We went on our first camping trip of the year. Friday, we drove to Fruita and found a camping spot off 18 Road, a well known mountain biking/camping area. The main campground was full, but there was a bunch of dispersed camping, where we had plenty of room to set up the pop up camper and for our friends, Kathy, Sean, Dillon and Connor to set up their monster 8 person tent. However, no bathrooms, which lead to a few messy accidents and gave Casey lots of practice "copping a squat." The weather was sunny and in the upper 80's, low 90's. We all left looking much healthier and much dirtier than when we arrived.
The mountain bike trails were right off our campsite. Stan, Sean and I got a 45 minute mountain bike ride in Sat morning and then Sean and Stan went for another, longer and tougher ride, Chutes and Ladders, later that afternoon.
The kids had so much fun, playing/digging/rolling in the dirt, riding bikes, playing t-ball and just plain camping. Dillon & Casey learned how to ride a bike without training wheels. Casey can go about 30 yards on her own and then she stops pedaling and looses her steam, but a little more practice she'll get it.
Sunday, Kathy and I got up bright and early to run a 5.6 mile race through a canyon that started at the Mack Trailhead. It was amazing. We ran across the upper rim of the canyon up steep, rocky trails, down single track trails, all the while looking at great views of the Colorado River.
Sean and Kathy headed home Sunday afternoon, and we headed off to Moab, UT. After one night in a ghetto RV park in town, we moved to Archview RV resort that overlooked Arches National Park.
Monday, we drove through Arches National Park. We were able to to a few really short hikes to see some amazing arches. Unfortunately, it was in the 90's and we had to keep the car running with Frisco in the AC, so we couldn't do anything too long. But it was plenty with a 5 month old and 3 year old.
Tuesday, we took a detour down a 4x4 Gemini Bridges Road through Bull Canyon to get to Canyonlands National Park. Amazing views...
Wednesday, we packed up early then headed over to Dead Horse State Park, had lunch in Moab, then took scenic road 128 which followed the Colorado River out of Moab.
Casey had so much fun camping. She loved sleeping in the camper and was a great little camper. She was very independent and found plenty to do on her own. Garrett was a great camper too. He is very chill and happy. He slept great, though he did wake up at least once a night to talk and coo to himself.
This weekend, our friends Geoff and Sarah came into town on Friday for Book Club on Saturday night. This morning, Sarah made a birthday breakfast for me. Later we went to Dos Locos for a birthday dinner. Yes, today is my birthday. Happy Birthday to me:)
Enjoy the pix.
hanging with mom
i can do it all by myself
skater
Garrett slept in his tent in the pop up camper
Connor, Casey and Dillon playing with water guns
playing in the sand
what are you looking at?
smores
Stan, stuffed Frisco and Casey going on a bike ride.
brother and sister
short hike in Canyonlands
view of the Colorado River from Canyonlands National Park
Garrett can now roll from his back to his belly and does it almost immediately every time we put him down on his activity mat. Unfortunately, he has not figured out how to roll back onto his back, so he tends to get frustrated after being on his belly for too long. So he has been spending more and more time in his exersaucer, which he loves, especially in the morning.
Garrett is on a 3 hour schedule, having a bottle at 7:30, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30. This week we are trying to get rid of the 10:30 p.m. for good. We have been trying to feed him rice cereal/oatmeal the past couple of weeks, but he really doesn't seem that interested in it. So we have not moved on to any other foods yet.
The rest of us are recovering from a week and half of visitors. My whole family came out to ski and play. Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack flew in March 29th. After a few lessons for Jack, everyone was able to ski by the time the rest of the crew got to town. Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom drove out with dog, Ivan and arrived April Fools Sunday morning. Aunt Kelly and her new puppy, Bodie also drove out and arrived way late Sunday night/Monday morning. We all skied Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Everyone did very well and there were no injuries!! Casey had a blast skiing with everyone. Wednesday, Casey and Garrett went to school/daycare, Lily and Jack went to ski school, while the adults got a day to ski with no kids. Casey's school ended up going to Abasin for skiing! She's great at going on the lift and skiing down green runs. She can also do some easy blue runs. She is much better at the shorter runs, because she does not have the focus right now, but she is definitely a good little skier.
Thursday after a morning of skiing and shopping at the outlets, we went tubing at Copper Mountain. The kids had no fear, even riding in their own tubes! Friday, Grandma Gail, Grampa Tom and Aunt Kel left and the rest of us headed to Hot Sulphur Springs to relax in the hot springs. The resort was a bit "aged" but the kids seemed to have fun.
Saturday we went on a scenic hike then played in the sandbox and sand and water table. Sunday after an Easter egg hunt at home, breakfast at Arapahoe Cafe and a quick trip to the playground, it was time for Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack to head to the airport.
We had a blast with all of our visitors and the past couple of days it has been eerily quite! The weather has been warm and sunny and we have been spending a lot of time out back playing in the sandbox, playing cornhole, drawing with sidewalk chalk and riding bikes. We are still skiing a bit too. Keystone closed this past weekend, Breckenridge will close this weekend, but Abasin will stay open at least for another month!
Happy Spring!
Casey reading to her little brother
Lily and Garrett hanging out
Jack and Casey eating chocolate cake
Mom and Casey on the gondola
Uncle Stan leading Casey and Lily down Schoolmarm at Keystone
Lily, Casey and Jack hanging with Aunt Marcy and Aunt Kel at Keystone
Grandma Gail, Casey, Lily, Jack and Grampa Tom at Keystone
cousins hot tubbing
Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom posing with their Grandkids at Lake Dillon Park
Happy Easter!
sliding
Casey following Lily and Grandma Gail
Casey, Lily and Jack following Aunt Kel down
