Catching Up!

We are finally home! We were gone for 15 days, and each one of them was memorable in so many ways! Since I am extraordinarily behind in my posts about all of our vacation activities I've decided to go day by day through the vacation and post all the details of our vacation. Here goes!

Tuesday, June 30

Today we started off by visiting Devil's Garden, which is a bunch of rock formations that you can climb all over and explore. We all had fun testing our limits, and seeing what type of rock climbing abilities we had :) Meg, Savannah and I did most of the climbing while Mom and Dad coached us from below. They were excellent coaches! I couldn't of made it up some of the rocks without their help. Savannah had a lot of fun, until she climbed up a formation that she was too scared to come down. She was being very dramatic, tears and all, when Dad said " Climbing up is an option, climbing down isn't". After a lot of coaxing and some more tears she made it down the rock and we went on the Burr Trail. The Burr Trail is a road through the mountains with some nice scenery. I fell asleep while we drove through most of it so I don't have much info about most of it, but I did wake up for the most exciting part! There were some insane switchbacks that come down from the top of one of the mountains, and they were steep and narrow. I think it was scarier than Hells Backbone, personally. We tried to take a picture of the switchbacks, but its impossible to see them. The picture just looks like a mountain. I will also add that sleeping wasn't all bad because Meg didn't sleep through all of it and she was feeling pretty carsick by the end of the drive. After we ended our drive on the Burr Trial we went to Lake Powell for a swim. Its not necessarily a swimming place. Its known more for boating and Jet skiing, but we still had a lot of fun. The water was refreshing after a long drive in the car, and we had a monster Mud Fight. Savannah and I both had mud in our hair during different points of the fight and as the mud slinging grew more intense we finally called a truce. The funniest thing was Savannah trying to dunk Meg and I, but not being very happy when we dunked her back. She is a fish! She just swims and swims and swims all day long! In fact, when we made it to our hotel in Torrey later that night, we went swimming again! Twice in one day! And now, pictures:

This is Meg, Dad, Savannah and I in Lake Powell.

Dad, Savannah, Meg and I on top of a bridge at Devils Garden. Mom came up too, but she was the one that took this picture.

Savannah, Meg and I at Devils Garden. We climbed into this cut out, and it was picture perfect!

I only managed to catch up one day, but that's still good! I'll keep working on it, and it will all be done before you know it...hopefully :) Church went good today, and we enjoyed seeing everyone after being away for so long!

Until tomorrow,

Ally

Calf Creek

Today our family hiked up to the Calf Creek Waterfall and I can honestly say it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen! The falls were about 120 feet tall and the hike in was about 3 miles each way, so we hiked about 6 miles in total today. It was worth it though :) When we made it to the top, Meg and I swam in the 50 degree water, out to the base of the falls. It was hard, but its good to say we did it. I still can't believe we did it! That water was ice cold!Savannah made it through all 6 miles without complaining, and made the hike alot more fun. She has found a bunch of new "forts" throughout our adventures, which include holes in rocks and replicas of Anasazi homes. She definatley keeps the rest of us going! Mom and Dad are doing good, and I think they like being back in good old Southern Utah where they both grew up. I know Meg and I are discovering a lot about our parents as they talk about "What they did when they were kids" :) I've enjoyed hearing all of the stories and seeing how much they know about the land. We also went up to/ across Hells Backbone...its a bridge on the top of a mountain with a straight drop on both sides. It was definatley an experience! I think we all enjoyed it, even Dad who has a thing about heights- he can't stand them! He was extra careful to stay a safe distance away from the edge, which is good because we wouldn't want anything bad to happen :) When we were driving up the mountain there were some cows and bulls that were roaming on the side of the road and in the surounding areas. At one point there was a Bull and a calf and Savannah said " That bull must be that little cows mommy!" Classic! We really must be city girls :) We were laughing for quite a while after that one.

Well, enough of me talking! A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a couple pics!

This is a picture of Savannah and I on the top of a rock at Hells Backbone.

Here's the fam at the Waterfall at Calf Creek

Meg's first attempt to get under the falls :)

Savannah found a giant flower- the type you blow the seeds off of and make a wish.

Two of a Kind!

What a dare-devil! This is Meg on a cliff up at Hells Backbone....Dad went and waited in the van because he couldn't watch her climb out on the cliff :)

Thats all for now!

Ally

Family Vacation- Bryce Canyon

Today our family hiked around Bryce Canyon, and it was breathtaking! The Canyon was so BIG, but so beautiful at the same time. It is amazing to see how delicate some of the formations are, and to learn about the ways they are formed. Our family has had a lot of fun hanging out together, especially since Meg and I have been off to Girls Camp and Drum Major Camp. I had a blast at both camps, but its good to be back with my family! Savannah was a trooper today, and hiked over 4 miles along with the rest of the family. She has so much energy! Tomorrow we are going to hike up to Calf Creek and see the waterfall, explore the petrified forest, and check out an old indian village ( I don't remember exactly what its called). The adventures are barely beginning!

Ally