Moab

We came home from camping, which gave us the opportunity to get cleaned up and dump all our camping gear off. Plus we could get the few things we forgot. Yes, I have no clue where my head is anymore. I'm pretty sure it's long lost.

Monday we headed to Moab for the Ross family reunion. We got there about an hour ahead of my parents (who were checking everyone in to the condos), so we just decided to stop at the visitor center to kill some time. I went to the bathroom and when I came out I ran into my aunt from Maryland! We went back into the visitor center and there was my other aunt & uncle from Pennsylvania. One more set showed up while we were still hanging out. We stayed there until we got the call from my parents that they were in town, then it was just hanging out at the condo all night.

Tuesday morning we had a scheduled appointment for group photos. It was good to get those done before the last day, but it did make it so we had a late start to the day. Everyone wanted to go hiking afterwards, but I couldn't go out in that kind of heat (over 100) that late in the day. We just hung out and took the girls to the pool. Later we heard that all those who went "hiking" actually realized (or were told by a ranger) that it was too hot, so they just drove around Arches. I would have gone for that. A group of them went back to hike to Delicate Arch after dinner, but I didn't know there were plans and didn't have time to make a quick decision. Jason wanted to go, but even he got left. I'm all for a little spontaneity, but planning sure does work better :)

So we didn't have a repeat of the day before, Brandon and I just decided to head off to Canyonlands on Wednesday bright and early. We got up at 5:30 and headed out. It felt like we had the park to ourselves. We were starting to wonder if people even came to this place. We hung out under Mesa Arch while the sun was coming up. Absolutely beautiful! Then we went and hiked Whale Rock. Not so scenic. It was just a big, giant rock. Next we went to Upheaval Dome, but we didn't hike there, and later I heard that I'm glad we didn't. I think that hike was a little more strenuous than they led on. Next we went to Green River Overlook. There wasn't anything to hike there, but there were some great views. The whole park just felt like a mini (or not so mini) Grand Canyon. Our last destination was to Grand View Point, and that's where the park finally started to feel like it wasn't deserted. We also ran into a few from our group there. A park ranger was giving a "ranger talk" on geology that we tried to listen to, but I couldn't stand just sitting there in the heat. I needed to get up, so we went on the hike. It was a really nice hike, and we found a coveted spot to cool off for a bit each way. We even met a few people that we just sat and talked to.

Meanwhile, the girls didn't want to come with us so we left them at the condo, but later heard that they were with my parents. They took them to Dead Horse Point State Park, and then we met them back for lunch. The girls went swimming 4 or 5 times that day! You know Chloe, that's all she needs to be happy. We did a little shopping but had to be back because Brandon and I, along with Lark, were in charge of dinner that night, so we spent some time getting that put together (for 30 some people). Then Grandma brought out her pinata. Everyone just kind of hung out outside which was nice.

Thursday we had to check out, so the morning was spent just packing up and saying goodbye. The party basically just moved to my house, where Lark, Ross & Melanie (and Nigel) stopped by to see the place. Then Jason and his family needed a rest stop to let the kids run around, and then the grandparents showed up. Chloe surprised them with dinner. She was in preparing it and finished just as they were about to leave. They were good sports and came back to eat with us.

Nobody was eager to plan the next reunion, so we shall see what happens. I'm going to get busy working on my next family vacation. We kind of took a break this year, so it will be fun to plan something big again.