Zion

 It's funny how our Road Trip progressed.  Without planning for it or knowing it would happen, each night's lodgings became increasingly more enjoyable.  Our first night in Oklahoma City?  Yikes.  The rooms smelled and the A/C in one of them was leaking a whole puddle of water on the floor.   Albuquerque was better and we were happy to find that our rooms were pleasantly cleaner and smelled much better than the night before.  After our next night's stay at the Grand Canyon, I thought we had reached the pinnacle thanks to a super dope complimentary breakfast spread the next morning.  However, as soon as we pulled into the Zion Ponderosa Ranch outside of Zion National Park, I could tell that this place was going to be magical.  And it was!  Even though we were literally sleeping in log cabins with double bunk beds (meaning the bunk bed was a full sized bed on the bottom and a full sized bed on the top), and we had to walk over to a separate building for the bathroom and for showers, it was still easily the most enjoyable spot we stayed during the course of our entire drive out to Utah.  Staying for two nights in a row certainly helped, but the setting was just SO beautiful and there were so many fun things to do at the Ranch itself, that everyone had a good time. 

Our plan for our only full day in Zion was to head to the park in the morning, do some hiking with the kids -- hopefully to the Narrows -- and then rest and relax for the rest of the evening at the Ranch.   And this was a great plan!  BUT.  When we discovered there was a Kid Camp available for the younger ones, we signed those kids up faster than you can say "happy trails!"  Hahahaha.  After doing our non-hiking at the Grand Canyon the day before -- and seeing how {not} well certain children did with that, we decided it was in ALL of our best interests to save the actual hiking for the big kids.  And Jane, Alex, and Isaac were super cool with that.  Hahaha.  Especially after discovering they'd be able to zip line, swim, and jump on a bungee trampoline while we were gone.

So, after eating breakfast on Day 5 (which was also Ethan's 16th birthday) of our Road Trip, we dropped the youngers off and Scott and I took off with the older ones in what ended up being a minor series of unfortunate events.  Doh!  Getting a flat tire right outside the Park entrance was the first event, followed closely by not being able to find a parking spot for such a long time that we had to change our hiking plans to ensure that we would be back in time for the close of Kid Camp.  The final calamity occurred on the way back from our hike to the Lower Emerald Pools when I rolled my ankle with panache.  But you know what?  I'd still go back in a heart beat!  Haha.  The drive through the canyon alone was beautiful enough to make up for any misfortunes along our way. 

If we had to get a flat tire, thank goodness it was before we were driving through the park itself!  And triple thank goodness that we didn't have 3 extra children with us.  ;) 

 Grace and Sophie took the opportunity to pose for lots of pictures while we were stopped on the side of the road.

 Sophie was so excited to demonstrate that she knew how to change a tire thanks to a class at Girl's Camp the week before.  

 Grace wanted to get in on the action, too, even though she missed out on the Girl's Camp lesson thanks to a nose bleed.

 It was SO crowded inside the Park.

 How gorgeous are these views??

 I tried to capture the mini waterfall here, but it's hard to see the drops.

 I was surprised at how many people were on the trail.  In all honesty, I think it's a bit of a safety hazard!

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, the little ones lucked out in having the full run of the Camp.  No one else had signed up that day, so they had the complete and undivided attention of the two counselors who were in charge.  As we picked them up that afternoon, they couldn't stop raving about all the fun they had.  The zip lining seemed to be the biggest thrill and even Isaac was brave enough to go for it!  "I was laughing!" he told me when I asked him if he liked it.  Hahaha.  When we saw that the night's "activity" at the Ranch was zip lining, it seemed like a no-brainer to sign everyone up this time. {Minus myself, that is.}  

 He was easily the youngest kid zip lining.  I think he made quite the impression.  Hahaha.

  

Having to leave the next morning was made palatable only by the knowledge that we would FINALLY be arriving at our first family stop of the trip!  For the next few days, we had so much fun hanging with my side of the family in what was an unofficial reunion of the Hansen sibs plus my mom.  Stay tuned for all things family coming up in the next couple of posts...

And in case anyone was wondering, we checked Maxwell into his doggie daycare for boarding while we were gone.  (I grabbed this screenshot of him from their Instagram story.)