4th Anniversary Getaway

Burke and I had a bit of a disappointing anniversary last year.  I ended up feeling sad that we did such a huge party for Daphne's first birthday and forgot celebrate our anniversary the day after properly.  I put a lot of store in "moments" and "events" so anniversaries are a big deal for me.  This year, we decided we would splurge a little and celebrate with a brief getaway.  We decided we would head to Zion National Park and camp for a night, do some hiking and call it good.  When Cassie heard we were planning on bringing Daphne, she insisted on taking her overnight so we could have a proper anniversary celebration.  Since Cassie and Dan's anniversary is just 2 days after ours, we decided we would repay the favor and the following weekend they would do a similar getaway to Zion while we watched the 3 Ridings kiddos.  I'm so glad she came up with the idea, because I didn't realize how badly we needed this trip together!

We dropped Daphne off in St. George and drove to Springdale where we checked into our hotel (SO glad Burke nixed the idea of camping in 100 degree weather - smart move honey) and went to dinner at The Flying Monkey which had great reviews online.  We both loved our dishes and eating out on the shady patio, watching and listening to the crowds of tourists strolling through the little town, speaking in their varied tongues, with the majestic cliffs of Zion as a gorgeous backdrop to it all.  After dinner we drove to the gigantic Imax Theater directly outside of the park where they were showing "Star Trek: Into Darkness" in 3D.  I haven't been to a 3D movie since Avatar and I was nervous about getting sick, but we absolutely loved the movie and I only had to put my head down once at the end when the ship is careening towards Earth and there is constant spinning for several minutes of the film.  

Driving through Springdale with our windows down, Burke and I laughed and talked, enjoying the feeling of lessened responsibility without Daphne in the backseat constantly in need of our help or attention.  Sometimes I forget what a weight that can be to have a little life so dependent on us for her survival.  It's a weight that sits on your shoulders day in and day out and you don't recognize how heavy it is until it's suddenly just you and your husband driving down a desert road, feeling giddy, refreshed and excited to be alone for an evening.  It's funny how even though there is a lightening of that "burden" without our baby girl to take care of, all we can seem to do is talk about how darling she is and how we can be better parents.  Our family isn't complete without her, but we definitely do need to take more time for just the two of us.  As Bette Midler said in the movie Parental Guidance when asked by her daughter why she always takes her dad's side, "Your husband is who will be left when your children are grown and gone." Or something like that.  Basically, while taking care of all your other responsibilities, don't forget to take care of the one person who will be with you all your life and into the eternities.

The next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel, again on the patio enjoying the beautiful view while visiting with a retired couple from the East Coast who were in absolute awe of the Western landscapes.  We certainly take for granted the wonders that are at our fingertips down here: Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon to name a few.  We still need to get out and see those last two.

After taking the bus into the park, we decided to hike "The Narrows" from the front end River Trail because surprisingly neither of us had ever done that hike before despite being to the park many times.  For those of you unfamiliar with Zion National Park, Angels Landing and The Narrows are the two most famous hikes it has to offer (although there are many other beautiful trails).  In The Narrows, you are hiking up through the river almost the entire way.  If you start at the back end, the hike takes the entire day and requires a guide and I believe the river is so deep at parts that you have to swim through it. 

We figured we'd go up the river for a few miles until we got tired and then we'd turn around.  I absolutely loved this hike and am now determined to go back and do it from the top.  It was so beautiful and refreshing to be hiking through the water and shaded from the heat by the steep canyon walls.  Unfortunately, knee-high water on everyone else = waist high on me, so I was pretty soaked by the time we turned around.  At one point while passing a gorgeous European couple I attempted a friendly hello and cautioned them to "be careful" as I stepped on a rock and ended up on my butt in the middle of the river.  Burke laughed for probably 10 minutes.  Classic Em.

Bu the time we ate lunch it was time to go pick up our baby girl, so we headed back to St. George, chatting the whole way home.  We had such a good time and I was reminded all over again why I married this wonderful man.  Here's to 4 wonderful years Alan Burke!