Maya just got had her braces removed and shows off her very nice and straight teeth. As I understand it she will need to wear them again in a few years when all of her permanent teeth come in. Until then we will all enjoy her unobstructed smile.

Since returning from our vacation Maya has been in a relentless pie baking mood. Today we are treated to fresh blueberry.

This evening we had Kyle’s family birthday celebration. Maya was largely responsible for baking the chocolate peanut butter pie that Kyle requested. Each year I do a birthday interview with each child. This year, Kyle’s interview was done by his friends Dave and Jamie who did a far more entertaining and compelling interview than I ever could have.

This evening Kyle was the grill master and prepared some of the best chicken I have ever tasted. His progress was somewhat hampered by this frog which seemed to have an unnatural attraction to the igniter switch on the grill. We surmised that it might have to do with the similar coloration. I have never seen such a frog before and will have to study our field guide to see if we can identify it.

Today Maya and Jeanine decided they would make a peach pie from scratch and I was fortunate to get a single sliver before the rest was devoured.

As soon as the sun is up, Jeanine’s top priority after being away from home for almost a month is to check on her garden. She returns with a big smile and a handful of string beans.

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Today as we return home to Boston I am electing to reflect on our family vacation rather than post and comment on another photo. It has been a dream of mine to visit the national parks with my family for as long as I can remember. Jeanine and I thought carefully about the timing and realized that this summer was the optimal, if not only window in which to take this adventure. Maya is old enough to handle the hiking and to appreciate and remember what she has seen. Kyle is young enough that his priorities have not yet shifted to working over the entire summer vacation. This may well be our last extended duration family vacation and I must say that it more than met my expectations. I was concerned that the kids would get cabin fever and be at each others thoats. I cannot remember a single fight. I was concerned that they might not appreciate the natural beauty they were exposed to. They were just as awe struck as their parents and some of my favorite moments were spent in total quiet. I was concerned they would grow bored. Instead they filled down time with reading, playing chess, bananagrams and a variety of card games. What I did not expect, and moved me the most, was how the kids helped each other and their parents. Kyle carrying his sister across deep water and up mountains on his back along with most of the water for the rest of us. Nico holding on to Maya so she would not fall off during tubing. Everyone encouraging Jeanine to traverse the gross water so she could enjoy the inside of a slot canyon. Maya and Nicolai helping Kyle and I to overcome our fear of heights. It is safe to say that I will remember this vacation/adventure fondly for as long as I live and hope my children will do so long after that. I will close by wishing Kyle happy birthday on this his 17th.

Of particular interest to the kids were the living sculptures. I can not imagine a job where you are paid to stand perfectly still. Despite their significant interest in this possible future career, I can state categorically that our children are unqualified for this job. Being still is not a trait that runs strong in the Calabria family. Over the course of this vacation we covered 6000 miles in the air, 1800 miles in the RV, 150 miles on the water and nearly 50 miles on foot.

While wandering around inside of the Venetian, it is easy to forget that you are entirely indoors.

Maya was positively captivated by a pair of artists who were creating the masks shown here. They used tiny glue applicators to make patterns and then sprinkled glitter over the glue. Note to self: such a mask would make a nice gift for Maya someday.

Our last day is spent back where we started in Las Vegas. This time we are staying at the Luxor, although we spend almost as much time visiting and dining at the Venetian.

Jeanine’s explorations result in another exceptional macro photograph. Many of this adventure’s best photos have come from Jeanine, and I could not be more pleased. Click on the photo which can only be fully appreciated at a higher resolution.

Jeanine is more adventurous than the kids, who have now learned that hiking through deep sand is extremely hard work.

Our final stop on the park circuit is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. The name says it all and we are treated to this most unlikely scene in the midst of an otherwise rocky landscape.