Utah trip: part one!

I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I decided to get a wild hair and head to Utah.

This first leg of my trip was excellently planned - because I didn't plan it! You see, I don't plan anything. I prefer to just live by the seat of my pants. I'm horrible at things like making lists, reading guides, all that jazz. It has it's benefits. But a couple months ago I heard two of my close girl friends talking about a trip to Moab, Utah. Somehow it ended up with me saying I wanted to go......... So alas, I went.

Thursday May 8th was full to the brim with things that needed to get done. In true fashion of my luck when I'm behind, feeling crunched and stressed before a camping trip it HAD TO RAIN. Yes, it poured buckets of rain on me while I loaded the car.

But we did not slow down! After our marathon day of go-go-go, the car was loaded and we left town about 9 pm! I decided to drive as long and as far as I could because Anaius basically sleeps through the night these days and I wanted to use that to my advantage. We made it until about 2:30 am before I needed to pull over and call it a night. We slept in a parking lot in Spanish Fork until about 7 am. At night we didn't really look around, I was just exhausted and needed sleep. But when we all woke up we realized we were across the street from a McDonalds. Hot food and a flush-able toilet after being in the car all night? YES PLEASE.

This is the sunrise that woke us about 6:30/7 am in Spanish Fork Utah as seen through my windshield. Not a bad way to wake up at all.

So after a crappy breakfast of biscuits and sausage from the red and yellow giant, we finished our drive to Moab. We spent several hours in Goblin Valley climbing rocks, hiking, I took a nap and we had a yummy lunch.... then we technically made it to Moab!

While in Moab, we stayed at a great friends place. Literally, we camped on her parents lawn. They were so nice for letting us do that! When in Moab, you don't spend much time at all in your campsite.... Especially not when Janet's planning the day. I am the least planning oriented person in the world. I literally go with the flow, without agenda, usually all my life. My friend Janet is the exact opposite. She had books piled in the front window of her 15 passenger van of hikes, trails, guides, etc. She is the ultimate guru to take places when you want to see everything. I was so content to just join this busied pace for a few days :)

Our first adventure Saturday was Dead Horse Point, then we went hiking at Canyonlands National Park. While I loved both, it was stressful to me to be at Canyonlands. I don't want to hike there again with young kids. Certainly not husbandless either!

Before we started too much adventuring - we snapped a GREAT photo of our whole crew - Kurt & Monica (she grew up in Moab!) with 4 of their kids, Stephen and Janet with 9 of their children and me with my crazy 5 children! WOOT!



Damon laughed at me about why I wanted to go to Moab.... He said "Aren't they just rocks to look at?".... Yes. He's absolutely correct. Why in the world did I need to go play tourist when I could just google a photo of it? Well, because it's different. I've debated even posting photos of where we went because of his comment (and I was super sensitive about his comment, it made me cry!)... but I absolutely LOVED seeing Moab. The rocks are indeed just rocks but it's incredible. Peaceful and awe-inspiring. I did decide that next time I go back, I want to just wonder. To not have an agenda. To explore without a guidebook and potentially without kids someday too. Mom mode + vacation planned hiking is a sure fire way to make me not really soak up the sights because I'm a bit too distracted.... but I'm so glad I went!!

Plus, my really awesome children had fun.

This is the view from one hike we did in Dead Horse Point.

We had fun watching the kids catch this lizard.. but it should be noted that lizards and chipmunks are HAZARDS to young children hiking near cliffs. The kids get distracted, want to chase them/catch them and forget the cliff is there. Oye!! Several of us parents had to sternly correct our children while hiking.

But hey, in a safe place, a lizard was indeed caught and we learned (after it's tail fell off) that their tails fall off to help them escape prey. It will grow back in about 2 years.

It was so fun to be there with some of my best girl friends. We had a blast. Climbed to new heights and tested the "if it's a clear day, you can see for 200 miles" statement *(though it wasn't completely clear)*

And when hiking, we found whimsical beauty... this lovely step with a heart shaped hole is a great example.

The next day was Sunday... Mothers Day 2015... Arches National Park here we come!

We are crazy and decided to wake up at 6:30 am, wake all our tired children up and hike them up a famous path to Delicate Arch.

And we made it!

Daunika was thrilled to stand under the famous arch. She looked so tiny compared to it!

Next on the agenda was Sand Dune Arch!

And well... when Janet says "Hey Macy, let's climb up this thing!".... I do.... except, she didn't.
So, that crazy idiot in the hat at the top of the arch? Yes, that's me.

So, Aurora must get it from me... She is an amazingly STRONG little one. She climbed some serious rocks while at Arches.

And up another rock...

Going up was great... Going down? Well, let's just say that after this 10 day trip, one pair of jeans no longer had a bum for Aurora.


Regrets: Not seeing more. Being seriously out of my normal physical capacity. Feeling too structured. Not taking enough pictures of people. Not wearing sunscreen... ouch.

Perks of the trip: Bonding with friends. Beautiful sights. Exploration of new places. Watching my children have so much fun. Great sleep at the end of long days.

Goal: Come back when all kiddos are a bit older AND BRING DAMON... because these rocks are cool!

I really loved it. I can't wait to go back!!!

Those were the first three days of my trip....... But there's more!