weekend with daddy

Courtney is in Moab again for the sixth straight week, so you can imagine there are a few sad girls on the home front. Last weekend, however, the five of us girls packed up and headed to Moab to spend a few days with him at his home away from home. We had a great weekend in the sunshine. I guess if daddy can't come to his girls, his girls will come to him!

After we arrived Thursday night, Courtney took us to a great park so the girls could work out some of their energy after the long ride. There were all kinds of pipe instruments for the girls to make music on. Very cool!Friday morning after breakfast, we headed into Arches for some hiking. The girls had a great time climbing around on the rocks and exploring. Emmy decided that when she grows up, she'd like to become a rock climber. I told her I thought that was a great idea if she wanted to. Here's why: 1) she has a super strong, wiry little body and 2) she has no fear! They're all pretty good little climbers. One man came and asked me if the "little girls climbing around like tomboys" were mine. I proudly said yes!

We all learned some interesting things while the girls earned their Junior Rangers badges. For instance, did you know there is such a thing as a kangaroo rat? We do now!Claire was a trooper on what was hopefully her first of many, many hiking excursions to come!

The girls were so excited to have Uncle Shawn and Aunt Kelsey join us on our little getaway. Friday night we met them and our friends Tom & Emily Burnham for dinner.

We had a long wait and were busy chatting when I realized Kate was gone. We found her sitting on a bench next to a nice, but unknown guy on the bench near the restaurant entrance. She had slid right up next to him and had her trademark look of determination and independence combined with an "I'm tired-of-waiting so I don't care what you think of me sitting here" kind of look. We were all laughing watching the exchange between the two of them. For a while, he kept glancing down at her. She never looked up at him. She just sat swinging her legs and staring straight ahead. After a while, he began tipping his head down to her in conversation. He also continued to look straight ahead, playing along with her perfectly. It was hilarious. Finally, Courtney went over. When I asked her what they talked about, she said she'd learned that he wasn't running the race (the next morning), but that he'd trained really hard to watch it. He was a great sport! Wish we had gotten a picture!

Saturday was the Canyonlands Half Marathon and 5 mile race. I had gotten into the 1/2 with my running friend Emily, but ended up having to switch to the 5 mile (I'm getting old). I was bummed because it's such a beautiful, fun course, but it was fun to run with Kelsey. Keeping with tradition, Emmy and Kate ran the last 1/4 mile or so with us to the finish line!

That afternoon, Courtney took the girls to the famed Hole in the Rock store and to Wilson Arch to hike around a bit. I stayed with Claire while she took a little nap so I missed the "authentic" trading post goods at the store. When they got back, we wrapped up the evening by driving up to Dead Horse Point, one of our favorite places. We were excited to show Shawn & Kelsey, but were a little disappointed that it was too cloudy for a very good sunset. Sunset or not, it's still an amazing place.
Our days in the sun went by a little too fast, but we had a great time. It's always good to have a little family together time!