The Zion installment

It was off to Zion National Park this last weekend for a family reunion, and of course, to party like it was 1999. We met up with the Perkins (except Jeff, he was already with us) and spent three exciting days in the great outdoors.

The first day there we hit the park with great vigor and hiked the Emerald Pools trail. The original plan was to hike to the lower pool. Then we decided we may as well see two pools, and so we were off to the middle pool. Well, when we got to the middle pool, there was a sign that said the upper pool was only .3 miles away (granted there was something scratched out before the “.”). So we figured since we’d come that far, we really should just hike the whole thing. Plus, Davis was pretty much asleep (I thought he was having a heat stroke) and wasn’t complaining at all about being on the hike. The demanding hike was worth it because the upper pool was by far the coolest of them all (literally too). After we all about died from heat exhaustion we came to the cool, shady upper pool where we (the normal ones) rested for a good half hour and the boys climbed all over the rocks like billy goats. It was really nice and the hike back down was really scenic too. Side note: There’s something really satisfying about hiking down a trail and passing all the sweaty, breathless people going up. After we got back down, it was pretty late in the afternoon, so no time for another hike. We checked out the gift shop, grandma bought presents for little D, and then we caught the bus back into “town” where we were staying. We ate dinner at the Pasta Noodle that night. Great food, terrible seating, and they don’t take credit cards (in case you ever decide to eat there, then you will know ahead of time!).

- D getting hydrated for the hike -

- tired boy -

- photo op at the upper pool -

- upper pool and miniature us -

- the glory hike back down -

The next day was the family reunion. Paul and I arrived at the end of the program (due to D’s nap), but got there just in time for the food. It was fun to see everyone, and fun to watch little D when everyone clapped at the end of the program and he was trying to figure out what great trick he had done to make a whole audience clap for him, not just mom and dad. After the reunion, and after D’s nap, we decided to hit up the swimming pool for Davis’s first swim. He really loved it! He didn’t even care that I was inches away and NOT holding him. It was fantastic for all of us. It was especially fun for Paul who kept going down the rusty, rickety slide. A little boy did inform him however that the office said that the slide wasn’t for “big people”. Don’t feel bad for him though—he got at least a dozen slides in before he got busted.

- davis pigging out at the reunion...trying his first canteloupe! -

The next day was devoted to packing up the car and making it out of the hotel before the maid came. We barely did it. It was a really fun trip, one we will probably make again this summer so we can go on more than one hike! Turns out, it’s a lot harder to do anything with a wee one along. Things are fun in a different way though! Grandpa enjoyed taking D for walks and showing him all the cars passing by. Grandma had fun taking D for walks and letting him watch her feed the elk on the elk farm. Davis had fun being the center of attention ALL the time and having grandma and grandpa tell mom that he is a perfect angel baby all the time.

- mom and D pooped out after the trip -