The Toadstools

After Horseshoe Bend, we stopped to eat a picnic lunch outside a little dinosaur museum.  There have been many dinosaur bones found in the area and the museum had a mural of all the local dinosaurs.  It was pretty neat.



A section of the mural

Some of the bones found, there are toothmarks from a Tyrannosaur (predecessor to the T-Rex).   

Zuri studying her "map" so she knows where to go next.  The "map" was a replica of the mural, but it was hilarious to watch her figure out her way with her map!

Our next stop was the Toadstools at the Grand Staircase--Escalante National Monument.  Amanda and Tyler didn't come with us--they went back to their hotel to put Jaxson down for a nap, so we were a smaller group for the toadstools.



The hike.  The trail basically followed a dry riverbed.  The view (above) is taken from the toadstool looking back on where hiked.

The toadstool!



This cavern area is behind the toadstool.  It was really cool, when you are near, your voice echoes.  The kids had fun with that one...and trying to find lizards, which is what they are doing in the picture below.



Just a really cool boulder.

Another toadstool.  We took a break and rested for a short time in the shade of this toadstool.  Even though it wasn't extremely hot, the constant sun and lack of shade throughout the hike made it seem a lot hotter.

Defying gravity.

I just love the laying of the red and white rock!





Toward the end of our last stop on the hike, the kids were all getting really tired and whiny.  I think it would have been fun to continue on, but the kids were hot, tired, and done.  The picture below was an attempt to get a group shot (several pictures were taken, but none really turned out--upset kids).

Horseshoe Bend

The cool thing about Arizona is that the landscape can be very deceiving.  You turn a bend, or hike a hill, and suddenly, everything has changed.  You have deep canyons and cliffs, sand dunes, toadstools, and more.
 On Friday, we hiked to Horseshoe Bend, or as I have also heard it called: Dead Horse Point.  It is so called because of the sheer cliffs (with no guardrails or ropes).  It was a fairly easy hike--we climbed up and over a small hill, then down a slight slope to the canyon top.

The temperature wasn't too bad--without any shade, it got a little hot, but there was a light breeze that helped.  I would say that it was about mid-seventies, but with the sun beating straight down on us, it felt warmer.


Just starting on the trail (above--we climbed over that small hill).  At the top of the hill, looking toward the canyon (you can't really see it yet--below).



The girls; as we got closer to the canyon, we made sure that each child had an adult's hand since there is no safety in place to stop anyone from going over the sides of the cliff.

That's my girl!  Climbing up on some of the rocks.

Zuri and Adilynn


The main attraction; isn't it gorgeous!  You can see the sheerness of the cliff!

Sand Dunes

At the end of March, we took a family vacation with J's family to Page, Arizona.  We had three days of fun in the Arizona sun.  We used our respite hours, so Kai stayed home with the nurses.  Thursday morning, J, Zuri, and I all got up at four and took off to meet J's family, so we could all drive together.  We were able to fit everyone in two vehicles (three if you count Amanda and Tyler, who met up with us later that day).  We had Adilynn in our car with us, and the girls (for the most part) kept themselves entertained without fussing. 

Just outside of Page, we stopped and played in the sand dunes.  The sand was so fine and so soft that we didn't even have to wear shoes!  We all had a blast climbing up and down the steep sand dunes.


The View

That little dot is Adilynn

J and Zuri



The only "flower" to be found. 

Climbing to the top

J, Zuri, and I went exploring some of the nearby dunes

Adilynn and Nolan climbing the dune

Nolan jumping.  The adults had as much fun as the kids!

The guys (Nolan, Robert, and J) racing down (and back up) the dune


Emery


Zuri doing what she loves most: running






The kids used the soft sand a lot like snow.  They rolled, dove, and scooted themselves down the dunes.




J and Zuri at the top of a dune



Heading back to the car.  Zuri had no problem with anything until the very end, when a fly came near her.  Then she freaked out--I think she was just tired at that point.  Two years ago she was bit by a horsefly, and now she is terrified of flies.  We have been trying to conquer that fear ever since.



After the sand dunes, we stopped in at J's uncle Steve's house (where we stayed the weekend), then we went swimming (Amanda and Tyler opted to get a hotel instead of staying with the rest of us at Steve's house, so we all got access to the pool) while the guys went golfing.  Needless to say, we were all exhausted by the time we went to bed!


Emery and Zuri playing ping pong 

Running in Uncle Steve's backyard

Celebrating 80 Years

A few weeks ago we went down south to celebrate J's grandpa's 80th birthday.  Grandpa Jay's legacy includes 10 children, 42 grandchildren, and 40 great-grandchildren (with two on the way), and they keep up with them all. 

We had fun with a family lunch party where all ten children and most of the grandchildren (and great grandchildren) were able to attend.  Grandpa Jay and Grandma Janet had the family laughing with tales from the past, and a special tribute was given by Tom Osmond (the oldest of the Osmond brothers) who is a good friend.  Each of his children gave a short tribute as well, and spoke about lessons and fond memories. 

Unfortunately, my camera battery died while I was recording the stories so I didn't get any pictures of the party, but  I was able to capture a good picture (above) with my phone.  We enjoyed spending the day with the family--we started out the day with a joint baby shower for two of J's cousins who are both having boys in the next couple of months.
Kai with us, and the trip down south went well.  Kai started getting fussy during the party, we think he was tired and too hot in the building.  On our way home we had a little hiccup though--he had been off his humidification for nearly two days (he was off most of the day the previous day as well) and it caught up to him.  He got a plug in his trach and he started turning blue on us when we were within a few miles of home.  It was a little scary, but we were able to get a new trach in and clear out the plug.  Whew!
Just one more adventure as we work on getting Kai out more.  Hopefully these "adventures" will continue to decrease with time.  I tell you, it is really stressful taking Kai places, and many times it doesn't feel like it is worth it in the moment, but later we are always grateful we do.  One outing at a time!

Time With Daddy

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Too cute not to share!

Rolling

Not that long ago I posted that Kai is at a plateau--that he really isn't doing anything new.  Well, I guess I should never say that, because he is almost rolling over to his tummy.  It is a new thing he is doing--the attempt to make it to his tummy.  His arm and his vent tubing inevitably get in his way no matter how much I try to keep it clear of him.  Hopefully he will be able to make it all the way soon!