MLK Day/Weekend

Over the 3-day Martin Luther King weekend, we were happy happy happy to host the Kirby family.  Amy and Karl have been meaning to do an anniversary getaway since...oh...July!  I'm so glad they asked us to watch their kiddos so they could sneak away to Brian Head for some time together.

The kids were awesome.  They played well together, they were helpful and game for a trip to the farm for a little adventure where we saw Sally's new set of darling puppies, rode the 4-wheelers, almost saw a random mule die (seriously, so random and traumatizing for the kids!) and played with the backhoe.  

On Monday the Ridings joined us all at Kolob Canyon for a chilly January hike (mild for a typical January, but still cool in the shade of the mountains).  The weather had been so nice at our house that I just put Daphne in a light jacket, forgetting that it would be much colder in the mountains.  Our poor little bug got extremely cold about halfway into the hike which caused Burke and I to turn around much sooner than the rest of the family. 

Throughout the hike, we crisscrossed several times over the river, grateful for the frozen patches that allowed us to remain nice and dry.  Here are Cassie and Dan on a completely frozen stretch of river.

And here are the kiddos slipping and sliding as they skated alongside the hiking trail.

The thinning ice in areas with sun exposure looked beautiful as the rushing water ate away and wore away at it's crystallized formations minute by minute.

I had such a great time being with my sisters and enjoying the lovely scenery.

After we took a group shot about 1.5 miles up the trail, Daphne was so cold, we had to tuck her up under Burke's sweatshirt and turn around.  She was out cold within a matter of minutes as we bounced back along the trail, finally warm in her makeshift cocoon.

While we waited for the rest of the group, we drove up the road to the Kolob Canyons lookout, enjoying the sun and the majestic views.  Great day!