Memorial Day Weekend

Another Memorial Day weekend has come to pass.  I took flowers up to the cemetery on Thursday morning to decorate Fern's, Kimmy's and Kamry's graves.  While we are in a severe drought and the grass didn't look so good the flowers added a little color to their graves.  Kathy had picked up some orange silk flowers (Fern's favorite) and they looked nice on each side of her headstone.

That afternoon we were off for our annual Capitol Reef trip.  Rick and I were able to drive down on the Thursday before Memorial Day.  The trip seemed long to me...  I don't know....my hip and all:(

After getting checked in at the Broken Spur we had a super delicious meal at the hotel's restaurant.  We got an appetizer of grilled shrimp with a small salad and potato skins.  We shared a country fried steak with mashed potatoes and it was just the right size to share.  We finished off the meal with a lava cake and ice cream.  It was so rich and lovely!

Our room was a nice king room with a patio sliding door as well as a jetted tub right in the room!  I know the Broken Spur is just a podunk hotel but I really love it.  I love the quaintness of the place with it's embroidered pillows and western decor.  We watched a movie that night (can't remember which one.....all I know is I fell asleep through it, big surprise:)  After a good night's rest we had a little breakfast in the restaurant and then drove into the park to hike to the Hickman Bridge.  Its' been a few years since we made this hike and that first fifteen minutes is kinda getting harder as I get older.  We were happy to make it to the bridge to take some pictures and to prove to ourselves that despite being fifty something we can still get out on these Capitol Reef hikes:)  After our hike we stopped at the Gifford House Store for a little treat.  They just had sold out of their last pie:(  That was ok, we told ourselves we would be back.  We got back to the hotel and decided to take the Ranger out on a ride.  We found a nice canyon on the end of town up in the red hills.  We did some exploring in the red sand and then headed back to the hotel for a well deserved nap:)  

That evening after Trent and Kathy made it to town we had dinner with them at the Mexican Restaurant at the end of town.  We enjoyed eating good food and then talking for a long time.  After getting back to the hotel, we found Kendra and the kids out at the playground.  Brach had left to go fishing so we let the kids come bath in our big jacuzzi tub.  They all got jammies on and then Kendra was ready for them to settle down with a movie and bedtime.  Us too:)

Hickman Bridge

A cool tree on our ATV ride.

The next morning after breakfast Rick and I and The Boman family headed over to the Visitor's Center to go on the hike to the waterfall.  Here are a few pictures of that.  We were hoping to see and catch lizards and we did!  Rafe and I counted upwards of seventeen lizards.  Rick caught two of them.  Chloe about had a fit!  She was terrified of the lizards!  Kind of cute:)

We made it to the waterfall and the kids had fun getting wet and skipping rocks.  After the fun we headed back into town.  Brach and Kendra wanted to go to the Mexican Restaurant since they missed it the night before.  Rick and I drove into town to the Slackers Food Truck.  The burgers were touted to be the best  around.  We picked them up and drove to the city park where we devoured our yummy burgers and fries.  I had our picnic blanket in the car so we laid it in the shade and took a nap:)  It was nice.  After getting back to the hotel we met up with Kendra (Brach had gone fishing again) and decided to get in the pool with the kids.  Brady refused to get his swimsuit on and threw a hot fit while the rest of us played in the pool and jacuzzi. It was quite humorous how much he did not want to be with us at the pool.  

That evening we, along with Kendra and the kids joined Trent and Kathy (who had been fishing at Fish Lake for the day) for dinner at the hotel restaurant.  We had a good time eating and talking:)

Pictures of our hike:)

The next day was Sunday and we all met up at the Torrey Ward.  This place is like coming home:)  After a beautiful meeting of word and music and being able to partake of the Sacrament we went back to the hotel and grabbed our cooler with the lunch makings and drove into Fruita.  The park was pretty full but Brach and Kendra were able to secure a table for us.  All of us had an enjoyable lunch together and then Brach and Kenni headed out for home.  Trent, Kath, and Rick and I played a few rounds of Cornhole and then went on back to the hotel for a little nap.  That evening Rick and I took a drive into Teasdale.  What a beautiful area.  We just love these little towns in Wayne County!  Later Trent and Kathy met up in our room for a looong game of Phase 10.  While I was trailing a long ways behind the first half of the game I slowly crept up and WON THE GAME!!  Woohoo for me😃  

The next day we loaded up the ATV's and made the trek home.  It is always so good to get home after being away.  We enjoyed going to the cemetery that evening and walking around remembering all of our friends who have passed on.

It was a beautiful weekend spent with family.  I love our yearly tradition of Capitol Reef.  Next year hopefully when Eric is a little bigger then Skylar and Sarah and their kids can join us.  

We sure did miss them!