Kelly wasn't sure how she was going to like not spending her birthday at home. It took some convincing to get her excited for the camping trip. We did all the usual birthday stuff, the streamers and sign, and tried to make it as normal as possible with gifts and such :). I wanted her to at least feel like I'd tried (aka: stayed up really late making her gift and sign).
Then we ran around like crazy people all morning packing and loading up the car and attempting to clean the house. We had that one campout where we got the house spotless before we left and it had felt SO good to come home to a spotless house that I've tried to recreate that every time we go. This time we failed miserably. Unfortunately it was the one time we had to have someone (Emily, I owe you so big time for turning off my oven!!!) come in it. Embarrassing. But I digress. We were out the door about 2 hours later than we'd planned, but we were out the door!
The drive seemed longer than we'd planned, but the last hour of it was SO incredible. I was in awe at the beauty of that place! None of us had ever seen the Arches in real life- so spectacular!
We pulled up to our group campsite, were greeted by Maija and Kirstin and Maija's friends, and then we set up camp! I was SO impressed with our campsite. I've never camped anywhere like that. It was so beautiful. Everywhere you looked there was another amazing piece of nature! We had the Skyline Arch on one side, the huge round sandstone walls on another- the kids LOVED climbing on those- and then the thin oh shoot, what are they called.... anyway- the thin walls that lined up together- SO awesome. I just loved the view! It was really incredible. I need to have Maija plan all my vacations :).
We sat down for a few seconds, let the kids run around a little. During the planning of this campout we had decided that maybe the Delicate Arch hike was not for us. Sounded long and hot and possibly too hard for our little ones. But after a little persuasion from everyone, we were loading up our backpack and water bottles to hike up to Delicate Arch to see it with the Sunset lighting.
I let Nate carry Jack in the baby carrier, I let Bradley carry the camera bag (he took most of the pictures of this hike- go Brad!), and I carried the other back pack. We were set! I was so nervous for all the whining and complaining I was going to encounter, and actually a little nervous for the actual hike as well... not sure why now, but I really wasn't sure about the whole thing. Our kids can hike, but 3 miles with Jack and Erika didn't sound all that fun. Anyway. I couldn't have been more wrong!!!! The hike was amazing! I LOVED it in fact. The kids did perfect! I don't think I heard a single complaint, minus the ones about Kelly's back and hip- totally justified- mine were hurting too!-- from ANYONE!! I was SO impressed. I couldn't praise my kids enough at the end. They did so awesome!
The hike really was cool. Most of it was along this slick rock, so cool.
The arch was just incredible. I was so enthralled with the beauty of the whole place. The beauty of elements fulfilling the nature of their creation. Very fascinating to me.
We just sat there in awe of the whole scene. Then Nate dragged a few of the kids- Charity and Kelly hung back with Jack and I and he took them down to the arch. I was a little terrified by the heights, but I think if I'd had a little more time, I would have gotten up the courage to go down there myself.
Us with Henry the photo bomber :)
If you look closely you can see Erika, Nate, Luke and Bradley the far end of the arch, then Megan, Eric, and Henry just up from them, and then waiting off to the side are a lot of the others from our group... so cool.
zoomed in a little... too hard to get a decent picture with a wiggly Jack on your lap.
Then Charity and Kelly got brave and went down there too- with Noah in this picture too. He and Luke were fearless up there... running around like crazies. Well, really through the whole hike! Luke ran up ahead of us and just ran the whole way up- he's so cool that way! Then he and Noah headed down the on their own as well... more nerve-racking than anything since you had to follow trail markers made of rocks... I wasn't sure they would pay attention and not get lost! Scary kids.
This is Nate and Kelly :)
That sunset really was beautiful. What a cool experience.
After hearing all the foreigners on the way up, the kids realized what a cool place this really was. I don't think they knew. On the way back Kelly mentioned how cool she thought it was that she got to see Delicate Arch on her birthday!! Not too many people can say that! I was glad that she knew how cool it was, and glad that she found that to be a worthy birthday evening activity. I sure thought it was. I just don't know how to express what a cool experience that was for us! I just loved it. Can't say that enough. I loved being able to hike with my cousins and their kids too. Even if it was off and on with our pace and rests. I loved the whole thing! And I was so relieved that we made it up and back without getting dehydrated or complained at to death! Wahoo!! Go Maynes kids!!!
On the drive back to camp we decided to have everyone tell Kelly something they love about her. This was a very special moment. The Spirit was even really strong- if that doesn't tell you what a special member of our family Kelly is, I don't know what would. She is very admired and adored by all of her family. It was such a neat little drive. She even had "tears of joy" herself :) at all the sweet comments. Noah's was the cutest, "She's so nice to me". It was such a sincere statement I think we all felt our heart squeeze a little. Oh how I love this family of mine.
Everyone was ready for bed when we got back to camp. There wasn't much light left. We were a little bummed that everyone wasn't going to roast marshmallows and such, but we survived :). I gave Kelly her last birthday present- her blanket, she loved it :). It was actually a really warm night. I don't know what I was thinking packing jackets and warm jammies... I thought for sure it would be cold at night. I was wrong. Prepared. But wrong. It was an awesome night. Everyone slept so well.
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