Spring Break in Grover

We spent Conference weekend and Spring Break down at the Ranch with our friends, the Nielsens, the Malmborgs and Anderson Songer.

At the Scipio gas station menagerie.

Clint and Dave shooting BB guns with the kids. Do you see the frying pan on the fence that they are aiming at?

Maddie, get your gun!

Maddie and Jack's banana chair imitation

Getting ready to hike Hickman Bridge. 

The Nielsens. We love these guys. Karly, Dave, baby Gwen, Maddy, Gavin and Ian.

Ellie, the beauty.

Maddie was so sad that she didn't have her own camelback. Jack said she could share his and that suited her just fine.

Dear Charlie

Trace said, "Take a picture of these bumps!"

Trace said along the trail. "I hate rock signs!" As he kicked them over. Then after building his own he ammended his chant to, "I hate all rock signs, butcept the ones I build!"

The guys getting ready to go shooting in the lower 80. Clint found out that Talmage is a crackerjack shot!

Karly was a great shot, even if it did scare her a little!

After the last session on Sunday, Clint shot off rockets with the kids before the Nielsen's had to head home. Jack's rocket had a compartment for insect passengers. Sadly it, and several other rockets, now have a permenant home in the wood's canopy.

Do you see my puffy vest? Would you believe we went from sunburns on Saturday in the park, to a frozen creek in Grover on Sunday? Seventeen degrees at the Ranch! The temperature jumps in the spring are amazing down there! As is the contrast between Capitol Reef and Grover. In the park it never got colder than 34.

By Tuesday it had warmed up again and we went to the park to hike The Tanks. Here are spring wildflowers at the trailhead.

Trace was my hiking companion. The sharp shadows were striking.

Isn't it interesting how the layers change directions here, and that's where the water holes form?

Vicky pointed out that on this hike, it's the getting there that is the most fun. This is obvious to the kids, but frustrating for us destination minded adults.

That blue sky kept on knocking me out. The bluest skies are in Utah.

Anderson looks so old here!

Scroll Right to see the whole thing! The Malmborgs introduced us to the Goosenecks! Another amazing sight I'd never seen in 40 years of going to the Ranch! The wonders in Wayne county are endless, I tell you!

Anderson, did a lot of cousin carrying. What a good guy.

New reptile specimens sunning themselves on the rocks.

The other fun thing we did this time was see two movies at the Wayne Theater. I took the little kids to The Lorax. And Clint took the boys to see John Carter. Talmage LOVED it. And he was thrilled to get a graphic novel of John Carter then next day for his birthday.

Another fantastic weekend in Grover. The ranch is magical.