Arches in May: Delicate Arch

Back in May, we went to Arches for a second time, and this trip was much more successful. We stayed two nights with some of Johnny's coworkers, and Sally was much better behaved than our first, awful trip to Arches. She did sleep in our bed at the hotel, which always seems to happen, but aside from that, she loved all the extra attention she got from everyone on the trip.

Our first hike was Delicate Arch, which was a total bust with Sally on our first trip to Arches. It was a thousand times more fun this time around, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

 Don't ask me why the water bottle is under my arm like that... I'm the queen of awkward poses.

  

 It was really nice having someone else to take pictures of the three of us! We are all in a picture together!!

 Because of Sally, a water bottle dropped down into the bowl of the arch. And Jim went and retrieved it! Can you spot him?

Sally was grumpy, and so Kimber was kind enough to give her one of her Lara bars. Sally liked it a little too much :).

On the way back, she slept! Thank goodness for naps.

Arches

A few weeks ago, Johnny and I headed to Arches for the day, mid-week! We were both stressed out with work, and we just needed a (very) mini-getaway. It was beautiful and warm, and a good lesson in toddler-hood. Sally is all about running around right now, and she was less than thrilled to be stuck in a car and then a hiking backpack all day. She yelled and screamed for almost half of the trip and half of the hiking. But we tempered our expectations and still made a fun trip of it. 

 guzzling Gatorade

 falling asleep sitting up

 this trail went on for another few miles, but we turned around right after this picture was taken because Sally was being grumpy :)

 she was so thrilled when we finally let her get out and walk around

Bryce Canyon

On the way home from our trip to Zion, we decided to stop by Bryce Canyon and take a look around. It was just as beautiful as Zion, just in a different way. It was mostly just us and a few bus loads of Asian tourists. Johnny and I were amazed by how many international tourists were at Zion and Bryce. It's like the rest of the world knows what Utah has to offer better than most of the US. 

It was the perfect little weekend away, and we hope for many more like it!

Zion National Park, Part III

On the second day of our hike, Johnny and I decided to try an 8-mile hike with Sally. We said to each other, "Welp, this could either be our best idea or worst idea ever." But we decided to give it a try, crossing our fingers that Sally wouldn't have a meltdown. The estimated time the hike would take was 6 hours, and we planned on it taking that long, since we'd be stopping to feed Sally, change her diaper, and quell any potential screaming/crying. We stocked one backpack full of supplies, which I carried. And Johnny carried Sally in a hiking backpack that we rented. Sally loved the hiking backpack, and she was totally happy the whole way up, and even took a nap for part of it.

The hike to the top was almost entirely uphill, but it was jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Part of the hike was through a little canyon, where the temperature dropped a few degrees. The pictures don't do it justice, but it was super cool.

This is where we stopped for our first diaper change. Right there on the trail is where we did it, just making sure Sally didn't get up and run off the trail.

Sally was asleep the whole time we were at the top. Johnny and I ate some snacks and took pictures and just enjoyed ourselves for a while. The view was unreal.

The way down took half the time, and we finished in a little over 5 hours. Sally was a tad grumpy on the way down, but it was nothing a few verses of "Wheels on the Bus" couldn't fix. It ended up being super beautiful and fun, so we were glad we went for it.