Spring Break Trip: Cedar City

Our first stop was in Cedar City to visit Grandma and Grandpa A. We were glad to get out of the car, stretch our legs and see their new home for the first time. That evening, we enjoyed going to Ashcroft Observatory to see the stars.

We took a walk to the Cedar City temple which is quite close to their home.
Sarah, Me, Matthew, Grandma, Megan

Sarah, Me, Matthew, Megan, Grandpa

Tuesday, we went hiking in Kolob Canyon which is part of Zion National Park. The trail we hiked (Taylor's Creek) crossed a stream many times. At the beginning of the hike, the kids were really careful about not getting their shoes wet. A bit up the trail, they found some patches of snow which they played in a bit. When some people coming down the trail told us about a big field of snow towards the end of the trail, the kids got excited and took off. I tried to keep up with them. One person we passed asked if those were my kids. When I replied in the affirmative, he said, "They are tough!"

Megan and Matthew on the hike. Megan and Matthew each found walking stick to help them on their journey.

Megan crossing the stream.

Nice place for a break.
Matthew, Sarah, Megan and Grandpa.

Matthew by the stream.

It was very exciting when we came upon patches of snow!
Megan and Grandma

Grandma, Me, Matthew, Sarah and Megan at the end of the hike where we enjoyed some lunch.

There was a double arch at the end of the hike. It was beautiful!

Playing in the snow! The kids were so excited. At this point, they stopped trying to keep shoes dry as they trounced around the snow.

Matthew and Megan earned their Junior Ranger badges.

After dinner, we went to a nearby park. Here Matthew is driving an army tank.

Megan crossing a wall.

Megan and Sarah on the swings.

On Wednesday, we drove to a sledding hill. The thing my kids most wanted to do in Utah was play in snow so this was very exciting to them. It was quite chilly and sleeted on us some of the time. We bundled up and enjoyed sledding down the hill. Getting up wasn't always easy as our foot or leg or arm would sink deep into the snow. Grandpa, Matthew and I climbed up a really steep portion. Grandpa slid down it first and since he didn't go super fast, Matthew and I followed. However, it was much faster for us since Grandpa had compacted the snow. Sarah and Megan climbed to the top of another section and enjoyed sledding down although they decided sledding down the lower portion was the best payoff. The two girls had a lot of fun racing each other and sledding together. Matthew got completely soaked on his bottoms so headed back to the car before the rest of us. Grandma, Sarah and I enjoyed racing each other down the hill. The three of us also went down together on one sled a few times. That was fun except for the bump we hit one time.

Grandma and Me visit while Megan and Sarah rest in the background.

Matthew carried this snowball up the steep hill and then held it in his lap while we slid down the hill.

Heading up the hill for another run.

Wednesday afternoon, we went to see "The Greatest Showman" in the movie theater. That evening, we watched "Hotel Transylvania" on Grandma and Grandpa's new TV.

Thursday morning, Grandpa and Matthew went on a run together. (Sarah went running with Grandpa on Tuesday.)

Sarah went with Grandma and Grandpa to the temple to do baptisms.

Megan and Matthew enjoyed playing with toys. It's fun to see the kids play with the toys I remember playing with as a kid.

Thursday afternoon, it snowed at Grandma and Grandpa's house. That morning, the weather predicted rain for Thursday but snow for Saturday and Sunday so Matthew said he wanted to stay until the weekend. We are happy the snow decided to hurry up and come while we were still in town. The kids spent most of the afternoon and evening playing in it.

The kids kept cleaning off the van. It's a losing battle while it's still snowing, but they thought it was important to try.

Umbrellas work for snow, too!

Sarah enjoyed sliding down the driveway. In her dress. Brrrrr!

Sarah, Megan, Matthew and Grandpa

Megan, Grandpa, Matthew and I walked over to the temple. On the walk over, Megan and Matthew cleared the snow off of benches and fence railings. (Notice that the bench by Megan has been cleared off. Just in case anyone would like to pause and sit on it for a few moments.)

Matthew and his rosy red cheeks!

Snowball fight!

Matthew throws a couple of snowballs at grandpa.

Yes, I was outside too.

Matthew enjoyed making snow angels.

Snow angel.

Matthew and Megan playing in the backyard.

Once it stopped snowing, Sarah and Matthew went over to the park.
Sarah swinging. (Notice how red her legs are from the cold.)

Matthew sliding.

What a cute kid!

The kids also enjoyed sledding in the front yard.

Sarah made us delicious soup for dinner.

Megan and Matthew each went out with Grandma and Grandpa. Matthew got this huge dipped cone at Dairy Queen. No, he didn't finish it.

We enjoyed our visit with Grandma and Grandpa. We thank them, especially, for having so much snow. That was what the kids were most excited about and they were not disappointed. As Megan excitedly proclaimed to anyone who would listen, "I played in snow four days in a row!" (Tuesday on the hike, Wednesday on the sledding hill, Thursday and Friday at Grandma and Grandpa's house.)