7 Year Itch

Today is our 7th Anniversary! We celebrated with a short getaway to Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument and St. George, Utah. We left Friday morning for Escalante (leaving the kids in Pam's very capable hands) where we hiked Lick Wash around noon for about 4 hours. Besides the ranger who took our picture, we didn't see one person for the entire hike or in the park for that matter. Afterward we headed to St. George, the only route taking us through Zion National Park (they charged us $25 just to drive through and there was a lot of construction). Still, the car ride gave Kjell and I plenty of alone time to talk, laugh, read aloud, set goals and do crossword puzzles. That evening we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and watched a movie at the hotel.

Saturday morning we drove over half of St. George in search of garage sales. It was a lot of fun and we ended up with a car full of treasures (everything from cookbooks, Battleship, a Christmas sign, and a huge water jug). Next we checked out Tuacahn, an outdoor amphitheatre, and then headed up the road to Snow Canyon State Park. Our short hike revealed petrified sand dunes and ancient lava flows. Our next stop was a tour of Brigham Young's house near the St. George temple, where he lived for several winters during the 1870s. The weather did not cooperate for lounging at the pool but I still swam in the large hot tub while the wind and storm clouds rolled in. After shopping at the outlets (no great finds) we caught a showing of Inception and ate a late dinner.

This morning we drove home to 3 happy kids who were nothing but entertained for 2 days straight including, but not limited to, playing at Andrew and Rachel's house, the playground, Bridal Veil Falls, and 7 Peaks. I made them lay down before church and we could barely wake them up an hour later. One thousand thank yous to my dear friend Pam. The kids miss you.

After 7 years, there is no itching going on in our home. Any man buys me a crossword puzzle book and does them with me, takes me garage sale-ing, and doesn't utter a complaint after 30 miles on dirt roads to go on a remote hike is definitely a keeper. Here's to many more years together.

Photos: Kjell and Olivia at Lick Wash trailhead, ancient petroglyphs, Lick Wash, Kjell hiking to Lost Spire Hoodoo, viewpoint at Snow Canyon State Park.