I decided it'd be best to just keep a running record of all the trips we take this year, then at the end of the year, I will make some sort of photo book for all of us to enjoy.
March 17 - March 21 - Moad, Utah - stayed just outside Moab in an amazing camp ground
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
First camping trip of 2016, Utah
It has been a very busy first few months of the year, how is it almost April already? We had plenty going on, I was super busy with work, my parents were here, we are re-doing our bathroom and Sean is getting a new job. But in the middle of all of that, we decided to take a trip...well, Sean decided to take a trip and convinced me to go along. I love our trips, our new little camper, the kids growing and so on, but I will say the timing was less than great. I had just worked about 23 straight days with 1 day off, running 3 State events that finished with basketball - which had over 100 teams...it was cramming a weeks worth of hours into 3 days and it was all basketball. And my parents were here watching the kids and we were gutting our upstairs bathroom - no big deal, right? So, why not go for the longest camping trip we have been on yet at the end of that. I had no time to prepare for it, barely time to pack for it certainly not time to look forward to it.
I knew I needed a break, away from work, away from home, just time away to clear my head and to re-center myself. I just didn't think it was going to be a great time to go, so I was a little against it. I rallied and got on board and we headed west. It worked well with a work meeting I was in Grand Junction for, I headed out with Cora and the boys followed with their own set of issues...a flat tire on the trailer, a bike dragged down the highway, but finally we had a nice dinner in Grand Junction and I was ready for the trip.
We woke up the next morning and got ready to go, Sean went food shopping since we didn't pack much and we were on the road. The kids were in mostly good moods and I was exciting, finally, for a break, a real break...it was great. We found our campsite with Leah and Tyler and set up camp. It was fun to set up our new camper and try and figure it all out. The site we were at was just lots and lots of sand, which Liam and Cora loved. It left them quite dirty, but they loved it. We spent the day mostly hanging out and then took the back roads into the Arches National Park. We walked around a bit and saw part of that park. After that we headed into Moab for a bit, then headed back to the campsite to hang out and wait for Jolie to show up.
The next day we decided we wanted to climb, so we hit the local wall, found a climb and set it up, it was a fun day and Liam had a blast. It was the first time he was excited to get his harness and helmet on and waiting patiently to climb. He was a little scared to get going, however, he spent the most time he had yet on the outside wall - did he enjoy it? It seemed like it. Soon he was over it and decided it was too hot, so he decided he wanted to take his shirt off like daddy - and proceeded to want to be in shorts...which ended up being his underwear...I feel he was embracing his inner climber with his new found free-spirit, maybe one day he'll be one of those climbers just roaming around looking for good climbing...that kind of free spirit...but hopefully not in his underwear. I loved watching him, though. He loved watching Sean climb and I think he enjoyed seeing me climb too. He would yell "Good job, Mommy" ever now and then. The friends we were camping with met us there and climbed a little bit with us. We all went to Moab for the Quesadilla Mobilla, it was quite tasty. Sean then needed to rent a mountain bike since he was broken...we did all of that and headed back to camp.
It worked out that Jolie and I snuck off on the rented mountain bikes, me without my shoes to clip in to the pedals, just riding on time and it was so much. It was hard, the hardest riding I ever did, but it was fun, I was challenged and pushed to the next level and it was worth it, I overcame being freaked out my a trail that was labeled blue/black, knew my limits and walked when I needed to. And when it was time to ride, I hopped on and had a great time. The next day, Sean went riding with Tyler and Jolie and I hung out at camp. We had another friend, Summer come up with Kale. Liam had a blast playing with Kale and they rented a UTV, which was quite fun. I didn't get to ride, but I know Summer and Kale had a blast, as did Sean and Liam. Jolie and I snuck into town for a bit to walk around and hang out until Sean made his way to return his bike. We then went on a sunset hike to the Corona Arch, which was so fun. Liam did so great and hiked almost half of the trip we did. It was so cool to feel so small, but in a different ways that the mountains make you feel small. It is such a good reminder to know where you belong in the world, being reminder how much bigger things really are out there.
We spend the next day at Canyonlands National Park, going on a few hikes, take plenty of pictures and enjoying the views that went on and on...it was canyons and mountains and all in between. Liam became a Junior Ranger and hiked quite a bit again. He also enjoyed a nice nap on my back, which is always fun when I get to carry him again...reminds me of how much he has grown and how much he has changed in all the years I have been carrying him.
We had a great time, it was a long trip, the longest we have done, 4 nights, but so great. The views were incredible, the sunrises, the sunsets, the stars, the moon. While I was a little stressed out in the beginning, I ended up just letting go and finding enough enjoyment in everything we did - of course there were a few ups and downs...some tantrums, some tears, but overall, we all had a great time. It's just a good reminder that sometimes you need to get away, far away to remember how close you all are. I enjoyed the moments with the kids and Sean and friends we were with. I loved sitting down, finally at the end of the day when Cora would calm down and sit by the fire and just forget all the other crap that gets in the way some days. It was a great trip with everyone and it was hard to send the kids off to day care today, and will be even harder to get in the car and go to work tomorrow. But, I'll be looking forward to the next adventure!
I knew I needed a break, away from work, away from home, just time away to clear my head and to re-center myself. I just didn't think it was going to be a great time to go, so I was a little against it. I rallied and got on board and we headed west. It worked well with a work meeting I was in Grand Junction for, I headed out with Cora and the boys followed with their own set of issues...a flat tire on the trailer, a bike dragged down the highway, but finally we had a nice dinner in Grand Junction and I was ready for the trip.
We woke up the next morning and got ready to go, Sean went food shopping since we didn't pack much and we were on the road. The kids were in mostly good moods and I was exciting, finally, for a break, a real break...it was great. We found our campsite with Leah and Tyler and set up camp. It was fun to set up our new camper and try and figure it all out. The site we were at was just lots and lots of sand, which Liam and Cora loved. It left them quite dirty, but they loved it. We spent the day mostly hanging out and then took the back roads into the Arches National Park. We walked around a bit and saw part of that park. After that we headed into Moab for a bit, then headed back to the campsite to hang out and wait for Jolie to show up. 
The next day we decided we wanted to climb, so we hit the local wall, found a climb and set it up, it was a fun day and Liam had a blast. It was the first time he was excited to get his harness and helmet on and waiting patiently to climb. He was a little scared to get going, however, he spent the most time he had yet on the outside wall - did he enjoy it? It seemed like it. Soon he was over it and decided it was too hot, so he decided he wanted to take his shirt off like daddy - and proceeded to want to be in shorts...which ended up being his underwear...I feel he was embracing his inner climber with his new found free-spirit, maybe one day he'll be one of those climbers just roaming around looking for good climbing...that kind of free spirit...but hopefully not in his underwear. I loved watching him, though. He loved watching Sean climb and I think he enjoyed seeing me climb too. He would yell "Good job, Mommy" ever now and then. The friends we were camping with met us there and climbed a little bit with us. We all went to Moab for the Quesadilla Mobilla, it was quite tasty. Sean then needed to rent a mountain bike since he was broken...we did all of that and headed back to camp.
It worked out that Jolie and I snuck off on the rented mountain bikes, me without my shoes to clip in to the pedals, just riding on time and it was so much. It was hard, the hardest riding I ever did, but it was fun, I was challenged and pushed to the next level and it was worth it, I overcame being freaked out my a trail that was labeled blue/black, knew my limits and walked when I needed to. And when it was time to ride, I hopped on and had a great time. The next day, Sean went riding with Tyler and Jolie and I hung out at camp. We had another friend, Summer come up with Kale. Liam had a blast playing with Kale and they rented a UTV, which was quite fun. I didn't get to ride, but I know Summer and Kale had a blast, as did Sean and Liam. Jolie and I snuck into town for a bit to walk around and hang out until Sean made his way to return his bike. We then went on a sunset hike to the Corona Arch, which was so fun. Liam did so great and hiked almost half of the trip we did. It was so cool to feel so small, but in a different ways that the mountains make you feel small. It is such a good reminder to know where you belong in the world, being reminder how much bigger things really are out there.
We spend the next day at Canyonlands National Park, going on a few hikes, take plenty of pictures and enjoying the views that went on and on...it was canyons and mountains and all in between. Liam became a Junior Ranger and hiked quite a bit again. He also enjoyed a nice nap on my back, which is always fun when I get to carry him again...reminds me of how much he has grown and how much he has changed in all the years I have been carrying him.We had a great time, it was a long trip, the longest we have done, 4 nights, but so great. The views were incredible, the sunrises, the sunsets, the stars, the moon. While I was a little stressed out in the beginning, I ended up just letting go and finding enough enjoyment in everything we did - of course there were a few ups and downs...some tantrums, some tears, but overall, we all had a great time. It's just a good reminder that sometimes you need to get away, far away to remember how close you all are. I enjoyed the moments with the kids and Sean and friends we were with. I loved sitting down, finally at the end of the day when Cora would calm down and sit by the fire and just forget all the other crap that gets in the way some days. It was a great trip with everyone and it was hard to send the kids off to day care today, and will be even harder to get in the car and go to work tomorrow. But, I'll be looking forward to the next adventure!
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