Live Moore Fully

Day 8.  The kids were up before Jordan left for sunrise but we didn’t go with him since he was going on a short hike to get the shot he wanted. I didn’t want them to have to sit in their carseats when they could be free in the hotel room. The three of us were getting a little stir crazy by the time Jordan got back. He must’ve read my mind because one of the first things he said was, “why don’t you go have some time by yourself”. And that’s what I did. After an uninterrupted shower, and a chance to blow dry my hair, I took my laptop and sat in a quiet lobby. By myself. Then I went next door and had a quiet breakfast. By myself. I love our kids, but I needed a few minutes of calm and quiet this morning! The last seven days have been in close quarters, with not normal sleep, a lot of “don’t touch that” in the hotel room, and “no whining” in the car. I’m so glad we are on this trip with Jordan, and I love the memories we are making. And, it is okay to need to step away for a little bit and have some quiet time. 🙂 

After my recharge time, I came back to the room and we got the kids dressed and loaded some things to go into Zion National Park. It was snowing still and had been through the night. I was super nervous about the driving conditions but the roads were open and were being plowed and sanded all day long. Once we made it all the way into the park, I felt more at ease. We went to the Visitor Center to stamp our passport and look for an ornament. We found some cute coordinating shirts for the kids, and Jackson loved everything he saw in the store- especially the kid binoculars. He kept looking through them backwards and yelling “Dada, where are you!?” throughout the store. We got his hands in his pockets and told him to keep them there until we made our purchases and got outside.

We then made it to our trailhead, which was the same hike Jordan had already done this morning for sunrise. It was half a mile in and half a mile out. The Canyon Overlook trail was fun and rewarding. Not too strenuous at all, but it definitely made you feel like you were getting some exercise!

I was thrilled to have a chance to get out of the car/hotel room and into the park on foot. I realize I just said a couple of days ago that we were not getting our kids out in 20 degree weather…well, we did today. It really felt like a different 20 degrees here than it did at Grand Canyon, though. There was no wind today so that made a huge difference. I even got hot on the hike and stashed my jacket in the kid carrier backpack. We bundled the kids up and strapped them into the backpacks and they did great. Jackson talked the entire way there and the entire way back. He is so funny. We saw a big horn sheep near the trail and he had to announce to the other people that there was a “baa baa, there”. Emmy did just fine on the hike but didn’t say too much since she had her paci stuck in her mouth.

A short ways into the hike I heard something hit the snow behind me. And suddenly Emmy started screaming. Turns out an icicle from above had fallen and hit one of her fingers on the way down. What a crazy accident! There was a little bit of blood but she was fine shortly thereafter. I was glad that the kids had beanies and hoods for protection from falling icicles after that!

We finished the hike and dropped Jordan off for a sunset shot. The kids and I went into town and had a piece of pie and shopped at a store while waiting. The pie was called Bumbleberry pie. That was the only option. So… we gave it a try. Trying new foods=out of my comfort zone! I asked the clerk what a bumble berry was. He told me it was a mix of a burple and binkle berry that grew on a giggle tree. I really wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I thought it was a joke. Apparently it’s not?!

So, we had our pie and milk and headed back to get Jordan. We left the park once sunset shots were over and we went back to the hotel restaurant for supper then back to the room and in bed!

–How we dressed the kids for 20 degree weather– We left Emmy in her fleece footed pajamas and layered one pair of fleece pants on her legs. We then put her in ski bibs and her heavy jacket with a beanie and hood. We tried to have her wear mittens but she kept throwing them off. She was plenty warm. Jackson wore corduroy pants and two long sleeve shirts. We put him in ski bibs and his Carhartt jacket with a beanie. He also wore his gloves. They were both just fine! I asked Jackson often if he was cold and he always replied with “no!” 🙂 I think we could trust his two year old answer! 😉

Most trips in the past, Jordan and I have flown to/near our destination since we have been on a time crunch. Since we were trying to hit so many different parks, and since we have the kids with us, choosing to take a road trip this time just made more sense. I wasn’t sure about driving all of these miles to begin with, but I am glad we have and are continuing to do so. My family took a trip similar to this one when I was a kid, and I remember a lot of things about it. What I don’t remember noticing or thinking about is just how vast the world is. We have driven so many miles and been to several places where you can see forever and it just seems huge. Yet, where we have been is such a small section of the world, overall, and not even mentioning the whole Universe! The variety we see in His creation is so amazing. From rocky, snow covered mountains, to painted deserts, to caverns in the depths of the earth- it’s all beautiful and majestic and perfectly designed to work together. And to think that God made and knows all of these places- all of the rocks, all of leaves, all of the icicles, all of the animals we saw, and everything else we wouldn’t even think to mention- it’s awe-inspiring!