Family Fun

We recently ventured out to explore the beautiful Southern Utah Canyons- Cedar Breaks, Bryce Canyon, and Zion Canyon. It was an adventure with lots of driving and bonding time that allowed us to truly practice the virtues of patience and gratitude! Day one: Cedar Breaks. This picture is overlooking Cedar Breaks; Katelee is eating string cheese not rocks, although she is known to chomp on the latter. Dave and the kids enjoyed a bit of branch/sword play in the overlook parking lots. Grant is new to the whole road trip experience and didn't realize that you can't tell us you need to go potty when you are already going, but actually as a heads up. So, we maximized the learning opportunity and Dave taught him how convenient it is to be a boy when in need of relief. However, this method still needs some explanation because our dear little Grant decided to use his boyhood as we were at a visitor center. He walked out the doors, and dropped his drawers right up against the wall, I turned around to see an exposed 3 year old and a class full of rangers and students observing! Yes, there was a restroom inside, but it must be more convenient to just drop the britches when nature calls.


The next day we went to Bryce Canyon. Grant kept asking where it was and when we reached it he said, "This is it? I want to go inside." Dave and I marveled at the grandeur and decided to take a small hike with the kids. Grant's enthusiasm for the exercise went something like this, (over and over) "I don't like hikes. Nah, I don't like em." I think he secretly loved it! We took the Mossy Cave/Waterfall Hike, the kids loved the river and tossing pebbles in...or boulders if you are Dave. Finally we finished off with Zion and I believe Grant enjoyed riding the shuttle buses more than anything else we did. We are definitely looking forward to hitting up those national parks in the distant future when our kids want to walk around on the more strenuous explorations.

Alas, I almost forgot to mention that I received my first speeding ticket while on vacation! That officer of Cedar City was in a tricky spot and I can no longer say I have a clean driving record. Dave was laughing cuz I always give him a hard time about his driving, and of course, I get pulled over with him in the car! Grant was worried the entire rest of the trip and kept telling me I was going too fast, the police were going to get me.

All in all, we had a blast and loved spending the time together enjoying the awesome scenery! There were a few "I want to go home," moments from Grant, the most difficult time for our boy was when we pulled up to our house, as we returned home. Grant saw our garbage cans left out and let out a sob because the garbage man had come without him being here! Apparently trips aren't worth it if you miss garbage pick up day. The last couple of days all he has said was how he wants to go back to his hotel!! I think we can chalk the trip up as a success!