Warmth, golf, hiking, fishing, boating, escaping, nature, family, talking, The Bear Paw—these are some of the reasons we were headed to a little place about 5 hours South of us. It wasn’t by choice, but by a declining real estate market leaving us with a home we can’t sell there that St. George has become our second home.
As we dropped down into the valley at 2 a.m. Friday morning, I watched the temperature gauge on the rearview mirror climb and a smile spread through my pasty winter-white body that had longed for the sun’s rays to beat down on it the last four snow filled months. We carav
anned closely behind Jill and Spence, two people whom I adore spending time with. Our mission this weekend was to clean out the furnished model home we had purchased and leased back to the builder two years prior, all the while fitting in as much fun as possible in three short days.
I laid awake in bed the next morning, the sun calling to me. I tiptoed out of our bedroom hoping to let Chet sleep a while longer. As I rounded the corner heading down the hallway I was happy to hear the whispering chitter chatter of Riley and Connor out on the back deck. I walked out and breathed in deeply the clean morning air. I sat down between my two oldest boys and we took in the view. We had a great one, perched up above the Virgin River at the mouth of Zion’s National Park.
After a few minutes of discussing going for a little hike, majority ruled and we laced up our shoes and took off. I immediately fell in love with this moment; no TV, no video games, no phone, no ear buds in their ears drowning me out and drifting them away. We walked and talked and got to know each other just a bit better. We decided that would be how we would start every morning down there, walking and talking. I find myself anxious for the next one.
As we dropped down into the valley at 2 a.m. Friday morning, I watched the temperature gauge on the rearview mirror climb and a smile spread through my pasty winter-white body that had longed for the sun’s rays to beat down on it the last four snow filled months. We carav
anned closely behind Jill and Spence, two people whom I adore spending time with. Our mission this weekend was to clean out the furnished model home we had purchased and leased back to the builder two years prior, all the while fitting in as much fun as possible in three short days.I laid awake in bed the next morning, the sun calling to me. I tiptoed out of our bedroom hoping to let Chet sleep a while longer. As I rounded the corner heading down the hallway I was happy to hear the whispering chitter chatter of Riley and Connor out on the back deck. I walked out and breathed in deeply the clean morning air. I sat down between my two oldest boys and we took in the view. We had a great one, perched up above the Virgin River at the mouth of Zion’s National Park.
After a few minutes of discussing going for a little hike, majority ruled and we laced up our shoes and took off. I immediately fell in love with this moment; no TV, no video games, no phone, no ear buds in their ears drowning me out and drifting them away. We walked and talked and got to know each other just a bit better. We decided that would be how we would start every morning down there, walking and talking. I find myself anxious for the next one.
We spent most of Friday hiking around, enjoying the sunshine and ending up at a place the kids affectionately call “big man’s bum crack.” It is an extremely narrow crevice up through sheer rock walls. If you can fit through it, not only do you have a wonderful sense of accomplishment, but it is great for your self esteem.
One of my favorite things in the world is laughing; not just any laugh, but the kind that comes from deep within, thrusting its way out in an embarrassingly loud and infectious howl. Watching Chet and Spence attempt this climb had this very affect.
I am not sure what was going through Spence’s mind, driving his body through the slit we had just witnessed three little boys and Lou Lou slip through with ease, but it appeared he would not be giving up. Maybe it had something to do with the encouraging words he was receiving high above from strangers who had shimmied their little frames up through and now took the time to stop and observe; or maybe it had become a personal goal of his to overcome his claustrophobia. Whatever the case, his determination was hilarious to watch. He made it through one tight spot to a little opening but due to the fact that he could not breathe in because it made his chest too large between the two crushing rocks, the remaining 60 ft was impossible.
Chet had the same intentions until he got stuck in midair while taking in a breath. The rocks took a firm grip around his chest as if he were a small baby holding him up to take a better look, his arms and legs flailing around. I had images of us having to call the fire department to get him out. We left feeling a little discouraged at not fitting through the rocks, but it was nothing a little ice cream couldn’t mend.
The rest of the weekend was filled with hiking, playing games, fishing and even more laughing. We drove back on Sunday to a snow storm welcoming us home.
Warmth, golf, hiking, fishing, boating, escaping, nature, family, talking, the Bear Paw—these are some of the reasons we will be going back soon and often with family and friends, making memories and getting to know each other a bit better—and maybe even one day, fitting through “big man’s bum crack."
Warmth, golf, hiking, fishing, boating, escaping, nature, family, talking, the Bear Paw—these are some of the reasons we will be going back soon and often with family and friends, making memories and getting to know each other a bit better—and maybe even one day, fitting through “big man’s bum crack."
4 comments:
Haha what a fun weekend! I don't think I've laughed so hard for a long time! That was fun!... You def. brought that out with this one! :)
thats the funniest thing ive seen all week! Go Spencer!
Hilarious! That's all I have to say. :)
That's hilarious! I wish we could have been there to see. By the way if your pasty white body is aching for more sunshine, come on down!! We are all ready reaching high 90's here! The golfing is pretty good this time of year!
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