Last week we spent an entire week enjoying the beauties that Southern Utah has to offer. Together Shane and I have never done the typical "Southern Utah" stuff. We decided it was time... and time to share it with our kids as well. We headed off for a weeks' stay at the Cedar Breaks Lodge in Brian Head Utah. The Carlsen's joined us for most of the trip... we love traveling together... we ALL get along so well. They had no idea what our plans were going to be... they just follow along and say they are happy to have me as their travel agent to see the world!!
The first day we drove to Kolob Canyon and went on our first short hike on the "Timber Creek Trail". At the beginning their was a sign talking about "Mountain Lions" and how they are rarely seen... but what to do if you see one. Kenna carried a rock most of the way... just in case!
The week before I helped all the girls (including the Carlsen's) make water bottle carriers. A perfect way to get your kids to carry their OWN water bottles. For a tutorial go here. But... now that Shane and I (and we gave one to Tayler for her birthday) have camelbacks... I'm never carrying a water bottle again!! That is a GREAT invention!
Pretty much the whole week we drove... and drove... and drove. Good thing we have great car travelers!
We spent a fabulous day in Bryce Canyon... Absolutely glorious!! I had done my research and decided on the "Queens Garden Trail" for our hike that day... supposed the mildest... easiest hike. We were surprised at how steep it was though and were glad that we didn't opt for a tougher one. We all feel quite fit... maybe wrongly so... but Rusty was certain that some people on that trail were going to have a heart attack before they made it back up (not us of course!)... good thing he has medical skills!!
We were all ready for a picnic at the end of the trail... but I don't think that Kyler was very impressed that we had hiked all that way to see a "likeness of Queen Victoria" in the rock!! He didn't complain of course just said, "Wow... I'm glad I got to see that."
We should have left these girls here... It would have been a lot quieter without all of their giggling!!
Jadyn's favorite part of the whole trip was probably playing on the slide at the resort... she loved it!
About two miles up the road from our condo was a fabulous view of Cedar Breaks Monument... beautiful!
We did an awful lot of 4-wheeling... definitely more than my growing pregnant body should have done! I declined going the last few times... I think my 4-wheeling days are over for a few months...
Poor Jadyn's eyes were always getting dust in them... we tried goggles... it didn't last for too long... but it made us laugh.
We took another drive down to Zions for the day... It was the perfect day for Zions... we were dreading the heat that is associated with Zions. But it was overcast and never got above 80 degrees!! Just as we were leaving there was a major down-pour! We couldn't have planned the day better if we had tried!
In Zions we took the "Riverside Walk Trail" and the "Lower Emerald Pools Trail". By the end of these two hikes the kids were DONE with hiking! I personally LOVED it! I reminisced of Grandma Floris telling jokes on the trails... to complete strangers years ago... I never thought about it then... but I think she was just tired and wanted a break!!
It was a wonderful week!!
The first day we drove to Kolob Canyon and went on our first short hike on the "Timber Creek Trail". At the beginning their was a sign talking about "Mountain Lions" and how they are rarely seen... but what to do if you see one. Kenna carried a rock most of the way... just in case!
The week before I helped all the girls (including the Carlsen's) make water bottle carriers. A perfect way to get your kids to carry their OWN water bottles. For a tutorial go here. But... now that Shane and I (and we gave one to Tayler for her birthday) have camelbacks... I'm never carrying a water bottle again!! That is a GREAT invention!
Pretty much the whole week we drove... and drove... and drove. Good thing we have great car travelers!
We spent a fabulous day in Bryce Canyon... Absolutely glorious!! I had done my research and decided on the "Queens Garden Trail" for our hike that day... supposed the mildest... easiest hike. We were surprised at how steep it was though and were glad that we didn't opt for a tougher one. We all feel quite fit... maybe wrongly so... but Rusty was certain that some people on that trail were going to have a heart attack before they made it back up (not us of course!)... good thing he has medical skills!!
We were all ready for a picnic at the end of the trail... but I don't think that Kyler was very impressed that we had hiked all that way to see a "likeness of Queen Victoria" in the rock!! He didn't complain of course just said, "Wow... I'm glad I got to see that."
We should have left these girls here... It would have been a lot quieter without all of their giggling!!
Jadyn's favorite part of the whole trip was probably playing on the slide at the resort... she loved it!
About two miles up the road from our condo was a fabulous view of Cedar Breaks Monument... beautiful!
We did an awful lot of 4-wheeling... definitely more than my growing pregnant body should have done! I declined going the last few times... I think my 4-wheeling days are over for a few months...
Poor Jadyn's eyes were always getting dust in them... we tried goggles... it didn't last for too long... but it made us laugh.
We took another drive down to Zions for the day... It was the perfect day for Zions... we were dreading the heat that is associated with Zions. But it was overcast and never got above 80 degrees!! Just as we were leaving there was a major down-pour! We couldn't have planned the day better if we had tried!
In Zions we took the "Riverside Walk Trail" and the "Lower Emerald Pools Trail". By the end of these two hikes the kids were DONE with hiking! I personally LOVED it! I reminisced of Grandma Floris telling jokes on the trails... to complete strangers years ago... I never thought about it then... but I think she was just tired and wanted a break!!
It was a wonderful week!!
4 comments:
I had a great time remeniscing about all the times my mother and I visited those places the 3 years we lived in Cedar City. I was about Kenna's age--but I remember it all. Glad you had such a nice time--love you all--Grandma Kathie
You guys have more fun that almost anyone I know! And, BTW, I clicked on the link for making water bottle carriers. Way cute! I also forwarded the link to the other YW leaders so that next year we can all make them before going to girl's camp. Way fun! (I can vicariously enjoy your adventures!)
All the hiking sounds so fun. I love to hike. We took our kids to Zion's a couple of years ago and I think they had fun. What a great vacation. Glad you guys had so much fun. Good luck with your crazy week and thank you for all you do for the ward.
Wow! That was the longest post ever... (a good thing):) It sure looks like you guys had a lot of fun! Sorry to bother you by posting... you don't have the time to read it
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