First Camping Trip of the Year

Headed out for our first camping trip of the year to the San Rafael Swell.  The weather was beautiful, the setting incredible, and the kids had a blast so we have a lot of pictures!  I just couldn't leave any out.  Now you can feel like you were there with us. :)

 Here is our camp sight.  Things are really rugged and undeveloped in the swell.  It was awesome- no one very close.  Lots of solitude.

I took this picture because the trees were so interesting.  Notice how last years leaves are still on there while simultaneously this year's new growth is taking place.  Just goes to show, you don't always have to shed the old "stuff" to grow and move on.  I am sure the tree will eventually drop the old stuff, but I like that it reminded me that it will do it when the time is right and that things are not always as clean cut as I would like or think them to be, in nature and in life.  

On to even more serious stuff.  Ruby and Owen both pooped on the latrine I built and we were very proud of them so we pulled out "a treat".  What three year old doesn't love mustaches as reward for going to the bathroom?

No picnic tables so our cook bin will do.

Ruby and Owen's favorite part.

  

 Went to Goblin Valley.  First time for Chip and I too.  A playground of Hoodoos to run and hide around.

Hiked a few miles to the Goblin's Lair. This is the beginning...soon climbs the hillside and then drops into a huge cave. Pretty cool.  PS- Mindy this picture of Ruby is for you- love that shirt on her!

Back to the Hoodoos for more hiding and playing.  This is Ruby and Owen playing hide and seek.  They are kinda camouflage, don't you think?

We made a friend on the hike with whom we ate lunch (with his dad and grandma) and hung out the rest of the afternoon with.  So cute to see them meet and get along with another kid so well.  I remember meeting kids and doing that on vacation all the time growing up.  Sometimes the kid we met were the most memorable part of a trip.

Storm, comin in!  Came in, brought a little rain, and...

A double rainbow right over camp!!

 

Post rainbow and dinner walk.  The colors were crazy, fresh, and vibrant like they get only after a storm.

Just love the moment here of them helping each other climb around.

Oh yeah!  And, we were there for Easter Sunday.  The Easter Bunny came to the desert! 

 Photo shoot after the storm below.  Chip brought the "real" camera.  So, as long as we got the fun colors, thought we would play with it.

And then there was the hike on Sunday.  Attempted to do Little Wild Horse Canyon.  Wow- moods were horrible, motivations low, and the funometer turned off it was so low.  So, we eventually headed back to the car, called it good enough, and drove home.  They only thing they loved was this pot hole below.  I was wishing we could have left them there till they were able to turn things around.  No such luck. :)