At work last week I was in the right place at the right time when the usual end of the week, "what are you doing this weekend" question came up. When I heard Johanna say that she was going to see hot air balloons a few hours away...I'm not going to lie, I was a little jealous. So when Johanna extended the invitation I jumped all over the chance to do something new. We left early Saturday morning and drove through Zion National Park on our way to Bryce Canyon. It was 2 1/2 hours gorgeous scenery and of course it was a beautiful day in Southern Utah. After ditching our first campground and setting up camp at one that better suited our needs we went hiking up the Mossy Cave Trail. This was a really easy hike that was perfect for kids! It had a mossy cave that dripped water and a waterfall...what more could a kid ask for in a hike?
This was probably the point when the boys asked if they could take their shoes off.
Mom and Logan behind the waterfall!
Carson was too scared to go over to the waterfall and I didn't want to carry him but I kind of wanted to touch the waterfall, so he waited for us on the rock!
The kids being brave in the cave! Logan, Carson, Peter, and Melody! I'm kind of annoyed that I didn't take a better picture of the cave but it was covered in soft green moss that we have back at home.
Just look at this super women, Johanna is a rockstar!
After we got snacks from the car we headed over to Sunset Point on the Rim Trail at Bryce Canyon. Heading into the park there are 2 of these tunnels that are amazing and the boys wanted to hike them...Probably not this year (or ever). This time the hike was paved and Johanna could use her double stroller for her 2 sleepy kids!
This chipmunk caught our attention and didn't even seem to mind us standing so close to it. We've never seem them gathering like this before! It was neat!
Logan was done! He was asking to go back to the tent and sleep!
So happy that at least one of my kids can maintain a sense of humor when tired!
Mom and Logan at Sunset Point at Bryce Canyon.
After only the adults got sunburned we headed back to the campground for some hot dogs and s'mores! We tried to divide the supplies need between the families and I was in charge of the stove and the fire...well at least I remembered the fire! I made a little fire for hot dogs and poor Johanna only got coals when it was her turn to make dinner! But at least everyone got fed and that's all the moms cared about.
In Panguitch, Utah they were having a Hot Air Balloon Rally and so after dinner we went out to see what that was all about!
My genius friend Johanna said, "oh let's just buy one and make them share." I said, "OK." But in my head I was thinking...are you crazy?
Look at how cute the 3 of them shared!
Cotton Candy Beard
They lined the street with the hot air balloons! Some of the teams laid down this protective layer that went from curb to curb and some teams just put down the hot air balloon on the asphalt.
Balloons everywhere!
It was exciting watching them fill it up, the boys didn't even complain, much, about staying in place and watching. They start out by laying down the basket and the balloon with a large fan, like the fan that you have when you are drying out your carpets after a flood. It isn't until after the balloon is almost blown up that they turn on the fire to raise it .
These balloons where amazing once they were blown up! Especially against the deep blue sky.
Sunday morning we got up before the sun and started cleaning up camp. While Johanna cleaned up her camp I figured out how to make pancakes cooked on the campground grill with blueberries and chocolate chips. It actually thought that they were really good, some were a little smoky, but most were good! I was grateful that we didn't have anywhere we didn't have to be, so we waited until after the morning festivities before cleaning up.
The night before we had seen Main Street in Panguitch, Utah lined with 10-12 hot air balloons and now a sunrise launch in an open field with more then 25.
The balloons were on both sides of the road and the shoulder was lined with cars!
On the way home we stopped a few times for a little excitement...
Dude, are you a lady or a man? lol
Kids had fun going to jail.
and pretending to be Lady Liberty!
Now that Thing 2 can read he has lots of questions, like why does that sign say Dixie mom? Are we almost to Dixie Kids? What does Dixie mean? Why does it have an "x" in it?
Pit stop at Forscher German Bakery for some treats in Orderville, Utah!
And then we got lost. Going back and looking the map after we got home we were supposed to start heading west after the above bakery, but we were probably in a sugar coma and ignored the gps and continued south on 89. Some how we ended up in Arizona before I really realized something had really gone wrong. I thought that things had looked familiar from our Lake Powell trip, but didn't connect the dots! Once we got home hours later we all emptied the car, started the laundry, took showers and snuggled in for naps. Overall it was a perfect weekend and I am grateful for the opportunities to make memories with my boys!
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