Zions

Okay, so much for my plans to "catch up" on the blog this summer.  The summertime is just as busy as the  school year!  I don't mind though because it is a different kind of busy...a FUN busy.  The beginning of the summer break seems a lifetime ago.  However, I must post our pictures to Zion's...it was so beautiful.  I have never been to Zion's and now that we have been there, we would love to return soon.  (Maybe minus a few kids next time.)  

Since we had all the kids we stuck to the easy trails for our first trip.  

Every corner you turned was more beautiful than the next it seemed.  

The green trees, the red cliffs, and the bright blue sky were breath taking. 

The afternoon sun was really beating down on us as we hiked up the canyon and we were not used to the heat yet.  Here is everyone taking a little break in the shade. 

I really appreciated Joshua carrying Sophie.  

Ryan...

Who knew that Zion's National Park had monkeys?

We need to get Annie out hiking more.  She is lucky that her Dad was willing to pack her around.  

 When we were about to the end of our portion of the hike we came to an oasis of shade and COLD water.  It was so refreshing.  The water was seriously freezing cold  At first, the kids just dipped their toes in it.  I didn't think we would have to worry about them getting in since it was so chilly. 

Since they were so sweaty and hot, they could not resist. 

And if you have kids, especially if you have boys, you know they just can't resist, deathly cold or not. 

The views were still amazing.  

This is what Ryan was looking up at.  These mountain towered over us, climbing straight up from the river. 

Looking downstream...

Turning back to look in the river...and look who jumped in.  

Joshua and James had swam to the other side and were skipping rocks off the bank.

So of course, Michael and Luke followed.  

As usual, Michael is looking for treasures....and he found some.  I can't believe the little things he finds no matter where he is.  

You seriously can't believe how cold it was in there. 

Annie made a little friend.  

The views on the way back down were just as spectacular.  

The sun was starting to go down and it just added to the beauty. 

We would love to come back and hike/camp with just these four some time. We saw such a small portion of the park.

We caught the park shuttle after our hike and everyone was tired.  Even Sophie...riding in the backpack can really ware a girl out!

Even if we come back, I don't think we will be doing this anytime, EVER. 

(See that little pink speck there...if you looked closely you could see lots of brave souls scaling the cliffs.)

I hate to end this beautiful experience with this un-beautiful picture, but these two were being SO crazy and slap happy the whole way back down the mountain and this is the only picture that captures a tiny bit of it.  We tried to distance ourselves from them on the shuttle in hopes that fellow tourists would not know they were related to us.  

We are sure glad that they are though!  We hope to return to this part of the beautiful Earth again soon.  And I hope by the time we return, I will have brushed up on my photography skills a little more.  With such beautiful surroundings I regretted not practicing more.  

More Fun in St George

We didn't keep a tight schedule while in St George.  It was after all, our first week of summer vacation. We tried to get out each day though and see something new.  One day we went to see the home of Jacob Hamblin, a Mormon Pioneer. 

Every night when I tuck the kids in bed, I say pretty much the same thing that my Mom said to me.  

Good Night, Sleep Tight

Don't let the bed bugs bite...

The missionaries that gave the tour showed us how they would beat the bed bugs out of the feather comforter with that rolling pin above the bed.  Then they would pull the bed tight and roll the feathers back out.  

I am always amazed at the conditions our ancestors lived in for hundreds of years, and today we would find it such a discomfort!  Jacob Hamblin was the same height as Ryan is and this bed looked pretty tiny.  I think he would have had to sleep diagonally on there. 

Joshua supporting Annie again outside the home. 

 The early pioneers were some hard working, tough folks.  Life was hard, and Jacob Hamblin was not spared from any adversity.  He dealt with a wife that left him and his children and later losing his sweetheart/second wife to death.  (Not to mention just the regular trials of being a pioneer.)

It you are wondering where the other kids were on this little excursion, we left the three boys back at the condo.  They kept fighting and we had given them many warnings.  I was sad they missed seeing the house because I knew they would have liked it.  :(  

Later that night, our good friends invited us to their beautiful home to swim and have a BBQ.  I think it was the highlight of the trip for the kids.  

It is always fun to see Suzie and Sharon.  Suzie's little dog is so cute. 

The kids LOVED the waterslide. 

Annie wanted me to get a picture of her doing a Karate Chop into the water. 

The Burrs are so kind and generous to us!  The kids loved their pool and toy room.  Brother Burr fixed us the yummiest meal of hamburgers on the grill, corn and the cob, watermelon, and french fries.  (We are still dreaming about those french fries...)  It was so fun to catch up with them!

We enjoyed taking walks and small hikes around St George.  The kids would quickly find walking sticks, rocks, and treasures of the path, and of course you could not beat the scenery! 

The kids can't resist that red dirt! 

This little girl needs some practice in the hiking department.  She likes to skip and dottle along along the path for a few minutes and then quickly requests a ride.  

Despite Joshua passing out from low blood sugar, a fun time was had by all!