June!

This last month has been filled with gratitude for my family and the father of my kiddos. My favorite was coming home from a church meeting to see this:

I’m glad I’m not the only one that gets so sleepy when reading my kids books. One time, I was on the third book of a reading session and I heard Ansel say, “mom, you’re not making any sense! You’re not reading it right.” I was falling asleep right then and there while trying to read!

This guy took the boys to Moab and had a great time with some neighbor friend families. One of my favorite pics ever. 

For Jess’s birthday we had a date at a fancy restaurant. We talked about how we aren’t the young family in our neighborhood anymore. I can’t believe the stage we’re in, but it’s a good stage nonetheless. 

We’ve ventured a bit this month. First to a creek that was almost dry even though it had been running three days previous. 

Elsie wanted to drink the water. Ian took off his shoes likety split and hopped over the rocks. Ollie and Ansel threw rocks and made jokes. I find myself laughing on the regular with those two. 

Jess helps Elsie do it all because she wants to do everything the big kids do. 

But sometimes she just has to be picked up and told no.

We went to Lagoon! 

And to the park!

There has been LOTS of reading. 

And some getting soaked in the summer rain. 

And finally, we finished it all off with a happy birthday! Say “cheese!”

ZNP

Right after school got out, we headed south to the hot hot. Usually, we like going to Southern Utah in the spring or fall (even in January this year!), but we planned this trip during February and I think we were craving warmth then. Little did we know we’d be hiking in 100+ weather. Still, it was such a fun time with cousins. Nothing a few water bottles and a cream cheese salami bagel can’t fix!

We hiked along the Virgin River and found an oasis with a rope swing! We all gave it a try. 

The water was so low this year, we couldn’t have let go and landed in the river, but maybe next time!

Even Elsie got a ride. Thank goodness for Dads. 

The kids pounded on rocks and dug around in the sand under a cave for quite a while. It was a perfect spot with shade and a nice breeze. Elsie just loved it. 

After hiking, we came back to the VRBO to relax and swim. It was the perfect set up. And that slide was a good time!

On day two, we hiked in the Kolob’s Canyon portion of Zion National Park. It was perfect because hardly anyone was there in the afternoon. We had the canyon to ourselves for about an hour. This was crazy because inside the bigger portion of the park, lines for Angel’s Landing were hours long. 

We spotted lots of blue bellies lizards and neat wildflowers. The final destination was definitely worth the hike. 

The kids were loving the moss and cool canyon breeze at the alcove. 

The kiddos were the only kids on the trail that day. They hiked 5.75 miles without complaint (excluding Ian, he had a rough time toward the end, but did it nonetheless!).

And this babe loved discovering the sticks, pine cones, water, sand, leaves, and rocks. She didn’t stop exploring the whole time we were there.

We came back to swim and do s’mores. It was so warm, we put the chocolate out on the graham crackers and it melted! Perfect for the roasted marshmallows. 

It was a wonderful trip and just the way to do Southern Utah in June.