St. George Trip

     We took a little trip to St. George before Aaron started his new job. I was surprised that it was only a 4 hour drive. Our first stop was our hotel and swimming before bed. The next day, we headed to Zion National Park. It is a narrow canyon with hardly any parking, so our only option was the shuttle. It was nice to hear some of the history as we rode along. The man who discovered it brought pictures back to the World Fair. No one believed that the pictures were unedited because the sights were so unbelievable. Our first hike was to the Emerald Pools. We saw 2 snakes and several caterpillars. 

     After, we had lunch at Zion Lodge and the kids did a few crafts at the Ranger tables set up in the grass. Our 2nd and final hike was to Weeping Rock with the amazing view of Zion Canyon in the background. It was getting very warm by then. We stopped and played in a creek while Rex napped in the backpack. It was a long day. Aaron and most of the kids went swimming that night back at the hotel. Somebody added too much chlorine. They came back to the room with bleached bathing suits and red rashy and itchy skin. That was our last time swimming in that pool! 

     The next day, we headed to the Saint George Temple and Visitor's Center. I love the white temple wth the red rock back drop! I forced my family to sit on the burning hot steps for a picture. Thanks, guys! Next, we headed to Thunder Junction All Abilities Park. We had fun in the splash area and Maddox, of course, found a friend to play hide and seek with the whole time, so we didn't see much of him! After the park, we met up with Aaron's sister, Tarina Warby, at their home and celebrating cousin James' 13th birthday! My kids LOVE their cousins! 

     On Saturday, we headed for a tour at the Brigham Young Winter Home, then off to the city splash park next. Rex really loved this place! And of course, Maddox found another friend to play ball with and hide and seek! He has got some seriously great social skills! Tilly was such a good sister, hanging out and helping her little bro's! After lunch, we met up with the Warby's again at the Sand Hollow Aquatic Center and swam for a few hours! The kids had an absolute blast! Starving, we were off with the brood to The Pizza Factory and took a picture afterwards in the old fire truck. Tilly, Maddox, and Travis headed to the Warby's for a lateover, while we got the little ones to sleep back at the hotel. Poor Rex was so pooped! He took a decent nap as we were checking out the next morning. That baby likes his sleep and really suffers without it. 

   We read about this cool spot in Arizona to rockhound. Our kids, especially Maddox, love rocks! They have an old gypsum mine there with the all the gypsum pieces for the taking. Taking backroads and dirt roads into the middle of no where, these shiny, sparkly hills came into view. There it was. Sparkle Mountain. The kids chiseled and hammered and picked up scraps of gypsum off the ground for a good hour before we headed out of town. We stopped in Scipio, got an ice cream and saw some animals at the very small petting zoo: camel, zonkey (zebra/donkey), huge rabbits. It was a good trip. I could have been more patient and kind, and done with some more sleep. Forgive me family!