 of us (the Dopps) on the floor.  We had a laugh attack trying to navigate around each other.  I said, "The traffic in here is terrible!"  It was so funny.  The kids definitely grew closer on the trip, literally and figuratively!  I can't tell you how easy the kids were, and how agreeable.  The hardest part was getting them from one place to the next, because they were so content and happy everywhere, even when circumstances dictated sardine-like behavior!