Monday night hike

We took advantage of the beautiful spring weather Monday night to head out for a little fresh air at Snow Canyon.  We just climbed up a small rock near the picnic areas and let the kids get some energy out.  Then we grabbed a bite of dinner at McDonalds and let the kids play until bedtime at a park close to Snow Canyon.  Tige spun the 3 big kids around and around on these little circle chairs until they couldn't see straight.  They loved it!  Taylor was hilarious when getting up from the circle chair because he couldn't contain his dizziness and fell down every time.

 

Briggs/Ford hike

Tige & Kason joined the Ford family and Matt & Gavin for a hike at Zion NP.  They of course, had a great time and snapped some fun shots, including the one where Matt pretends to impale Gavin on the ice waterfall.

Dixie Hike

Tige took Kason & Abby on a hike at the Dixie Red Rocks while Taylor and I were resting.  They had a good time and took some cute pictures.

 

 Abby told me when they got home that they sat in a bath tub.  I'm guessing this is what she meant...

MLK hike

We took advantage of the beautiful weather on Martin Luther King day to go for a hike with the Ford family.  It was in the mid-50's and felt great after the cold weather we've had and the flu, colds, and junk we've had at home for the past month.  We went to Snow Canyon and hiked to the sand dunes at the Amphitheatre, and then did another hike at the petrified dunes.  This is the first time we've been hiking where Taylor walked instead of being carried in the backpack.  The kids had a marvelous time and were covered with sand from head to toe when we got home.  We threatened Kason with his life to be overly cautious and not break any bones!

 

Lake Powell

My parents, David's family, and Clark's family all met for a Lake Powell trip.  I was extremely bummed that Tige wasn't able to get off work to go with us.  I almost didn't go because it's just SOOOO much work to pitch a tent and do the whole camping thing without him, but I knew the kids were had a blast with their cousins, so I braved it solo.

As soon as we got to the Lake, I realized I'd left ALL my bedding behind.  I had packed everything in the car the night before, but didn't pack my sheets,  blankets for my airmattress because I was waiting to add my pillow after I slept on it the night before.  I just forgot it all.   Ugh!

We got to the Lake, unloaded everything, and started playing.  The kids really couldn't have had more fun!

Char and "baby Kitty" as Taylor calls her.

This is what the 3 boys did practically 24/7.  My dad pulled them around and around for hours on the jet ski.  They traded being riders and observers with the girls. 

Clark & Josh

Check out Kason's sunburned face.  See the faint white lines above his eyebrows and around his lips?  When we first got to the lake, Kason went into Clark's boat and I was in my parent's boat.  Char gave him a sunscreen stick so he could sunscreen his face, and he managed to just cover a couple of spots above his eyebrows and around his mouth.  He looked funny and was obviously tender the rest of the trip.  I was careful with sunscreen for them after that. 

Taylor & Abby having naptime on the boat.  They were both good nappers!

Taylor loved throwing mud and rocks into the air.  He pelted Abby with a mud pile right on her head once.  She was NOT amused.  He kept throwing these bigs rocks in the air.  I kept wondering when he'd peg himself right in the head, but he was lucky and didn't hit himself.

Kason's attempt at skiing.  He didn't get up, but almost.  I'm thinking next summer he'll be able to do it!

This would be sand on my little sand monster.  He had sand in every crack and crevice, and it was caked in his ears and eye lashes.  He just rolled around in it and dumped bucketfuls on his head.  I've never seen a kid who loved to be in the sand like this one does!

Sleeping in the tent with the kids was an adventure--especially without my own bedding.  Clark lent me 2 little blankets, and we made due with sharing the sleeping bags.  Once Abby fell asleep and rolled off her pillow, I stole it from her for the remainder of the night.  In the morning when she found me with me pillow, she said "HEY! You can't take my pillow!"  The 1st night we were dying of heat.  Taylor woke up fussing about 4 or 5 times and kept crawling all over the place.  Ugh.  The 2nd night it rained a little and was very windy.  The kids were a little nervous but we all ended up falling quickly asleep and slept better that night.

Red Rock Hike

We haven't been in a hike in forever! Like since Abby's was Taylor's age being carried on dad's back and I was pregnant with Taylor. We were excited to find out that Tige was off work on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (he usually has to work this day). So we took the opportunity to load up and go for a little hike. We went to the Red Rock Recreation Area by Leeds. Since Abby hasn't ever walked on a hike before, I was worried she'd get tired in the middle and want to be carried. Not so. Like Kason, she has boundless energy and did great! They explored every little nook and Kason was so sweet to hold her hand and help her on the steep parts. Tige was a trooper carrying the baby on his back, and carrying Abby back and forth across the river. After the hike, we had a picnic lunch. It was a great day and a perfect outing. I loved every second of it!

Every once in a blue moon, I get take a crisp, perfect picture on my camera! Was so happy to see this great picture of Abby.

She wants to be just like Kason!

My macho man can carry quite a load across a river! Last time I tried to help a child across a river, he fell in!

The Subway

On the way home from our family reunion, Tige joined my dad, Clark & Andy to hike the infamous Subway, near Zion National Park. It's about 8 miles through narrows, water, rapelling, and climbing. It requires a reservation and a permit to hike it, so even though Tige has an Olympic distance triathlon in 3 days and feared injury, he couldn't pass up a chance to hike the Subway for the first time. Sure enough, 2 miles into the hike, he sprained his ankle. But the boys had a great time together. Apparently my dad ripped his shorts right in the backside area and there was too much to see, so they made him hike last. Andy also ripped his shorts. I'm glad Tige finally to to hike the Subway since he's been wanting to since we moved back here.

Tige, Andy, dad ready to go
Clark wondering if they were really getting in that water?

Yep, they got in.

Dad rapelling down.

Andy & Tige at the exit of the Subway.