Our Moab Adventure

During the first week of April we went with a bunch of Brian's family down to Moab, Utah for some fun camping and hiking.  We sure had a lot of fun.  Avery couldn't get enough of hiking and camping and dirtbiking (ofcourse we brought his little dirtbike).  In Moab we camped next to a group that had 30 or so dirtbikes in their site.  Avery thought that was really neat.  Lily, on the other hand, is not much of a camper we have decided.   She liked to hang out in the van while we were at camp and watch a movie.  She went to bed great at night as long as we put her in the van first (silly girl).  Both kids had fun playing with their cousins.  We couldn't keep up with Avery on the hikes and Lily liked to take her time and smell the roses (or was content just hanging in the car).  This was our 2nd time to Moab- though the first time was when Amanda was pregnant with Avery.  (this time she is pregnant still but further along)
The first day we stayed in Green River and then went to Goblin Valley.

Avery was so proud he made it to the top of this tall mountain rock

Brian thought this was fun until he couldn't get down

Then we headed to Moab for the rest of the week.  We enjoyed lots of different hikes in Arches National Park.  Lily, however, only could make it partway on the hike up to Delicate Arch before she decided she was done and refused to go any further (Amanda was totally ok with not hiking up the steep mountain being so pregnant).  Avery really couldn't get enough of the hikes.  He was always running ahead of us (thankfully other family members were willing to keep up with his fast past).  

This was a really sandy area in the rocks that the kids had a blast playing in

Up at Delicate Arch (the one on the license plate)

Avery taking a picture under the arch by himself (no one but Brian & Avery went under it)

Petroglyphs on the way back down from Delicate Arch

 We also visited Canyonlands which was also very fun.  The last hike was to this supposed crater from a metorite.  There was alot of lightning and thunder on the hike back down and so it was a little scary.  We got rained on a little that day, but luckily never at camp.

the crater

Mesa Arch (just by it anyway)

Brian about to fall to his death...(not really)

 One of the days, all the older people went to the Fiery Furnace, which is by far the best thing to do at Arches.  Its this maze of slot canyons that you have to make your way through without any help of a map (which they don't have).  They were in there all day long trying to figure out how to get out again (its intense).  There were multiple times they were so sure they had the right way until they came to a dead end.  You have to shimmy up and down, under and over rocks the whole time.  Luckily, they did make it out.

one of the views from the top

almost there!  The little arch bridge (that they thought was up Wild Horse Canyon)

Avery, Lily, Amanda, Grandma and Kate all stayed back since they couldn't do the Fiery Furnace.   We went to the "Hole in the Rock" and had some fun there.  We went to the "Exotic Zoo" and fed camels, buffalo, zebra, pigs, horses, ostrich, etc.  It was a fun little adventure for the little kids.

You could have the camel "kiss" you by putting the carrot in your mouth but no one wanted to do it

By the sweet jeep made from scrap parts

Easter Bunny Fun!

We went to Downey for to do the Easter Egg Hunt there (smaller town=less crowds) and do participate in the Easter Fun at Downata Hot Springs.  The kids were a little overwhelmed with all the candy and eggs every at the Downey Easter Egg Hunt!  They sure had alot of stuff on the ground.  

First thing Lily goes for is the soda pop (can you tell where are kids put their priorities).  It was kinda cute.  Our kids were really selective on what they picked up, so they really didn't come out of the egg hunt with much stuff, but that's ok, they got plenty of candy over the weekend.  We decided that as parents, we weren't going to pick up any of the candy for our kids. Plus they had alot of fun doing it!

Lily managed not to pick up the soda pop sitting right next to all that candy.   

There is too many to choose from!

Then we went swimming and had an Easter Egg hunt in the swimming pool, met the Easter Bunny, and did the pinata at Downata Hot Springs!

On Sunday, the Easter Bunny came in the morning but only brought their new Sunday Clothes and one Empty Egg.  We talked about the empty tomb and about Jesus before we put on our new clothes and went to Church (since we have 9am church).  The kids were actually ok with this, and this might become a tradition in the future too.  Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of them in their new Sunday clothes!  Amanda made Lily a dress and Avery got a cute little suit.

After church, while we were watching the animated video about the Resurrection, the Easter Bunny came and hid our eggs outside.  Boy were there alot of eggs to be found!  The kids really enjoyed finding all the eggs everywhere.  Probably more so than the city Easter egg hunt.

With all their Easter Spoils

Then we headed to Brian's sister Candace's house for a yummy ham dinner and to color Easter Eggs (since we didn't get around to it earlier in the week).  This year we dyed our eggs with food coloring and cool whip.  It was really easy for the kids to do and we didn't have to worry about it spilling everywhere!  Plus the "dye" was yummy.  Thanks Candace for a yummy dinner!

Lily mostly just ate the dye. 

Aunt Candace helping make a rainbow egg

more yummy dye

here they are! (the really blue one was a a cracked one so we dyed it then took off the shell to reveal a dinosoar egg!)