The Sloan Family: Grand canyon

So Mark's sister Lori and her fiance Matt came to visit us this last weekend. We planned on going to the Grand Canyon with them but last minute there was a little change in plans. We were going to have 2 more guests with us. Our dogs! When we went to Flagstaff 2 weeks ago the dogs got sick with kennel cough. Now before you make assumptions that we don't vaccinate our dogs for this... let me tell you we do and more often than the vets suggest. So the dogs were on medication and there was no way we could kennel them. So because we know Flagstaff is awesome with allowing dogs in the stores and outdoor seating we figured it would be fine.

So saturday morning we loaded up the car and took off for the Grand Canyon... all 6 of us! We took the Explorer so Lori and Matt sat in the back seat and the dogs had the very back as well as the seat we put down in the middle next to Lori and Matt. We drove for about 2 hours and all of a sudden Dakota was not feeling very well and there was no place to pull over on the busy interstate. So he threw up in the back of the vehicle... twice! So we pulled over and cleaned that up. Mark decided I should drive the rest of the way so I did. As I was driving I saw that we were coming upon a village right before the Grand Canyon so I start to slow down. Slowing down as I pass a speed limit sign with the number 35 on it as well as coming upon a county cop. So I was like uh oh! So he followed us until we got to a store where he turned on his pretty lights and I pulled into the parking lot.

So he came up on Marks side of the car and he rolled down his window. What was the first thing that came out of the officers mouth... yep... "So who's the infantry member?" So of course Mark starts chatting with him and they are telling stories and then they start talking about Mark's current career. After 10 minutes of complete b.s. (which Mark is great at ;) he looks at me and says "So miss Hot Rod do you know how fast you were going?" I just shake my head no... "Well miss Hot Rod you were going 68 in a 45." My eyes just bug out and I think oh stink this is going to be expensive! So he goes on to tell me that he is just going to give me a warning and that he would need my drivers license. Yes my drivers license that is still from WI with the incorrect address... oops! So then we had to tell him our situation on moving so then he goes on to tell us that 60% of collisions he sees is due to elk. He said that if we ever hit one to give him a call because he has tags in his car! So Mark asked for his phone number! No phone numbers were exchanged of course. Then he made some funny comments about the french tourists. So he writes out my warning and says to have a good trip.

So then I start to put the vehicle in reverse so we could be on our marry way and Lori and Matt are saying WAIT! I was so confused and then I looked to my left and there were french tourists walking up to the truck with cameras in hand taking a picture of ... our dogs! Yes our dogs! The dogs had their heads out the window because this is one of their favorite things to do and because they are our babies they get to do whatever they want! So we are all laughing... these toursists were coming up to the truck like we were part of the attraction! They looked hillarious I just had to take a picture... and because Mark would NOT so kindly hand me my camera because I would be the ridiculous one NOT the tourists... I pulled out my camera phone and got this....

Then we were at the Grand Canyon and of course I was off taking pictures so I look to find where Mark is and yep... more tourists interested in our dogs!