Four Corners Area route advice

Lauren wrote:
4runnerguy, as usual, has it well stated. He, in fact, about described the trip we did - once again - this summer / fall.

Thanks for the kudos. Interesting that it's about the same trip you made. My plan was specifically designed around the OP's kids (4, 10, and 13). I was so lucky that my parents took me to many of the NP's in the west when I was young, camping in a big old canvas tent along the way. I look back with fondness at those experiences and try to impart on parents looking for advice today that they should plan their vacations around their kids. They're only young once!