Let's Get the Heck Out of Dodge

This picture has nothing to do with my post, but it was too hilarious to keep to myself. It's Kiki, Kate, and "Monster Jack." I told him I would photoshop his belly down, but that was a lie: I don't know how to photoshop. But, this is just an example of the lengths my dad will go to in order to entertain my kids.

We were desperate to get out of town this weekend. Thanks to Priceline, we were off to St. George- a little sunshine was needed. The girls enjoyed the hotel pool more than anything. We went to lunch and a movie with Aunt Amber. Kate adores Amber- she was very excited to spend time with her.

We ate at a tasty little spot called 25 Main. Conveniently, that's also the address, if you are ever in St. George and need a yummy salad or sandwich followed by a cupcake.

We went to the St. George Temple. Kiki was extremely naughty.

Until this moment, anyway, when she completely redeemed herself. She was totally fascinated by the Christus. She reached out to the statue and had a little conversation with Him. I personally believe that we get to remember Jesus and the pre-existence until we can talk, so I'm pretty sure Kiki had a few words to say to Jesus.

Yesterday morning we went to Zion's. I totally spaced packing our baby backpack, so we braved ZNP with only a hastily purchased umbrella stroller. It limited our hikes to paved trails, but we were not disappointed at all. There were still many beautiful sights to see.

This is at Weeping Rock.

It was quite chilly first thing in the morning, but the girls were troopers.

For the most part anyway. Kiki went into hibernation mode to conserve as much warming energy as possible.

Our spirits rose with the temperature, and by the time we hiked to the Emerald Pools, Kate had enough energy to start whining in earnest. "I'm tired....my legs REALLY hurt," she said at mile 0.3. "Do you know why I married your mom?" Bruce asked Kate. "Because she could hike and hike and NEVER WHINE." It was a lesson learned at the knee of my dad.

We ate lunch at Zion Lodge before heading home.

Kiki ate her first pickle. When Bruce offered it to her, she first licked the whole way up the spear and then shuddered and said, "OOOOOOOh." Then, within a couple of seconds she took her first bite, to which she said, "What?" (It was Miley Cyrus style: more like "Whuuuuuut?") But she decided that pickles were GOOD.

On the way out of the park, I saw a mom with her two sons. There we all were in Zion's, which is really one of the most beautiful spots you will ever see, and both those boys had their noses buried in their Nintendos. I'm not one to judge another mom, but I shook my head at her. It was a shame, a darn shame.

We rode home in relative peace- the girls watched Spongebob Square-conference, and Bruce and I ate junk food until my self esteem was mortally wounded.