Last weekend we had our annual Smith Family Reunion (my mom's family) at Zion's National Park. We had a great time hiking and spending time together. I look forward to these reunions all year, since our family is so spread out we don't get to see each other as often as we would like. The whole park is just breathtakingly beautiful! I'm just going to forewarn you that this is going to be a really long post, but hey, this trip has been the highlight of our summer!
Luke and Grady with my youngest cousins Michael (10) and Ryan (7). I think they look like they could be siblings. They had a blast together. Luke kept up with the older boys amazingly well, and they took good care of him. Grady loved them too, and referred to them always collectively in one word as MichaelRyan.
The boys watching some deer before our first hike.
Well, our first hike was to the Emerald pools. Grady and I hiked at about the same speed. He kept on telling me "I a good hiker, mom!". The second half of this hike turned out to be somewhat scary and treacherous. By the time it was time to turn around and go back it was already starting to get dark outside, and it got dark fast with the sun setting behind the canyon's steep walls. Before we knew it we were hiking on steep and slippery terrain in complete darkness. I kept thinking as we walked about all the horrible hiking/survival stories I had heard. In my mind I pictured myself being interviewed by talk show hosts. They'd ask me "What were you thinking leaving for a hike with such young children so late in the evening, and how did you make it out alright?". (I have a very active imagination.) We ended up making it down just fine though. I am grateful for my Aunt Mari and Ty for caring my boys down safely.
This is us waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up after that first hike. See how dark it is!
The next day was the Narrows hike for most everyone. I went on that hike back when I was 16, and it is definitely the most amazing hike I had ever done! This year though, Necia and her baby Traejan hung out with me, Luke and Grady. We did our own hike. We hiked the River Walk which was 2 miles in and 2 miles out. I was so proud of Luke. He hiked that whole thing without being carried once. Grady was a different story. I spent about half that hike with Grady on my shoulders. I must have been quite a site, with a backpack on my back, Grady on my shoulders, and my hugely pregnant belly! I'm not sure who was more tired at the end of the day me or Ty! At the end of everyday we spent some quality time in the pool. These next few pictures are from that hike.
Grady loved the squirrels. We stopped to look at every one. It was almost better than being at the zoo!
Stopping to snack.
Re-hydrating
Me and my boys
Grady crashed on the grass after that hike.
He did the exact same think at the same place the next day too. :)
Ty, Tyson (Necia's husband), Devin and Emily (my siblings), Megan Kathleen, Jessie, and Jed (my cousins) on the narrows hike. The next 5 pics are from that hike.
That evening we had a birthday party for my mom. She turned 50!!! We also had a little family meeting. My grandparents rented out a room in a nice restaurant and we had some really awesome food!
Top left is my brother Jeffrey with his girlfriend Renea!
Bottom left is my whole family minus baby Traejan.
We also had lots of fun trying on my Great-grandma's jewelry!
Grady with his 2 favorite lovies Lamby and Doggie.
Grady and Jed up to no good together in the hotel. :)
Grady with his hiking stick entering the park.
Grady and Luke, no doubt driving all the other passengers on the shuttle crazy! We got to ride a couple shuttle buses every day in and out of the park. The boys love it!
Our hike to Weeping Rock.
Just the 4 of us spent some quality time together playing in the Virgin river that runs through the park.
King of the Rock
A family picture!
On the way home we stopped in Las Vegas for a couple of hours. It was a really nice break from driving. We went to M&M world, Coca Cola world, and saw some lions too!
We order this tray that had 16 different Cokes from all around the world to try. Most of them were pretty weird, but it was fun!
