Capitol Gorge

On our first full day at Capitol Reef we went to hike Capitol Gorge.  We thought it would be a fun hike for the kids to start and we were right.  The kids loved picking up rocks, climbing on the rocks, hiding in holes in the rocks, kicking sand and seeing lots of neat things.  I loved doing this hike as a kid so it was fun to go back and share the fun place with my kids.

After the hike we went and got pie and cookies at the Gifford House.  I love the pie there and it made for a really nice treat after our hike!  After that we went to hike a short boardwalk to see some petroglyphs before we headed back to our airbnb. It was a great start to our time in Capitol Reef.

Anders was a great little hiker who loved the dirt and rocks!

My cute little kiddos all ready for our hiking adventures.

Grandma showed Anders how to put rocks into the little holes in the rock walls and he thought that was really cool.

Grandpa showed Alden how to build rock cairn and he thought that was really fun!

He also loved knocking them over after he was done building them!

It was a beautiful day and the hike was really pretty!

Alden had a lot of fun exploring the nooks on the hike.

Anders had a lot of fun hiking with Grandma!

We actually got a good family photo in one of the nooks!

The boys found a little cave with Grandpa that they had fun exploring.

I loved seeing the views down the gorge.

The boys loved climbing on all the rocks and exploring. 

Anders loved sitting and kicking the sand/dirt around.

Anders was very happy sitting in this little nook playing in the sand.

He does not care if he gets dirty!  He actually loves it!

More of the views.  The sky was so blue and pretty!

Anders loved having his water backpack!

Picnic lunch after the hike!  We definitely made the kids hungry on the hike.

Alden wanted his picture taken in front of the sign where we hiked.

Pie and cookies!  Such a yummy post hike snack!

Eliza was happy to get down and stretch her legs while we ate our pie.

Our short hike to see some petroglyphs after our snack.

Eliza loves being outside!!

Some of the petroglyphs we were able to see.  It was neat to be able to show these to the boys, especially Alden, and explain what they are.

Arriving at Capitol Reef

We were so excited to get to go visit Capitol Reef when we were in Utah last week.  It was somewhere I remember visiting lots as a little kid and it was the last place Drew and I went on vacation before kids, about a year before Alden was born.  I was really excited to take our kids and show them somewhere so special to me!

We drove from Provo to our AirBnB near Capitol Reef and then let the kids out there to stretch their legs and get settled in.  We then decided it would be nice to take an evening walk in the park so we packed the kids up and headed in.  We decided we would just do part of the river walk so that Anders and Alden could throw rocks in the river while we walked, which is still one of their favorite past times.  It ended up being really nice weather for a walk, aside from a little wind and it was beautiful outside.  We also got to see marmots and deer along with some birds while we were in the park.

On our way back to the house we stayed at we stopped for dinner at a little diner called Slacker's that I love visiting everytime we go there.  The burgers are really good and the milkshakes are amazing!  The kids enjoyed their food and actually ate something which made it a very successful dinner.  

 Eliza stretching her legs at the house after our drive.

 There is a nice grassy picnic area near the river and where the walk starts that the kids enjoyed running around in.  This is also where we saw the marmots.

 Alden collecting rocks to throw in the river.

 Beautiful blue sky and red rocks.

 The boys loved standing on the bridge to throw rocks in the river below.

 Daddy helping supervise.

 Eliza and I enjoyed watching the boys have a blast.

 Grandma would help find the boys more rocks to throw.

 Even though it was still fairly brown I thought it was rather pretty.

 Anders was so excited that we could already see the moon.

 Throwing more rocks in!

 When we got back to the meadow (it was right next to where we parked) there was a large group of deer there.  It was very clear they were not particularly scared of us.

 Enjoying being outside!  Being outside always makes me happier and it looks like Eliza takes after me.

Our dinner stop and Alden ate his dinner so well he got chocolate ice cream which made him really happy!  It was a wonderful introduction and start to our trip to Capitol Reef!

Easter Egg Hunt at the Hoopers

While we were in Utah for McKayla's wedding we got to stay at my aunt and uncle's house and enjoy a little time with them.  The day after the wedding we ate lunch with them and then they decided to put on a early Easter egg hunt for my kids.  My kids were so excited and they loved it!  It was so nice to be able to relax and let the kids just run around in the backyard finding eggs and then sit and open all of them.  Anders was especially funny because he was very content to sit and open all the eggs and then close all of them over and over again.  I love seeing my kids get to enjoy time with so many different family members!

 The boys got so excited when they got told to go find eggs!

 It was funny watching them run all over the yard with no actual method or order to where they looked first.

 Anders got a little help from Rick to get an egg high up.

 Finding eggs in the bird feeder.

 Eliza just chilled with Aunt Katrina and watched her brothers.

 Both boys were so excited with what they found!

 Alden opening all of his eggs to see what he got.

 Anders opening all of his eggs and sorting what he got.

 After he opened all of them he wanted to put all of them back together.

 Eliza was very happy riding on Xander's shoulders with a balloon.

It was a great day and wonderful activity for the kids but between that and the wedding the day before Anders was exhausted.  We went to my grandparent's house for dinner that night and Anders was so tired he slept for over an hour in this chair.  It was a great day and I am so glad we could make good memories with the kids and family.