Spring Vacation---Hole in the Rock Trip

Here are some photos of our fantastic (and a little cold!) trip to Hole in the Rock--but not one mosquito.



We started out on Monday stopping in Cedar City and enjoying a night of pampering from Grandmother and Papa Joe--and being 'blown away' by the wind! Then we headed out the next morning to head across Cedar Mountain to Red Rock Canyon (Butch Cassidy country) and through Bryce Canyon (where we stopped to admire the various ATV vehicles that looked SOOOO comfortable compared to our 'stuffed to the brim' suburban!) to Escalante---and did we mention the wind?!

We were a little panicked to get to a camping spot on the Hole in the Rock Trail before it was dark. We took the first one we could find at Sooner Wash (about 2 hours into the trail). It was a very fun campsite----lots of fun climbing rocks. That night was beautiful---the moon was full it was warm (about 71) and calm....and then we woke up to....yeah....wind and some menacing clouds! But it wasn't too bad so we decided to get on our way. We headed down the trail and were determined to make it as far as we could in our '4 wheelin'vehicle'...yeah, the Suburban! We did pretty well over slickrock surfaces, gulches, rock slides, but finally had to admit defeat when we came to a 'staircase' of rock steps up a steep rock cliff. We were sure we were pretty close to the end of the trail, so we hopped out of the car, took no supplies and started walking (what smart hikers we are).

About a mile and a half into the hike, Jonathan and Jacob were not doing so well, and not sure how much further we had to go, I took them and headed back and fortunately, someone picked us up and drove us down to our car---I was very grateful! But the rest of the boys kept on going with Jeff and had a great time exploring the Hole in the Rock and being amazed at those pioneers that made such an amazing ride down a steep cliff. (Joseph had been saying the whole time, "I don't see what the big deal is, the trail isn't that bad." But when he came back, he said, "Okay, now I'm amazed!")



On the way back we enjoyed exploring the arches and caves we had seen driving along the trail. Then we headed back to camp, ate and dropped in bed....and listened to the wind and rain all night! The next morning was....well.....windy! But we headed to Dance Hall Rock and had fun exploring more rock formations and climbing everywhere possible. The storm finally chased us out and we made it back to camp just in time to get hailed on while we tried to break camp! True to form, as soon as we were packed up and soaked through, the sun came out! We wished we could have stayed longer, but dropping temperatures and sick kids helped us decide to head home via a 'new' route---through the Calf Creek area and over Boulder Mountain.....wow such amazing places....we were stunned by the awesome vastness of this area....we need a month to explore it! We finally made it home about 3:00 a.m.

It was a fast and furious trip, but one that we will always remember and be grateful for the opportunity we had to share a bit of amazing history of our forefathers! We are the better for it!

Resolutions.....hmmm....

Well, it's almost the end of January, and I still have procrastinated writing down my New Year's resolutions....yes, I am a little frustrated with myself and my ability to procrastinate! So, I will get right on that.....tomorrow! Until then, I keep thinking of the words to a song we are singing in "Mountain Aire" choir from "Counting my blessings." It goes like this...."When my bankroll is gettin' small, I think of when I had none at all, and I fall asleep, counting my blessings." Now, I'm not sure why I keep thinking of this line.....because I don't really have a bankroll big or small---probably, like most, a little non-existent! But, lately I've seen that my greatest blessings have little to do with the non-existent bankroll----and they are many! So I thought I would share a few of them, 'lest I forget!'



The first of many blessings would be our lovely and sweet Jacob and his ability to bring out the best in all of us. And for the person Jacob prefers above all.....his Dad. Love him so much!



The second would be sweet moments like this with my 16 year old teaching my 8 year old. A wrestler with 2 black eyes teaching the delicate technique of playing the violin to his little brother. Sweet!!



The third would be hilarious moments like this when my 4 year old is so excited to get the mail that he runs out into the snow, dinosaur mask on--shoes off, too excited to put the mail down so he can pull his pants up-- as they slowly fall to a heap at his feet. I think I laughed until I cried, he was so excited and oblivious to his falling pants! Unexpected humor in the day!

There are so many other wonderful 'mommy' moments that I've experienced these past weeks that have brought me to the startling reality that my babies are growing up.

* Ballroom dance performances by Sam and Ben with grace and poise I didn't know they posessed

* Ben and Sam playing basketball---and looking huge out there on their teams!

* David taking care of his 'little brothers'---so big brotherish and protective!

* Jonathan getting on the bus with his brothers to go to preschool in the morning.....seeing all 5 of the brothers lined up in a heighth line to get on the bus....."when did they grow to be so tall?"

* Listening to my oldest son bear his testimony to his brothers about 'honoring your parents' and being grateful for your family.....yes, I think you could have tipped us all over with a feather...total silence in FHE! What an amazing experience!

* Leaving for the evening and knowing that, with a little help from Grandma (okay, a lot!), the boys will take care of each other and be in bed when we get home...totally amazing that they all survived!

Okay, and for some other wonderful moments.....

........going to the SLC temple during Christmas time with Jeff, realizing that I've been married to him almost as long as I lived in my parents home---hopefully, we're melding together a bit better these days!

........frustrated with the never-ending battle against the gray in my hair, yet amazed at how each new gray hair and wrinkle on my husband just makes him that much more handsome.

.......friendship with good women who meet each week, despite the snow and cold, to sing and chat and 'bear each other up'....so lucky to have that in my life!

.......good food, warm house, kind words, caring people, unexpected friendships, the scriptures, family, teaching, work to do to help us get by, cold star-filled skies, beautiful white snow...

Life is good, we are blessed......so, so much!