Walking In Zion...and Lots of Running

Emma asked a question (as she often likes to do) while we were at Zion. She said "Why do you keep calling in 'Zions'?" I think it's supposed to just be 'Zion'." Hmmm...I started looking through our guide and brochure and couldn't find an "s" on the end anywhere. So, thanks to her, I won't be calling it "Zions" National Park throughout this post.

A few days before we left for St. George to witness Dana completely whoop the marathon, I had a little thought- we might as well make the most out of that 8 hr drive! So went to Zion both on the way and the way back from St. George. It's unbelievably beautiful there. I'm so glad we took the time. Here are a heap load of my favorite pictures from our long, fun weekend-

Our first short hike on the way to St. George was the Kayenta Trail. The shuttle on the way to the hikes were also a big hit with the kids.
So fun to be in all this nature. The animals there all seemed very used to having people around. It makes you feel a little bit like Snow White.
Ahhh, love this boy.

I just couldn't get over this view. Of course, pictures are never quite the same.

Moon rise in Zion.

This was our trail on our way home. It was perfect for kids and even better than the other hike we went on.

The tour on the shuttle said that the water coming out of these rocks travels through the sandstone for about 1200 years from the time it seeps into the top.

Each time they touched the water they would say "I can't believe it!!! I am touching water that's 1200 years old! Can you believe it???" It was pretty cute.

At the end of the walk you come to the beginning of "The Narrows" which is part of the Virgin River that people are able to walk/hike through. I really want to do this when the kids are older. There are parts that are waist deep so it definitely wouldn't work yet.

They had a lot of fun wading through the freeeezing cold water.

We had a super fun time in St. George too. It is a treat staying at cousin Laurie's house. We have a whole section of the house to ourselves and it includes an unbelievable play room for kids. It has every toy imaginable in it- old and new. And there are windows everywhere which made for beautiful lighting, so I had a fun time taking pictures of the kids playing there. I'll have to post some of those pictures later.

This is the view from their backyard. St. George is really a pretty town. Sometimes we think we could live there one day. Maybe as a back-up for my plan of retiring to a house along the beach:)

Dana's 4th marathon was a smash hit just like the previous 3. Each time he's gotten faster. He's a running machine.

1. San Diego- 4 hrs 24 mins

2. Phoenix- 4 hrs 12 mins

3. St George 08- 3 hrs 53 mins

4 St. George 09- 3 hrs 34 mins (qualifying time for Boston 3 hrs 20 mins)

This is right after I saw him run past us while I videotaped him and then fumbled around with the camera to take a picture. He's in the blue shirt.

Recovery begins as we stand around eating ice cream sandwiches.

He and his cousin Todd have run 3 together now.

"Yea daddy!"

He says he's done with marathons for awhile...he did take 1 whole day off from his workout routine after we got home so I guess we'll see what's in store. :)