Moab Part 2 - Wheeling

One of the main reasons for going to Moab was to take Mark's Land Cruiser off-roading.  We decided on the Fins N Things trail right there in Sand Flats.  My Mom and Dad drove down Thursday night and stayed in a hotel.  They rented a Jeep and met us at our camp first thing Friday morning for our epic wheeling adventure. It was amazing!  The trail took us about 3 hours and the pictures just don't do it justice.  The obstacles were challenging yet not too scary for me to have the kids with us and the views were spectacular.  It was so fun to go with my dad and mom and my nephew Evan.  Brian loved it and Timmy fell asleep through much of the drive.  I enjoyed the whole thing, but I especially had fun watching my dad go up and down the super super steep climbs and drops.  Mark was in heaven of course.

If you missed Mark's little video of this on an earlier post click here.

Moab Part 1 - Camping

We did it.  We actually did it.  We took our kids camping and survived!  Mark and I love to camp.  We went on camping trip after camping trip after camping trip the first four years of marriage.  Then we had Brian and it abruptly stopped.  We didn't go camping for the next four years and missed it so much.  Brian has always been REALLY particular about many things, but mostly his sleeping situation, so camping just sounded torturous.  This Spring Mark had a thought that if we had a tent trailer then maybe camping with the kids would be a possibility.  Mark convinced me to let go of my "trailer camping is not really camping" attitude and we bought ourselves a nice little used tent trailer for a great price from good old KSL Classifieds.  Here she is in all her glory.

We love it.  It's clean, convenient, comfortable, light to tow, and it has a heater!  Timmy can sleep in his portable crib and with the heater I don't have to worry about him getting cold because he cannot figure out how to sleep under a blanket.

Last weekend we took the Dutchmen on her maiden voyage to Moab and it was a blast.  Besides me being really sick both nights, one night with a sinus infection/cough/sore throat and the other night throwing up all night, the trip was a wonderful success.  The kids did better than expected!

We went down Thursday morning and found a lovely secluded camp spot with a stellar view in the Sand Flats Recreation Area.  We set up camp and spent the day exploring the surrounding area and Moab.  The kids were in heaven because we were basically camping in the world's biggest sandbox.

  That evening we put the kids to bed and Mark and I enjoyed our first sunset together on a camping trip in over four years.  It was gorgeous.

I had to include this little video clip of the kids diving in and out of Timmy's bed early in the morning. I had been sick all night so I have an excuse for sounding really scary.  Each side of the trailer has a nice bed, one side a king size and the other side a full size.  Both ends have curtains and the benches in the middle of the trailer make into two more twin beds.  There is a table, cabinet space, a little pump sink, a fridge, lights, and a heater.

Wheelin' Video

Fins and Things, Sand Flats Area, Moab, UT

Happy Belated Birthday Mark!

Mark turned the big 30 last week.  I had some grand plans for a party with a delicious peanut butter/chocolate cake.  It all fell through because I got sick sick sick, and we were trying to get ready for our big first camping trip ever as a family a few days later.  Mark says he didn't even want a party, but I still feel bad about dropping the ball.  We did go to eat as a family at Italian Village though and Mark got a new mountain bike for his birthday, so he says he's super happy.  In fact he is out in the garage working on small improvements for his new bike which he's already taken down the "Bobsled" trail with Dave.  I hope he enjoys the new bike and stays safe.

Here's a few pics from Italian Village.  Mark loves the Pizza Benders there.

Random Phone Photos

Thanks to a nice little company called Page Plus, I can have a smart phone with a data plan and pay $20 less than I was with my original basic phone plan.  I like my phone for many reasons, mainly because I am more organized with my calender and shopping and to-do lists.  I also enjoy having a camera in my pocket all the time.  I find myself just pulling my phone out to capture simple everyday moments with the boys.

Sidewalk chalk

One of our FHE hot dog roasts in the backyard.  The kids LOVE this.

Brian was so cute as he helped Timmy do all the puzzles.

Riding bikes with Jordan. 

Timmy and Caitie

Finger painting

Scooter rides with Uncle Tony

Backyard adventures

We saw baby ducks while riding bikes along the neighborhood canal path.

Heritage Park visit

"Helping" Daddy put together his new mountain bike.