Zion National Park

This was the first time that i have ever been to ZION NATIONAL PARK. It was great! We took one of the shuttles and headed up towards the Lodge. We did a little hike up to Lower Emerald Pool. We stopped at the beginning of the hike to look at a little lizard. Jaxon thought that it was pretty cool, until the lizard decided to move - it freaked him out and the whole rest of the hike he kept wanting me to hold him, and he kept asking if lizards & snakes were going to come and get him. He said so many times he just wanted to go back to the hotel - poor little guy!

Jaxon before he saw the Lizard!

Mum & Jax taking a little rest

Reed, Sarah, Madi, Lala, Jaxon & Millie (in baby carrier on Reed's back)

Waterfall at Lower Emerald Pool

On the shuttle they had said that you could go on horse rides.....well, when Jaxon heard that, he just knew he was going to ride on one. He kept going on & on about it, so finally we went to go & see how old you had to be....10 years old - sorry buddy!! He was so upset, i had to bribe him to stop crying by telling him when we went home i would have dad take him to his friends to ride the horses! At least it calmed him down for a little bit. (until he kept saying that he was ready to go home, so he could go to Nathan's and ride the horses!!)

After the first little hike, we went and ate at the lodge - Definately not the greatest food we ate on the trip. After we ate i was looking for my camera and couldn't find it anyway!! Luckily someone had handed it in at the front desk - Thanks to whoever turned it in, i would have been so sad if i had lost it!

View from Zion Lodge

We loaded onto another shuttle to take us further up the mountain to another hike. We got off at The Temple of Sinawava and went on the Riverside walk. It was kind of chilly, but definately worth the 2 mile walk! Jaxon did great, so did Millie - she slept the whole time in the carrier. Beautiful Views on the Riverside WalkThe Mountains were so high - i can't believe people rock climb up these!!Thanks Reed for carrying Millie all day in the Carrier!
We made it to the end!! Yipee - Jax you did a great job!We saw this little squirrel at the end of the trail. He was so funny, he was putting so much stuff in his mouth and kept posing for everyones camera!

After the walk we took the shuttle back to the van and drove through a 1.1 mile tunnel in the mountain. It was so dark in there! There were some cutouts that the natural light could come through, but still it was really dark.

That night we were all so exhausted after being in the fresh air all day. We had so much fun and plan to go back sometime soon!

There are so many beautiful things to see here in Utah, I definately want to make sure that i give myself and my family the chance to see as much of it as we can.

Kolob Canyon

One of the days we were in St George, we decided to take a ride up KOLOB CANYON. It was so beautiful!! Jaxon was so funny - we would say "Jaxon look at the mountains - they are so big" He just kept replying "I could drive up that on my dirt bike" or "My dirt bike would go vroom up that" - Like father like son!!!

Heading up the canyon

A View from the top of Kolob Canyon

Sarah, Madi, Lauren, Jax & Millie at the top of Kolob Canyon (notice the swim goggles on Jaxon's head)

We had just been to Target to get some swimming goggles. Jaxon would not take them off and insisted on wearing them all the way up the Canyon. I couldn't help but snapping this photo! So cute!

St George

For SPRING BREAK we went to St Gerorge with my sister and her 2 girls, Madi & Lauren. We went from Sunday to Thursday and had so much fun! Reed (my brother in law) came down on Tuesday to join the party. Unfortunately Kent couldn't get time off and had to stay home! We were sad that he couldn't come, but when we got home, we told him we had to plan a trip back to Zions. Jordan (my nephew) was in california with his friend so we missed having him there also. We mostly just hung out by the pool. We drove up to Kolob Canyon - it truly was breathtaking!! We also spent the day in Zion National Park. I had never been and it was amazing!!

Jaxon & Lauren Swimming in the Pool. They were like little fish!! Millie looks so cute after getting out of the pool!! She liked sitting in her little floating crab!So Cute taking a nap. She only took a couple the whole time we were gone! No wonder she was exhausted when we got home!!

We all drove down in my van (Which i LOVE) It was so nice that we could all drive together, and it was nice for my sister and I that the kids could watch movies- it made for a nice quiet ride. Poor little Millie was not feeling the greatest. She had a runny nose, a bad cough, poopy bum (all the time) and was not happy - which is totally not like her!! We were excited for the warm weather, but it really wasn't all that warm - it was so windy and was pretty chilly!!! Too bad it was warming up the day we left - just our luck. Nethertheless we had a great time.

We ate at some good restaurants, had Nielsons frozen custard, and had lots of laughs. Cute little Lauren lost her front tooth at breakfast one morning!!

We did have a great time, but like always it is SO nice to come home. Especially to see DAD!!! We missed you so much!! The first thing that Jaxon wanted to do, of course, was go to Grandma & Grandpa Drakes to jump on the tramp!! Millie was so excited to get home and just smiled when i took her into her bedroom. She slept for 12 hours straight the first night home.....now if only everynight could be like that!

Getting ready to go swimming!! Jaxon was so good at keeping his hat on (his face got sunburned the Saturday before we left - so i insisted he wore his hat ALL the time & he never complained!)- He is such a good boy!