We had an incredible getaway to Bryce Canyon last week! It was so much fun camping, hiking and enjoying nature. The first day we found a camping spot right next to the rim so that we could easily go hiking. So, of course, that first day we hiked part of the rim trail and celebrated Madison's birthday with great dutch oven cooking (including that cobbler we promised Madison). I managed to find four candles before we left home so we could properly do the birthday cake thing. After dinner and before cake, Madison had to run to the bathroom. After we got back I was looking for the candles when I was informed they were already in the cake. We walked over to the dutch oven, opened the lid and the candles were gone. Note to self: candles melt when they get hot! Curtis had put the candles in, realized we would be a minute, and then put the lid on to keep the bugs out. We pried the wicks off the cake and between the three adults we managed to light and hold the wicks so Madison could blow her birthday candles out.
Day two: We decided to check out the little towns and shops that were around Bryce. We went to an animal museum that reminded me a lot of Cabela's. It had a lot of exotic butterflies, beetles and spiders as well. The best part of it was going out back to the fenced area where they had deer you could hand feed. The girls really enjoyed feeding them and Madison had to make sure that every deer there got a few pieces of corn. We stopped by the store and a guy let the girls ride their horse for a bit and and got a picture of all of us together. We headed to another hike so we could see mossy cave and the waterfall.
Day three: The half marathon took up the morning and then after a very refreshing 8 minute shower we headed off to do more hiking (because the marathon wasn't enough walking for one day) and we saw a few more little shops. I never knew how fast I could shower until I had to shower, shave and shower both of my girls in eight minutes. There was a rock shop that had beautiful things, most of which were breakable so not an ideal place for little kids. The girls liked the area where they could lock each other up in jail. That night we went to an astronomy thing put on by the rangers and then took Kaitlyn to the visitors center to look in the telescopes. We were able to see Saturn and see the rings and a couple of its moons around it. We also looked at the moon and a few other stars.
Day four: We were just trying to see that last few of the view points that we didn't catch while we were hiking and then we headed home. It was raining a little bit off and on so it was a good thing we brought our umberlella. I also have another word to add to my favorite kid word list. We saw a lot of chipmunks while we were camping but for some reason Madison thought they were squirrels so she would call them squirrelers (like curlers). It also got started that big red (the truck) protected our camp spot from other people so it would "growl" to keep the people away. All day everyday if Madison heard a car coming or people getting near us she would say "it's ok big red, it is only a car" or if we were gone she would say she could hear big red growling. Madison also had to give her baby a piggy back ride. So here she was galloping around with her baby on her shoulders. The kids were way cute!
