Moab

Last week we made a last minute decision to take a trip down to Moab for one last last hurrah before Tom started his new job! (i'll make a separate post for that exciting news!). After the journey down there we were all excited to have reached our hotel and be able to check in when we were told that the hotel had been overbooked and there was no room not only in our hotel, but in all of Moab. We didn't bring any camping stuff, so that was out of the question and sleeping in the car wasn't looking so hot...we were in the lobby for about 45 minutes trying to find some place and about to book a hotel about 2 1/2 hours south of Moab, when we were told that a room had just become available. Talk about a blessing! So after the kink of getting settled in...we went swimming and officially started our little vacation.

The next day we went in to Arches National Park and hiked to Double Arch, Sand Dune Arch, had a picnic, and then hiked to Tapestry Arch. It was perfect hiking weather and the girls had so much fun once again playing in the sand, exploring, looking for lizards and "making stews" wherever we went. Adelyn and I were perfect hiking buddies as I am not as fast being so pregnant and she was forced to hike on her own while Elsie got to ride in the backpack. We then went back to the hotel for some swimming and naps and then the weather changed on us and a huge thunderstorm hit! The power was out in the whole area for about three hours...but during that time we made the most out of it and we went on a fun drive and yelled out our windows at the rain...things like "Rain...I can see your underwear" or, "you're a turkeylips Rain!"...Adelyn got this going and pretty soon we were all joining in....one of those random funny family moments. After the power finally came back on we were able to eat dinner at about 9:00pm at our favorite spots Zax's Pizza...and it was well worth the wait!

The next day Tom woke up early and went mountain biking, we had breakfast, went and played on the rain-soaked mud/sand hill, went swimming, then went up to a natural swimming area up by Slick Rock, checked out of our hotel, then went back to the Arches. We decided to do the Fiery Furnace and had to watch the video and get a day permit...and i'm so glad that we did that. I hadn't gone in there for years and while hiking I had one of those "proud of my family" moments where i'm looking around and Adelyn is hiking around like a pro, i'm 7 months pregnant hiking around, Elsie was being a cutie in the backpack with her broken elbow and Tom was dealing with all three of us girls and leading us on a fun hike!

We've loved going down to Moab the past few years with just our family because not only have they been extremely spontaneous and unplanned days, but we've really been able to bond and come close while being out in nature together.

Hiking to Double Arch...can't have a road trip without licorice or "licklish" as Elsie calls it!




Adelyn was so excited when she found this mini tree!


Sand Dune Arch







Sand caked buns!


Hike to Tapestry Arch
all of the cactus were in bloom...it was so pretty!


Tom quite often had to relieve Adelyn from walking when she would get tired and so he would carry both girls! What a strong man I married!



This picture makes me laugh...this is the rainy evening when we went on a long drive and we were munching on carrots and Elsie was in a total daze with her carrot/cigar hanging out of her mouth.

The BIG Sand Dune! Adelyn as you may notice has a new pose thing going on:)

Tom and Adelyn made it to the top, but Elsie and I didn't get quite that far.

Tom ventured out into the temporary pond

Not our cleanest trip to the sand hill, but still fun! We all had red backsides.


A quick trip to the hidden spring in the middle of the desert.

I double dogged Tom and he followed through with a dunk in the cold water!

Throwing rocks

Adelyn and Tom going down the rock slide



Fiery Furnace hike
When you get the day use permit to go through this hike you not only promise to keep on trails and not stomp on any of the Crypto Bionic Soil (sp?), but you also promise to keep your voices down and so it is one of those rare spots where you really feel at peace and almost reverent for nature!



The Poser!



last but not least...one of my favorite pictures that says it all..."i'm done hiking!" Adelyn was so good to hike all of Fiery Furnace on her own except the last 10 minutes she just couldn't take one more step.


We loaded up the car and within minutes the girls were both asleep and we headed for home!