Bridal Veil Falls

Yes, I am still trying to catch this thing up. I got stuck because I had some pictures on my phone and didn't know how to get them on my computer. Well I finally figured it out! I guess I had my phone at Bridal Veil Falls and here are some very bad pictures. I should really just get a nice photo from online. Oh well, I am thinking most of you have been there several times anyways.

 

view of the falls

 

little Myka

 

Nora and Kyla. They were excited to wade in the water even though it was sooo freezing. Now for the next hurdle - getting videos off the new video camera, edited, and posted. Lots of learning to do! Hopefully it doesn't take too long.

Bean Museum in Provo

After about a week in Kanab I headed north to visit friends and family. We stayed with my best friend from High School, Amy and her family. After being treated to a fabulous dinner, the kids headed to bed. Well not really, they were so excited to have a sleep over that noone went to sleep till quite late.

The next morning after a quick breakfast we headed down to Provo to Shanna's. With both cars full of kids we drove up Provo Canyon and "hiked" up to Bridal Veil Falls. The kids had a great time playing in the falls, although it was super chilly. I didn't bring my camera or phone, but Nora had her camera so we took a few picture with it. Which she promptly erased when her cousin wanted to take more pictures on the way home. So no pictures of that adventure :-(.

We headed back to Shanna's and had super yummy Navajo tacos! After lunch we met back up with Amy and my good friend Marci at the Bean Museum on campus. It was a place we visited often when we lived in Provo, so fun to go back and visit. The girls remembered quite a bit of the museum and eventually remembered their friends also.

 

Eli fit just right in the hippo's mouth! Mmmmm. . .nice and meaty.

 

Amy, Levi, Claire, Judd, and Gage in front of the zebra herd. What a silly bunch!

 

I let Kyla take the camera and take pictures of all the kids in front of their favorite animal. Parker, Nora, and Kaylee in front of the Pudu (if you can tell through the reflection of the glass)

 

Kyla really likes to take very up close pictures. I am not sure if she just likes to play with the zoom or really gets this close.

 

All the kids in front of the elephants in the center.

HIke! Hike! Hike! Hike!

So while we were staying at my parent's house, we sat down and gave the girls some options of what they wanted to do while they were in Kanab. "Do you want to go swimming, to the sprinkler park, horseback riding, riding 4-wheelers, ride in the Model T, hiking, etc." And they said "Hike! Hike! Hike! Hike!" We were a bit suprised at the answer and even asked a couple of times but it was always the same. I guess that growing up we went hiking so much I didn't really think of it as something very special. My girls probably would have chosen hiking over going to the zoo, village, or museum. I am glad they encouraged us to take the opportunity to get out and do it, especially since there is not any places very close to us to go hiking. We stuck with a basic hike and went up the squaw trail behind the park.

 

We thought the sun was going to be much lower in the sky and possibily setting; but it was very much in full force and making us sweaty and hot. We ended hiking about a mile up and a mile back.

 

We did get high enough up to see a good view from the town.

 

Kyla didn't want to stop when the other girls were ready to turn around so Mormor and her went up to the next overlook.

 

Can you see the lizard under the rock? The girls had a lot of fun chasing lizards. Kyla was pretty set on catching one, maybe next time.

 

They did a fabulous job hiking, especially little Myka. By the time we got down the mountain she wasn't going to be talked into walking up a little hill for me to get a picture though, she was ready for ice cream from The Junction. BTW we did end up doing most of the other things we listed as options for the girls. They really enjoyed the pool at Kanab and it was fun for us to take them. I did not get any pictures there or I would have posted some.

Moqui Cave

After playing in the sand caves for awhile we headed up to Moqui Cave to let the girls look around.

 

They thought the dinosaur tracks were pretty cool. I really need to take them hiking where they can find them by themselves one of these days. They liked the displays inside but, of course, loved the gift shop most of all. I must admit the gift shop at Moqui is pretty awesome. I was kind of sad they didn't have very many rings like they used to.

 

Sand Caves

We had a great time letting the girls explore the sand caves one of the days we were in Kanab. I haven't been there very many times, but it was really neat to see all the different layers and colors of sand. You'll be walking along and notice a round patch of really white sand right in the center and look up and see exactly where it had fallen. We brought buckets, scoops, and containers for the girls to collect different colors of sand. They had fun and tried to be careful not to mix the colors.

 

It was cool how contrasting the colors were.

 

 

The girls liked playing peek-a-boo in this fun window and finding all the different openings to the caves.

 

We collected samples of green, purple, red, orange, pink, and white. Someday when I have time we will do a fun craft with it.

 

Eli liked it too, from the view on Mommy's belly.

Riding Pepe

One of the girls' favorite activities when we go to Kanab is to ride Pepe. She is a sweet horse that is used by a young girl to do barrel racing. I was surprised that Myka was so excited and eager about getting on and even trotting. She loved it!

Last time we went, there was an empty corral that we used to let the girls really learn how to control the horse and then let them do it all on their own. This time the corral was full of cows so we just had the field. I did not feel confident in Nora and Kyla's skills to let them go all by themselves in the field so I helped lead the horse the whole time. Pepe is a great horse, but at the time was being trained for barrel racing. So she was ready to race and not thrilled at the nice leisurely pace we wanted to go. Nora and Kyla loved when I would run with the horse so they could trot her. If Daniel was there we probably would have let them go on their own after a little instruction.

Having a great time and I got some good exercise! We are so thankful for the friends who allow us to ride her!

Bats at Pipe Spring

Daniel flew home that Monday and we got to hang out in Kanab. One evening we picked up Grandma and Miranda in Moccasin and headed out to Pipe Spring for a bat program. One of my good friends from when I worked there was in charge and did a fabulous job. I had no idea how many species of bats were out there.

 

The girls enjoyed the program. Although, after they caught and showed us a couple Kyla, Myka, and Mormor were ready to leave while Nora and I wanted to stay. I won out, of course, and made them suffer through it.

 

They are such cool creatures to see up close.

 

They caught several different kinds that night. My favorite were the funky looking long-eared bats.

 

Miranda was so interested in them and couldn't get enough. We found her wandering up to the scientist table to check them out. She even reached out and touched one when the ranger was holding it for her to look at, which made everyone jump, which made her cry and feel bad.

 

This one was reluctant to take off again. Great time, would highly recommend to anyone in the So. Utah area for next year. Note to Self: Put girls in socks, shoes, long pants, and bring jackets when going to Pipe Spring at night even if it is 100 degrees during the day. It is all dirt, there is no grass, and has huge stink bugs that once seen by a 6 year old will make her skin crawl all night. You would think that after working there for 4 years I would have remembered this. A flashlight and some chairs would have also been great.

The 4th in Kanab!

We all woke up early on the 4th to get ready and drive to Kanab to be in the parade. My dad is usually asked to drive one of his old cars and we got to be part of it this year.

 

It was a bit of a crazy rush but very fun. I love the 4th of July in Kanab. They do a great job of a small town holiday. Myka was a little nervous about riding on the truck bed so she got to sit up front with Mormor and Grandpa.

 

Me, Nora, Eli, Kami, Kyla, Senna, Kristine. Walking behind were Erik and Kirsten with their dogs.The kids had fun singing patriotic songs, saying the pledge of allegiance, throwing candy, and waving.

 

Kristine, Miles, Sydney, Kaira, Savannah, Kai, & Laina.

 

After the parade we stopped by Grandma Nora's place to see her new patio set and visit a bit before heading to Daniel's 15 year class reunion in Fredonia.

 

Here we all are at the park in Kanab, getting ready for the talent show and fireworks. Grandpa bought everyone yummy bbq dinner. Next time We just need to remember that closer is not necessarily better especially when you are right in front of a very loud speaker. It was fun to see and chat with so many people we knew!

Family Reunion at the Ranch

We had a great time at the ranch with my family for our family reunion. On Thursday my mom watched the kids at the cabin while Daniel and I went for a ride on the 4-wheelers. It was a lot of fun. I have never really riden 4-wheelers much but had a great time. By Friday everyone was there and we just played and played. I kind of feel bad. We were supposed to be in charge of races and activities, but everyone was so busy playing that we didn't do anything structured. The kids had fun on the zipline over the meadow (somehow I didn't end up with any pictures of that). We played at the beach, went for boat rides, shot off the rocket, fished, played on the swing set, went for 4-wheeler rides, played games in the house, swam, went down the zipline into the pond, etc., etc.

 

Grandpa got a great workout employed as the rower for the little girls. You can tell Kyla, Kaira, Senna, and Nora are having a fabulous time.

 

This is my super brave niece, Senna, going down the zipline into the pond at 6 years old! She went down it even after Kyla had tried and got a bit banged up because she wouldn't let go and drop into the water.

 

This is proof for my kids that I did go down the zipline, swim in the pond, and had fun doing it. For those of you that aren't aware, the pond at the ranch is extremely cold. It is a very frigid experience to go swimming in there. It's the kind of cold that if you try to get in slowly and get used to the water, you'll never get all the way in. You just have to jump in and let it take your breath away.

 

Daniel loves to try fun ways of going down the zipline. This time he was trying to ski across the water on a board while he hung on one handed and held the board with the other.

 

The dock and part of the beach area. Savannah played Miss Strong Arms and rowed everyone around after Grandpa gave up. Kai, Nora, Miles, Kyla, Sydney, Savannah, Senna, and Daniel.

 

Grandpa and Erik trying to trick the fish in the pond. With all the commotion we were making and avoiding swimmers, boaters, and the zipline, I think they still caught a couple little ones (and threw them back of course).

 

This is the giant rope swing on the front lawn. Daniel would climb way up on a stump of the tree with Nora on his lap and launch off and go so high and long, she loved it.

 

The perfect ending to a great day. View from the back porch.