Tickles 'n' Giggles: 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.