Zion National Park, Day 1

Our first day at Zion National Park was beautiful.  After a long car ride with the bambinos they were quite ready to get out and stretch their legs.

Lyssa, who seems to get car sick, was particularly happy to be free from her vehicular confines.

And just outside the park entrance they had these beautiful wind spinners... I would totally have something that pretty in my yard if I had a big enough yard and enough money to pay for one.  

We decided to start with the Emerald Pools.  Mom volunteered to carry Lyssa, Dad took Alec in "the most uncomfortable baby backpack ever" and I carried the camera backpack, taking pictures constantly.

Grandpa Steve really was a trooper carrying that heavy load.  Alec is no feather, and really that baby backpack we borrowed from a friend weighed almost as much as Alec...

The views were incredible!  Every once and a while I had to stop and just take a deep breath.  This is the beginning of what will someday (long after our bones are dust) be a beautiful arch... and to think how many hundreds of years ago it started to form.  It helped remind me to try to gain some much needed long term perspective.

Once we got to the top of the Emerald Pools there was much boulder climbing and exploring. 

The waterfall was gorgeous, but let off a very cold breeze.

Alec stuck to Mike like glue.  He seriously needs a Mike's fan club leader t-shirt... that or that says "I like Mike!"  Either way, I know he would wear it with pride.

The parents... I think my mom has one of the most beautiful smiles.

My mother charged me with the task of attempting to take some senior pictures for Mike.  He wasn't really up for it, but I did get a few shots that I thought were classic Mike. 

And of course I had to get my mom to snap a few of me... proof that I was there even if I was behind the camera most of the time.

Cute Carly was climbing on almost every boulder and rock she could see!  She was totally willing to come down and pose for a few shots next to the pool though.  

The bright greens that I saw even in the desert reminded me that Spring is coming....

And Lyssa slept most of the hike in the most poorly constructed baby backpack ever made.  My mom was a trooper to carry her so far with it sliding around all over her back and shoulders.

Mike, who is typically known to climb on everything since a very young age, decided to try some pretty slick rocks....

and then came down to pose for some "senior pictures".  This is one of my favorites.

My beloved Aunt Bonnie came up from Vegas to see us, but mostly just the babies.  She was kind enough to catch this bridge shot for me of our adventurous crew.  She also bought us dinner and entertained tired Alec the entire time I ate.  What more could I ask for?!

Next stop was weeping rock.  It was a short paved hike so we let Alec get some of that pent up energy out walking with his favorite guy, Mike.

Grandpa Steve graciously offered to carry Lyssa in my crappy front pack/backpack.  Turns out it's crappy as a front pack, but even worse as a back pack.  Who knew?  I should have just brought the baby bjorn.  Live and learn!

The water at Weeping Rock literally runs straight out of the side of the mountain.  Amazing!

As cool as it all was, Alan still refused to look like he was enjoying himself, though I have it on good authority that he did in fact have fun.  

Carly, on the other hand, had a blast.  Then again, when does Carly not have a blast?!  (Except of course when she's at Young Women's events and they're telling her that her only purpose in life is to fit in a box and have lots of babies... but that is another rant in and of itself.)

Alec didn't seem to really appreciate the water falling right on his head.  He did appreciate Mike holding him in his napless state.  (Thankfully there was no whining, but no naps either...)

So off down the hill these two go.  They make such a good pair, buddies through and through.

Near the bottom Alec looked around and everyone had their hands in their pockets.  In his slowly growing tired state, he apparently wanted to fit in. What a funny kiddo!

Seeing how Lyssa was ready to pull a full fledged melt down, neither of the babies were drinking enough, and everyone was getting hungry we headed out of the park and into town for the night.  Baths, showers, food, water, milk cups, and sleep were just what we needed to get ready for day 2!