Covered Wagon and Cedar Wash hikes

 Our last adventures were close to each other so we did them the same day. And we had a baby Conrad and a cute Dozer dog with us.

Covered Wagon Arch is a great hike for kids. Really short and with a fun place to play under the shade.

Here was everyone trying to help Carver and Conrad smile

Cedar Wash Arch turned into an adventure. I think JB had seen online the hike where you walk a short ways and see the arch from above. We followed Kim's All Trails app and hiked down the slick rock to the wash itself and then walked over to the arch. I thought we were going to die for a hot minute but JB was never worried.

Here we are above the wash. We got down to those trees below.

The kids at the arch

Little legs got tired on the way back to the car

Max is a good hiker helper for me. I remember how he encouraged me last year at Spooky/Peekabo on the rocks, and he did the same this time. I think he understands how the brain can lock into a fear cycle, and how you have to remind yourself you are doing just fine.

Willis Creek Slot Canyon hike

 JB did this hike last year with the big kids, so we thought we'd just go together this time. But then I suggested bringing James, who didn't go last year. I really just wanted to break up the little boys because I didn't want them fighting while we were gone all morning. James didn't want to go, but Andrew did. It was fun to spend time with him.

It was a chilly morning, and the creek was frozen when we started hiking. It started to flow on our way out.

Look at the thick ice

A tree root growing through the rocks

A sunny spot for a snack

We started to see some people on our way out, and they took a picture of us

This is a great, easy hike to do with kids. Cool and beautiful!

Broken Bow Arch

 On Monday we did a four mile hike to Broken Bow Arch. This is probably 1 1/2 hours down Hole in the Rock Road, but it is really cool and a fun adventure with kids.

Here are some of the cattle we saw on the way.

You start at Mortarboard Rock

They found a frog/toad and were obsessed.

This boy got a bloody nose but was a trooper about it.

However, he was NOT happy with the mud in the canyon or ravine. His shoe got sucked off and Max had to retrieve it with a stick. A lot of us slipped or even fell. But we loved the view at the end!

This part at the end was a great spot to eat lunch and play.

Here is a tiny spiderman back pack hiker

This is the hike back up to that mortarboard rock. You turn left to go back up to the cars. It's hard to tell here, but it is pretty steep as you leave the ravine...and it's all sand. It was hard.

It was great to get back to Millie at the cabin. She would have wanted to be carried. Carver is her age and walked so well the whole time.

Upper Calf Creek hike

 JB took the big boys to hike Upper Calf Creek on the first day (we have done Lower Calf Creek on previous visits to Escalante).  He told me I wouldn't like it, and based on the pictures, I would not. It is very steep!

JB says it was hard not to be able to jump in to the water. But they knew it would be super cold.

Lots of steep rock.

Taking a water break looking at the view

Meanwhile, these kids just kept playing at the creek below the house.

Oh, here's a shot JB got of me sitting on the bench by the creek reading a book. I would take a book and read when I wasn't stopping fights or putting bandaids on tiny scrapes they got from sticks or rocks. I learned to carry a bag with a water bottle and snacks and bandaids if I didn't want to keep hiking back up to the house for these little whims.

Spring Break 2021

 We spent a week at John and Pauline's property in Escalante and it was just what we needed to relieve all the stress of work and school and all the rest lately.

We went on several hikes, and in between times watched basektball and movies, did puzzles and ping pong, played at the creek and new fort, and took rides in the side-by-side.

We just missed the Idaho cousins, and overlapped for a morning with the Bountiful cousins, and spent the week with the Arizona cousins. We helped celebrate Conrad's first birthday.

And played with their dogs

We decorated cookies, from a cookie kit Kim bought from cousin Emily (thank you to both of them!)

Max got a lot of practice driving. He has to get 40 hours before his license. Thanks to JB, Jeff, and Pauline for taking him out in different vehicles.

These youngest were always out finding rocks and sticks (When they weren't begging to be on an ipad or computer)

It was colder at the beginning of the week and in the mornings but warmed up.

And we helped on some projects.

I'll post about our hikes next!

Frenemies

When I found out I was having a fourth boy, I hoped so much that he and Andrew would be friends. Max and Ben had each other, so Andrew could now have a buddy in James.

They fight a lot. Like a lot lot.  But they can't live without each other.

One night, when they were having a top of the bunk bed punch out session, I took some bedding and set it up in the laundry room to move one of them in there to sleep that night. I didn't care which one. 

They both howled and wept: "We can't sleep unless we are here TOGETHER!"  And they settled down. 

We haven't had a play date with some friends ever since they had an all out brawl at that other house. That was bad. But then other times they are so sweet.

Andrew reads to James at night. James asked for a stapler so that he could staple papers together to make something for Andrew. They pat each other on the back or do a hug when JB drops them off at school. Then when I pick them up, I often see them hug or pat each other when they meet again (but  then they often tussle in the car on the way home).

Today on the way home, Andrew pulled a dinosaur out of his backpack and told James he had saved up his classroom bucks to get it for him.

James said, "Oh, thank you! How can I ever repay you?"

Andrew replied, "It's OK.  Kindness repays itself."