Good Journey - Take Two

So this took a little longer to post than I thought it would.  We are in the month of "we're almost to the end of the school year - just hang on until the end!!!" mode.  Also my computer likes to freeze on me which makes me mad and I don't finish what I started.  BUT. Here we are.

Day two in Hurricane was a relaxing play day.  We went to the park and played.  Soccer, swings, Indiana Jonas and climbing trees.  Then lunch where the burritos were HUGE and delicious.  The guys took the kids swimming in the afternoon while we did a little shopping. 

Day three was the big hike to Zion's National Park.  If you ever get the chance to hike in Southern Utah I'd HIGHLY recommend it.  The sights were breathtaking.  The desert was beautiful with all the red rock and cliffs of all colors.  Couple of tidbits of advice - go when it's cool.  April was perfect.  Try to avoid Spring Break, however.  Lines to hike up a trail is annoying.  People everywhere is annoying.  I am glad we went, but I also think the hike we went the first day was just as beautiful with hardly any people and no tram.  Thanks James and Amber for being our tour guides!

After hiking all over Amber and I took everybody but Tyler, James and Dee home for resting and relaxing.  We were all pooped but the guys wanted to hike Angel's Landing.  We thought they were crazy but it turns out that was the highlight of their day.  Few people on the trail and an amazing hike.  

This shot is from the top of Angel's Landing.  Love it!  

Good Journey - Take One

Usually we take a summer trip to visit family in Utah. This year, because hopefully most of the family will be able to come out here for Ellie's baptism, we decided to take a different sort of vacation for Spring Break. Both Dee and I had only been to Zion's National Park once in our lives, even though we had only lived about 7 hours away from it. We decided that would be a great place to start our vacation. James and Amber live about 45 minutes away and the let us stay with them and were able to play with us the whole time we were there. Talk about fun - and beautiful!

Day One: James and Amber knew of a place about 15 minutes away from them just as beautiful as Zion's but not as crowded or as far. Red Rock Trail.

The scenery was breathtaking. The red rock, the snow, the clouds. Every corner we took while hiking was followed by a "WOW!"

Amber, James and baby Dax. He loved being outside. He loved all the kids entertaining him. The hike was perfect for us - especially with the little ones. They were troopers. The weather was beautiful too.

L-R: Carter & Savannah resting in a hole; Tyler's self portrait; Jonas peek-a-booing through the top of the hole; Diantha & Dee; Diantha by some amazing cliffs; McKenna above the waterfall. The kids had taken off their shoes to hike around the waterfall and I pulled the mom thing of, "Even if your shoes get wet you're still going to have to wear them when we hike Zions!" Then I tried throwing Ty's shoes up to where Dee was and guess what? It slid down the wall - right into the water. Nice, mom!

The cousins on a "horse" L-R: Jonas; Ellie (she said she's doing a lasso and cowgirls don't smile...); McKenna; Tyler; Carter and Savvy

This was at the very beginning of the hike. Around the first corner we had to take pictures. It was all SO beautiful!

And this was just day one. More to follow!