Moab Trip

Mike and I have decided that when we steal someone's identity and take out loans in their name the loans will be used to purchase a condo in Moab.

This last weekend we had a great time with Reid, Shirley and Scott down south.
On Thursday we drove and drove and drove. We tried sitting Hannah and Kenzie next to each other so they could see the one video player we have, but that only lasted until Provo. They have really been annoying each other lately. Poking, hitting, spitting, chasing each other, pulling, pushing. I need to get some advice on forcing your children to be nice to each other. Because force always works. As does yelling and idle threats.

Our condo was nicer than our house. Anytime I'm going on vacation with another family (because this is about the only way we can afford it), I'm renting a condo/house. It really is the way to go. VRBO.com all the way. They should pay me for this free advertising.

The girls loved going to the pool (even though it was a little colder than I prefer for swimming), and they loved playing at the condo playground which is what we did when we arrived.

The next day Mike and I woke up early and snuck out for a bike ride. The sun was just peeking over the horizon when we arrived at the Sovereign Singletrack trailhead. We were the first ones there and only saw two other bikers at the beginning. I mountain bike intermittently, so I am a frightened and timid biker. I can count on one hand the rides I have done on sandstone. So it took me about an hour and an almost-fall-off-the-side-of-a-steep-and-treacherous-mountain scare to really get going on my bike. On the way out I mostly got off my bike for every obstacle. But after my bike tire slid off the side of the mountain and I almost followed but managed to ditch my bike and scramble back onto the trail, holding my bike from falling to the bottom in a spectacular, crushing smash by the rear wheel, I think the scares were scared out of me. We rode out for an hour and on the way back I managed to stay on my bike for most of the ride. Mike kept telling me it was not very technical and I suppose for him it wasn't. The next day it was his turn to gloat as I walked around saddle sore saying to him, "Aren't you sore at all? Really? You're not? At all? Not even right there?" (Thanks Reid and Shirley for watching the girls when they woke up and getting everything ready.)

When we got back we met up with the Barkers and headed into Arches National Park. It was a cloudy, humid day. Pretty good weather for a hike. Kenzie hiked the whole way up this, "strenuous" hike. We were so proud of her. There were a lot of people, but it was still fun. We even met some old friends from when I coached at Brighton. We were hiking up and Mike said, "Steph, that boy looks just like Paul." I looked up and saw the boy and agreed he looked like he could be Paul's brother. Then I looked further up the trail and saw Paul's parents. Small world.

Reid carried Kenzie the whole way back, but I think with a little bit of bribery she would have done it herself. Hannah did well in the backpack, and took her nap the last 15 minutes of the hike.

After lunch we seperated from the group to hit Sand Dune Arch, where the girls had tons of fun playing in the fine sand. Next time we'll bring buckets and shovels. We spent the rest of the day there letting the girls run and play.

The next day I got up early, ran 18 or 17 miles (I got lost, so I'm not quite sure) and then we headed home in the rain. It was a short, fun trip. We enjoyed spending time with family and getting away for a little bit.



See this scrapbook bigger here.