Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)
It was nice not having to load up the car today since we are in the same hotel tonight. We had other things to deal with-Anderson’s cough made him sick and why did it have to happen as soon as he put on his clothes?! Everyone was up fairly early and we all headed to breakfast together. The kids ate a little less today for breakfast than they did yesterday. Grannymom and Grandpa joined us and then we ran back to the room to gather our stuff for the day.
We drove almost an hour and half toward Arches National Park. The drive over was backtracking some from yesterday but the road is straight, flat and the view is outstanding. We were soon in the park and headed up the switchbacks to the park. The visitor center had animal statues in the front and the kids would have stayed there all day. Reagan fed them pretend food, Graham tried to climb up on top of each one and Anderson gave them each a hug and kiss when we left.
At the visitor centers, I have been stamping our National Park stamp books. Robby and I bought one years ago and are quickly filling it up so now I have one for each child too. Someday they will be old enough to read and enjoy their stamp books. But now, I have to stamp them all myself-and that would be five stamps to do each time. This park had 2 stamps so I was trying my best to quickly stamp all of the books. I didn’t notice but Robby said there was a line forming behind me and they were not looking too happy! Also, while we were there, Robby bought himself a hat-which he needed to keep his head from burning. Anderson said that he needed one so Robby, feeling very generous because a hat for Anderson really means 3 hats, took him to the store. Unfortunately, when you are a boy with that big Dennie head, there are no hats to fit you! Anderson didn’t really mind and he even told Robby that he would wear the hat in the car and Robby could wear the hat outside.
We had talked about stopping at Balanced Rock and walking the short trail around it but decided we might should save the kids energy. So we drove to the trail we had intended to walk on-North and South Windows but the parking lot nearest the trailhead was full. We circled twice and had to park at a lower parking lot near another trailhead. As we headed up the steps to the first trail, Robby called and said that we should do the closer one. And oh, it was a great call-there were less people and it was perfect. We hiked to Double Arch-the trail was flat and we could see where we were headed. The breeze was blowing so it wasn’t hot and Reagan was so impressed with all of the wildflowers. Anderson saw a lizard and Campbell kicked her feet and enjoyed being out of her seat.
As we approached the arches, we noticed that there was an echo. The kids have never heard a real echo-since I really don’t count an echo in a bathroom as a real echo. Reagan could not believe it. She thought it was so funny. Graham enjoyed screaming and squealing too-but he was just doing it to have fun and not to hear the echo.
We made it to the arch and climbed up into the shade. It was 2 arches connected on one side. After our pictures, Reagan and Anderson wanted to climb up higher so Robby took them up higher. I couldn’t go since I had Campbell in the carrier and was afraid it might be too much climbing and Graham couldn’t go since he is so unsteady. Grannymom tried to deal with him but he only wanted up with Reagan. He did climb by himself back up to me and waited on them to come down. Robby helped Reagan and Anderson up and I took a few pictures. Then I heard him tell them “sit right there.” I walked over to peer over the rocks and saw him climbing up into the arch when he got to the top he said that it was a huge dropoff on the other side. I didn’t notice but he said he had a little more difficulty climbing down than up-thought he might not be able to get down!
After Arches, we drove down to Moab for lunch. We had seen a diner in some book and it was worth the drive-Moab Diner and Ice Cream. The kids ate and ate (mac and cheese and grilled cheese)-maybe they were hungry or maybe they were trying to clean their plates so they could have some ice cream. They ate so well that they all had their own cup (except poor Campbell who watches us eat and moves and smacks her lips). Reagan had strawberry, Anderson had rainbow sherbet and Graham had butterfinger (Dad picked that one out).
Next we headed to Canyonlands National Park. It wasn’t really that far from Arches and the bathrooms at the visitor center were calling our names-around here all of the bathrooms are the kind without water-the big whole in the ground type. Yuck but thankfully very clean. Anyway, at Canyonlands we had one “easy” trail in mind-at least the brochure said it was easy! The Mesa Arch Trail sign said it was .5 mile loop-doable with 4 kids in tow. Grandpa stayed in the car for this one and that was a pretty good call! It was uphill-both ways! And since we really couldn’t see where we were headed to it made the hike a little longer. Anderson was tired and even cried on the way to the arch but soon perked up. Campbell fell asleep on the hike but since she wasn’t doing any work that was fine. Graham had to hold a hand but often didn’t want to or wanted to be carried (and when he was carried he would lay his head down and grin-like he was thinking “sucker, I got you to carry me and I don’t have to walk”). Reagan on the other hand was a master hiker on this hike.
I was expected a grand arch like those at arches but when we made it, it was worth the walk. The arch was fairly small but behind it all you could see was miles and miles of colorful canyonlands. It was comparable to the Grand Canyon in how it looked. Behind the arch was another huge drop off! Reagan and Anderson wanted to go up the hill a little ways and did with Robby. Poor Graham wasn’t able to go but he did escape from Grannymom and climb up the cliff side of a rock-he is going to be a mountain climber!
After stopping at a few more overlooks, we were headed back to the hotel. The drive was about 90 minutes and would have been shorter if we didn’t have to stop. Graham was asleep and coughed until he got sick-Grannymom and I knew it was coming but weren’t able to catch it so he needed a change of clothes. And then Reagan had to potty-we let them say it twice before we find a place to stop since sometime they are just bored and no pottying will get them out of the car. After saying it the second time, I called Robby to tell him to find a spot-it was about to be the median but there was a gas station (the last one for 110 miles-seriously, that is what the sign said).
Back in Green River, we drove looking for a Walgreens to buy some different cough medicine (some that doesn’t make Anderson get sick) but there is not much here at all. We did find a tiny grocery store and found some new medicine (which seems to be working now-I hear no coughing). On the way back, we stopped at park with a huge playground. The kids played while I made sandwiches and then we played some more after we ate. Next we were headed back to the hotel to swim.
At the hotel, Anderson didn’t want to take his new medicine so he couldn’t go swimming until he did. So Reagan, Graham and Campbell headed down with me to the pool-Grannymom and Grandpa joined us (I couldn’t do it alone). We swam for awhile before Anderson and Robby finally came down-he took his medicine and was so proud of himself. Graham is so difficult in the pool now, he thinks he can swim. He doesn’t want to be in his floatee and doesn’t want anyone to hold on to him either. Campbell watched us at first and when we finally put her in, she kicked and squealed she was so excited. Reagan and Anderson were happy to get out since they were going to get to help Robby with the laundry and play a game of pinball downstairs.
After baths, we went to Grandpa’s room to look at the pictures and then back to our room for one last movie. Everyone is sound asleep right now-hiking and swimming make for tired kiddos! Tomorrow is Capitol Reef National Park!
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