Saturday, May 10, 2014

Moab Campout

At the end of each school year, we always get the itch to get away. This year, we decided to go camping down in Moab. Our first stop was to fill up on the fresh spring water.

We took a little stroll along the Colorado. It was beautiful and mid 80's.






This is very unlike me (Devin) to just load up with no plans and no reservations and go. We figured we could find a spot along the Colorado river in one of the many campgrounds. After about 3 or 4 campgrounds being completely full, we began to worry. We said a family prayer and felt that we should keep going down along the Colorado. We drove past all the campgrounds along the river. All of them full, but we kept going. Eventually we saw a sign that had the campground symbol on it with an arrow point to a side road. We turned off the highway and followed the side road for about 10-15 minutes and began to lose hope. We pulled into a turn and said "lets just camp here on the side of the road." Just then we saw on the other side of the road complete campground with plenty of open places to camp. It was tucked away at the mouth of this beautiful red rock canyon. A perfect place for us.

Setting up camp

The girls loved everything about the tent.

In their sleeping bags before dinner. That's how excited they were to sleep in a tent.

Myla even loved the tent.


After getting camp set up, we went exploring up the canyon by our camp.


Our fearless climber blazing the trail.

Lizard sightings everywhere!


The red rock was gorgeous!

The girls tried hiking like lizards.  After 30 seconds, they decided to leave that for the reptiles

When we got back from the hike, we roasted hot dogs for dinner. The girls thought it was so great that they got eat every meal outside. Cambry was a little hesitant at first to get close enough to fire to cook her hot dog, but eventually worked up the courage to do it.

The pringles duck in its natural habitat. 

We roasted mallows for s'mores after dinner. Cambry got pretty comfortable with the idea of cooking things over the fire and roasted some good mallows. Check them out.



Veena was in heaven- in her little chair, eating deliciousness, and being extra sticky. Can life get any better for a 2 year old?!


Red rock and red face.

We went exploring some more after dinner and the girls found this little rock throne at the top of a mountain.

Sweet Mohawk

It took awhile for the girls to fall asleep, but once they were asleep, they slept pretty well. Vienna was moaning in the middle of the night because she had climbed out of her sleeping bag and was freezing, but couldn't wake up enough to climb in her bag the silly girl.

It was a bit chilly in the morning, but Myla didn't let that dampen her spirits.

We went for hike/swim up Negro Bill's Canyon

What a strong mama!

It was perfect time to visit Moab. It wasn't too hot and the scenery was beautiful.

All the wildflowers were in bloom adding to the scenery.

We found a perfect little place to stop and eat lunch and play in the stream.







The girls were pretty exhausted after that, but were troopers and hiked all the way back to the car. By then they were pretty much ready to crash. So, we headed home. It was a great trip that reminded us how awesome Utah is.

Camera Clean Up

Here are a few conversations with Cambry lately:
Me: When Jesus came to the Nephites, he let all the boys and girls come give him hugs, and then he prayed for them and gave them blessings.
C: Yep. Just like I get blessings. And haircuts.

After snowing all day, Cambry looked out the window and said, "Hey we are living inside of Santa's beard!"

Me: Cambry your Birthday is in one month from today!
C: Should we start making my Birthday cake?!

When Devin came home in the evening, he asked Cambry about her day. 
C: Mom wasn't good today. She yelled at me 2 times. She did not make good choices.

While playing princesses and giant
V: Giant, you mad
Me: I'm mad! Someone came and picked all the apples off my apple tree.
C: It's OK giant. We have 4 more apple trees you can eat off of.
V: Giant, you mad.
Me: I'm mad! This cougar just came and bit my leg
C: It's OK giant. We have another leg that is real and you can have it see? All better.


Good Morning Myla. She's happy to be awake, bathed, and playing with toys while I try to create a little order in the chaos.

I tossed a banana to Cambry and this is how she caught it. She was adamant to reenact it and send the pic to daddy, showing him how talented she is to catch things with her eye.

"Rollerskating" on the hutch.

Cambry took her little purse to Target and bought these princess glasses with her money. She was so pleased with her purchase.

I got to visit my Alma Mater, BYU with my mom and sister for Women's Conference. I had a wonderful time, and was spiritually uplifted and it really was nice to have adult conversation for an entire day with no interruptions or melt downs.

I found this on the kitchen table. It's Devin's lesson prep for his Gospel Doctrine lesson at church. Equations?! Hilarious. I love my husband.

`This is every day. Crown with a princess/fairy dress. I fought it for awhile, but I'm embracing it now. It's so much easier to get her to do things when I tack on, princesses brush their hair, princesses eat their lunch without whining, etc. Love her.

We have a Chinese Elm that has a mess for every season. These little "blossoms" are everywhere. Vienna is so happy about it too. She gathers big handfuls up and as she throws it she says, "Beautiful Day! It's snowing!"

Cinco de Mayo, Cambry and I made a pinata and that evening we filled it with their Easter candy, and C and V giggled so hard hitting and trying to hit it. It's the simple things that make everything worth it.




Princess Black Rose bike ride... again, half way around the block, she realized she wasn't wearing her helmet and wouldn't ride it any more. She gets her safety genes from Devin... and safety education from Dora the Explorer.


Gweny's 1st Birthday party. It was too bad it was cold, but it was so fun to celebrate Gweny.


Sad little popsicle

On to Jack's 1st Birthday party. We were so glad to get to celebrate Jack with our friends Jen and John Pearson, our friends we made in NC.

All in a day's work.