First we hiked to Red Cliffs, it is probably on of my most favorite hikes. It was very sad, there is a picnic area at the trailhead, the are several cottonwood trees, giving the picnic area some much needed shade. The trees were covered in tent caterpillars. I have never seen so many tent caterpillars in my life. The caterpillars were crawling everywhere, all over the cars, grease spots all over the road. No one would use the picnic tables because they were covered in caterpillars. And even if you brushed them off the table, there would probably be just as many as you got rid of, fall out of the trees before you were done. We told the kids we couldn't eat there because we didn't want caterpillar sandwiches. The worst of it, is that it wasn't very hard to see how the caterpillars were killing the trees.
See how the kids are wearing jackets! It was just a little chilly.
But Dave had to take his annual polar bear plunge. Burrrr! Last time we came to Red Cliffs we had the 'bottle incident' where Brayden tossed his empty bottle in the pool of water. And in mad, frenzed, brainless attempts to retrive the bottle, and quell the kids panic that we might leave the bottle, Katie slipped in the water, Dave, being the dutiful uncle, and only adult male, promptly jumped in to save her, forgetting that he had Brayden in the backpack. Fortunaly, they were still in the shallow area, and that no one drowned, and thay Dave had the forthought to leave his iphone in the car.So remembering the last time we were there, the kids were a little panicy as we neared the big pools. Moey kept saying she was ready to go back. And when Dave's glasses felling into the water, she about jumped out of her skin. Dave didn't get as much swiming time as he would have liked, because the kids were ready to go.
After the hike, and wanting to avoid caterpillar sandwiches, we drove over to Quail Creek Resevoir for lunch. Dave, Ethan and Moey walked down to the 'beach' and threw skipping rocks (Gavy was asleep in the car.) It was pretty windy, I thought it would have been perfect for a kite. Then it really started to blow! The whole lake was covered in white caps. So we decided to head back to the condo to see if it was warm enough to swim there. Nana and Grandpa arrived at the condo just a few minutes after we did. So Dave took the kids swimming, but it was to cold for Ethan, Moey braved the cold, for a little while. I don't know how they would stand it, it was just barely warm enough not being wet.
After swimming, we talked Nana and Grandpa into going to Pirate Island Pizza. It's a restaurant that is a cross between Chuck E. Cheese and the Mayan, only with good food, and Pirates! We played arcade games while we waited to be seated. The kids earned tickets for prizes. It was a litttle to crowed for me. Friday night on spring break might not have been the best choice of nights.
Karina and her family come shortly after we got back to the condo. We rode scooters, played on the playground, played clue, and watched Phinias and Ferb.
Saturday, we played on the playground, rode scooters and played mini golf at the condo (note to self: get some putters from DI to leave at the condo.)
Then we packed up the kids and lunch and drove to Snow Canyon to play on the sand dunes. It sure was busy! I'm thinking that with the down turned econnomy that people are opting for less expencive vacations. So St. George instead of Disneyland. We ate lunch and walked out to the dunes. We flew Nana's tiny pocket kites, and build sand castles. Gavin got sand in his eyes, we we headed back to the cars. Then we went back to the condo for more swimming, only this time it was warm enough to swim, in the very crowded swimming pool.
Nana and Grandpa needed to get going to they headed home, we stayed a little be longer, they went to dinner with Karina and Paul and kids. (Note to self: Don't go to Applebees in St. George)
After dinner to drove home, and made it back just before mindnight.
All in all, it was a great trip!
