Vacation Recap #4 aka the night we almost froze to death, and all good things must come to an end

Our last morning together we all woke up early to watch the sunrise.

I had brought a big sack of granola for when it was my turn to make breakfast and so we ate that and then packed up camp. Johnny and Elizabeth were getting out of there early because they had to drive back to California and move for her new job. But she didn't escape without one laaast kids picture (ok 2 pics)!

After Joel, Michelle and I packed up we stopped in Moab for some coffee and last minute souvenirs. Joel wandered off, and Michelle and I were trying on some sun hats for fun. A lady offered to take a picture for us. She took my camera, pressed the button for a second and gave it back. I could tell my camera hadn't taken a picture and so I told her she needed to hold down the button for a second. So she tried again, held it down, but then just as quickly gave it back - as the camera flashed and took this picture of "us", while saying "here, it's great, you'll love it":

She walked away and Michelle and I died laughing.

After that we left Moab and headed back to Colorado. We stopped at the movie theater again and saw The Bourne Legacy, it was really good! Then we went on one last hike to Hanging Lake. It was beautiful.

We then camped at Sylvan Lake in Colorado. We quickly set up the tent in the dark and Joel grilled brats. I must have been pretty hungry because I was getting a little crabby. The campsite had showers, but you had to pay $1 for only 4 minutes. Then I get in there and their change machine was broken so I had to sneak into the men's room. Of course I only had a 5, so I had to get tons of quarters. Then I was all set up in my shower stall and I went to put in the quarter and the shower was broken so I had to gather up all my stuff and walk buck naked to the other shower. It was irritating. But once I was clean, and full, it was better. Well... only for a bit because it was freezing! We had really only planned for camping in the desert, not camping in the Rockies. (And no, I did not have an extra pair of gloves!) We tried to drink some wine and play cards, but our numb fingers were dropping cards and I think we were just all cold and grump mcgrumpersons.

After a super cold night, it had gotten down to 30*, and not much sleep we were all up and ready to get out of there. We were also trying to hurry to make it for breakfast at Chik-Fil-A. (If you've had their chicken-in-a-biscuit, you would understand!)

This guy was blocking the road leaving the campsite:

It didn't look like we could make it on time, so we just ate at a diner in town and then got home. There was a meeting at Joel and Michelle's church about different world religions, so we went to that. And then we went out to my favorite mexican restaurant, (I always insist on going there when I'm in town) Tres Margaritas, SO GOOD!!

We came back to the house, I got a ride in Joel's electric car THAT HE BUILT(!!!)

We ate ice-cream with mom's famous chocolate sauce and watched the first Bourne movie. The next morning Joel dropped me off at the airport and home I went. What a wonderful trip!!

Vacation Post #3 aka the one where we 'take baths' and hike some more

I should be doing a weekend recap post this morning, but I was too lazy to wake up early and upload my pictures. You'd think on my third time reading through The Hunger Games I could put the book down when it's getting bedtime, but no... so another vacation post!

Ok, so a few grubby, sweaty days into our trip the lady at the icecream counter was talking to us, and telling us about this creek that we should go swim in. The next morning we went to check it out - and conveniently brought our shower stuff. I felt kinda bad getting soap and shampoo in the water, it can't be good for it right? But in the end, the desire for cleanliness won out.

After our morning bath we drove over to Dead Horse Scenic Byway. We went on a mini hike to the edge of the cliff, enjoyed the view

This day was actually a pretty hard day for me. My family is awesome, and they never excluded me at all, but just that day I felt pretty alone. I had been thinking about what a great fit Andrew was in our family. Everyone loved him, and loved him for me, and for what?? So I had a little cry by the edge of the cliff, prayed and called my mom, my sister gave me a hug, and it was ok.

We went back to camp and my sister's boyfriend Johnny made dinner. Each breakfast/dinner we alternated cooking so no one person had to do it the whole time. I thought that was a really good idea. Johnny made hamburgers, altho I was almost afraid to eat them. I watched him make a big batch of hand rolled patties and then just wipe his hands off on paper towel. Ahhh! E-coli! I am a bit of a germ-ophobe after my microbiology class. I made sure my burger was extra well done, it was super tasty, and I never got sick :).

The next day was going to be our last full-day together. We went to Canyonlands National Park and did a mix of driving around and mini hikes.

One of the things that made me really want to do a southern state trip was that I really wanted to see cliff dwellings. From my research it looked like there was some of that near Moab. But the lady at the visitor's center said there was only a 'grainery' and for the big city ones that was in AZ or even CO (but not close to where my brother lives, or on our way home or anything). Bummer!!!

Lame! So teeny!

Our last hike was to Upheaval dome. The sun was going down and we wanted to make sure we got another 'bath' in before sunset.

Maybe that night was the night of the germburgers because there it was in action right in that shot!

After dinner we went downtown for one last night of ice-cream, and then another night around the campfire before bed.