Vacation ends, we're home again

During cold weather in St. George, we sat by the fireplace and read a lot of books. We never did use the swimming pools or hot tubs. We missed seeing some of our friends...Shar & Morris, Jon & Ronda, Susan, and Conway & Pauleen. We had a nice, beautiful drive through Zion's National Park. There was quite a bit of snow there. Being married to a senior citizen does have some perks. Reed's Golden Age pass has saved us a bundle! Next month we need to get a new State Park Adventure Pass and new fishing licenses.

After spending two weeks in St. George we headed home. We stopped in American Fork to see the Burkhardts. Aubrey loves her 'jumping jenny' and goes wild in it. She looks like a little kangaroo. It is too bad this picture didn't catch the action. Andrew is slowly gaining strength. He said he has walked a little in the neighborhood. They made a visit to Cabela's which wore him out...walking in that store wears us out too!

Our next visit was at the VanWagenen's home in West Jordan. We took them some maps and brochures for their upcoming vacation to St. George. Brooklyn, 18 months, is really growing up fast. She liked to run around and show off for us. Mason, who normally sports a shaved head, had a full head of curly hair. Jory's leg has finally mended and he is getting around quite well. He said he can soon start running. I lectured him about being careful while climbing/hiking/walking etc. while experiencing southern Utah.

We were glad to see the snow in our yard had melted while we were gone. We sure have a lot of yardwork to do if it warms up sufficiently. I am loving Daylight Savings Time. Reed potted the begonia bulbs and placed them in a sunny window to get them growing. He bought me an Easter Lily to replace the red Christmas Poinsettia that wouldn't die. The local home/garden/farm stores have fluffy yellow chicks, baby ducks and cute little bunnies. It makes me want to take some home.

Pioneer Names, 'Hole in the Rock' Pioneers, Pioneer Park

Those who have read my other southern Utah posts are probably tired of red rock pictures by now. I won't promise, but this might be the last post showing all the neat rock formations. We went back to Snow Canyon and did some walking/hiking/climbing along some of the trails. The first picture below shows a kid rock climbing next to some pioneer names which were supposedly written in the red rock with axle grease during the latter part of the 1800's. (Click to enlarge). I am hesitant to believe the names are really as they were when they were written. Following that picture there are a few more taken on our Snow Canyon visit.

Like several members of our family and some of our friends, we recently read the book, "The Undaunted," by Gerald Lund. It was a long tale (fiction based on fact) about the 'Hole in the Rock' pioneers. While we were hiking we often commented on what it might have been like to go through the area with wagons and no trail to follow. Sometimes we lost the trail for a while as it crossed rocky outcroppings. Other times we would sink into deep sand which slowed our progress. Sometimes our ascent or descent seemed a little treacherous. Anyway, I took pictures of our own 'Hole in the Rock' pioneers. Ha-ha!

Every time we pass Pioneer Park in St. George it makes me nervous that so many people appear to be standing right on the edge of the red cliffs high above the ground. We wonder how many people fall or are injured there each year. We decided to walk around and explore the crevasses and unique formations. We talked to a young couple on spring break from USU who were rock climbing and rapelling. The remaining four pictures were taken in Pioneer Park.

A bridge from one big rock to another

View of Saint George Temple

A few tidbits

After spending about a month in the hospital ANDREW finally made it home. We were saddened to hear that Andrew's 29 year old sister, BECKY, who previously had her colon removed, has cancer spots on her liver and in her pelvis. ROSS had back surgery. Happy birthday to LANDON who turned seven years old! COURTNEY had her name in the paper for being on the South Cache Honor Roll. COURTNEY and ASHLEY were in dance competitions in Pocatello last weekend. ASHLYN got an award for being the top Kindergarten student at Odyssey Charter School. If everything works out, REED and I will be working at the Smith Farm and Sacred Grove during the Hill Cumorah Pageant in July. TY and JODI spoke in their sacrament meeting on Sunday. It was their 'farewell' prior to moving to Oklahoma City. They are renting a home close to the temple. Their ward meetinghouse shares a parking lot with the temple. The JOHNSONS' ward was split. They go to a different building now and meetings are from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Today's Red Rock Adventures

Trailhead parking lot

A couple of times we have passed 'The Biggest Loser' facility here in Southern Utah. Today Gary and Suzanne took us on a hike. When we arrived in the parking lot, The Biggest Loser van was there. Evidently the clients at the resort are brought to this location to hike/exercise. We were really hoping to run into them. We were on the trails for nearly 2 1/2 hours but never saw them. They must have used a different route than we did. Suzanne is one of the biggest losers I know. Since last April she has lost nearly 100 lbs.

Reed

I think that is Ivins in the distance


Gary and his white zinc oxide lips

I wanted to push this boulder over the edge. It is hard to tell in the picture, but the drop would be a couple hundred feet.

Suzanne

Cute little horned toad

(center of picture, click to enlarge)

After the hike Felters took us to 'Pirates Island' for an 'all we could eat' salad bar and pizza. It was a neat place. The grandkids would love it. (Because it was dark inside the restaurant, the pictures didn't turn out very well).

Beautiful day - Perfect temperatures - Picturesque hike

Good friends - Great day

St. George Getaway

We thought we would find sunny skies and warm temperatures in St. George. Some days have been cold and rainy...even a little snow has fallen. Some water pipes froze here on the resort property. Even when the sun comes out it there is still a bitter wind blowing. We have holed up inside reading books by the gas log fireplace to stay warm. We didn't bring our 4-wheelers because we didn't want them to sit out on the open trailer during the storms. The temperatures are finally warming up nicely and now we wish we had our ATVs. A few days ago we went for a ride to Logandale, Nevada, see fellow missionary, Elder Vaughn Evans, who is now Bishop Evans. His wife, Susan, was not at home. We had a good time visiting, checking out their new 5th wheel trailer, and seeing their garden which produces year-round. The tomatoes didn't even have walls of water around them. They have recently been dining on home grown asparagus and swiss chard. On the way back from Logandale I took these pictures:

Snow Canyon pictures:

We are staying in unit #321 in building 'D.' I not only lived the first 20 years of my life at 321 East Center in Logan, but many times when we check into hotel we end up in room '321.'

These are the views from our deck:

Chuck-A-Rama again, more missionary couples-

The Parkinsons

The Felters