St George Summer 2021

 Oh boy guys, this is the long St George review.

We went down on a Friday morning after Hammer finished his last band class. When we got there we had burgers and popsicles at Great Grandma's condo:

A, you picked up a piece of a cactus and didn't notice that it was covered in tiny needles. They were smaller than a hair! I tried to get them out with tweezers but it didn't work. Aunt B poured glue all over your hands, and your cousin N's hands, and after it finally dried the glue worked! It pulled most of the needles out of your hands:

The next morning we got up early to find a petroglyph slot canyon. It was super smoky, which was a bummer at first. Look at the sun coming up:

When we started hiking though it was super cool weather, because of the smoke I guess!:

So then I wasn't too mad at the air after all. It was perfect weather for hiking. We hiked through sand and over sandstone. There wasn't really a trail, we just used directions and google maps to find our way:

Then we found what we thought was the entrance to the slot canyon, a big tree:

Wrong tree. Luckily there was a sign that said to go just a little farther and then we found the right tree!:

It was such a neat canyon:

Hiking back out:

From there we tried to play in the river like last year but the water was all muddy and stinky and the sand was like black mud. So off we went to the dino park instead. Only A wanted to ride the train:

Then it was swimming time! We swam in all 3 locations:

Gramma took you to the Dollar store and you couldn't have been happier:

Pizza picnic at the park:

And night swimming!:

Sunday we went to church and then had smoothies at Great Grandma's condo. She and Great Grandpa told us what it was like when they were little. Grandma didn't have tv but they loved to listen to the radio, she lived by a bakery where she could buy 2 cookies for a penny, and she liked to play kick the can. Grandpa had a best friend named Harold and they accidentally set the coal shed on fire, he remembers a girl who pooped her pants in 2nd grade, he loved to play marbles at recess, and he was a cheer leader in High School. Grandma and Grandpa danced at a school dance when she was in 10th and he was in 12th and their first date was to Lagoon. You guys were really good to listen and ask questions:

We painted rocks outside:

And then the cousins put on a play:

That night we had a little birthday party for Audrey who turned 2. Cupcakes, treats, and glow in the dark dancing:

Monday morning we went out to Fire Lake Park. It's a swimming hole right next to Ivins Reservoir. We were the only ones there for a while and the water, though muddy, felt great. The shallow area was fun to play in and I let you guys swim all over with your life jackets on:

You liked watching Uncle B make a "hot tub" on the other side of the lake:

We stayed all morning and came home for a late lunch just when it was starting to get crowded. I liked the weather for swimming in the morning much more than afternoon, so that was perfect. This ended up being our favorite activity of the trip. 

The boys played lots of games:

and had lots of fun doing laser tag and mini golf. The girls did nails, made bracelets, colored, and listened to music:

Time to swim again:

After dinner we did some pictures at the condo:

then Lulu and I went to see a play at Tuacahn. We had a fun time. Hammer was in charge of the boys. You guys watched a movie and then went to bed. Such good boys.

The next morning we went to put our painted rocks on the Aspiration Trail. It was actually really hard to find the trailhead! We finally found it and put our rocks out. TJ liked this gator one someone else left:

And it's had to see, but there are your rocks that we put all together!:

That was a hot hike. One last swim before we packed up and came home:

We had an uneventful drive home with lots of movies, so that was good.

You guys are fun to travel with. I love seeing you get excited about finding new places and enjoying the outdoors.

Love,

Mom