Moab, baby.

So.  We like to stop at In-N-Out any chance we get.  It's a great way to kick off any vacation, right?  The drive to Moab seemed to take extra long this time.  I don't know what happened, but we didn't get into our hotel until midnight or so, and then Harper woke up screaming, "Wanna go HOOOOOOME," for about 3 hours.  So it was pretty restful.

We were in Moab because Jason was running the Red Hot 55k on Saturday.  He got up and left early, and the kids of course woke up when he left, so then we decided to check out the town.  We stopped in to see Christie at the Love Muffin first thing, and then hit the city park.

And then we drove into Arches to do some hiking before heading over to meet Jason at the finish line.  Raise your hand if you love Arches.  We do!  We do!

My kids are awesome hikers, and for that I am grateful.  We just went on very short hike/walks that Finn could do with us.  He was a trooper.  Here we are at the North and South Windows.

North Window:

Harper did NOT enjoy being confined to the backpack.  At all.  But she survived.

Owen at the South Window:

 A highlight for everyone was lizard chasing.  I wish I could say we caught one, but we did not.  We were too slow.

We probably had 6 different people stop and comment on our awesome tailgate party.  The Lamberts know how to party!  This is just another adventure in the best car ever.

Beautiful La Sal mountains in the background.  It was a glorious day.

Posing by Balanced Rock, or Snoopy Rock as the boys call it.

We then headed up Potash Road to the Poison Spider trailhead to watch for Jason.  The kids had a grand time climbing around while we waited.

Finish lines are so awesome.  Jason was pretty tired, and so glad to see the kiddies!

They all ran with him to the finish line.  Harper and I tried to keep up...

Happy to be done!

Harper sure likes her Daddy.  Even when he's super sweaty.

This sand hill is located just across the street from the entrance to Arches.  When we were leaving the park earlier in the day, we saw people running up and down it, and the kids were dying to try it.  It was getting a little too cold for my liking, but the kids of course loved it!

On Sunday morning we got up and went to the Moab 1st Ward.  We were just a few of the gazillion visitors they had that day.  Harper and I went to nursery and met some really nice people there.  The nursery leader is a gorgeous, young-looking interior designer and mother of 12 children!!!!!  Needless to say, I was impressed, and had many questions for her.  She was amazing, and I am so glad I was able to meet her that day.  It was the first time ever that I felt our family was small.  :)

After church, we packed up and drove to Arches again for a beautiful, short hike called Sand Dune Arch.  It had snowed the night before, and everything looked so magical.  It's times like these in the great outdoors that our kids all get along and enjoy each other, and I think it is pretty heavenly.

Harper loved the red rock and slot canyons.

Red rock in the winter is just spectacular.  I highly recommend it.  For one thing, you have the entire park to yourself!  And for another- it is magical.  

The sun started to break out way out in the west through the clouds as we drove away.

We didn't spend a ton of time in the hotel, but it really was nice.  We had 3 queen beds, and it made all the difference.  Usually we have kids camped out all over the place, so it was really quite lovely for all of us to have a bed!

Monday was our last day.  We spent some quality time at the skate park and the rock shop before heading out for the final adventure.  Our last hike of the trip was not inside Arches.  It's called Corona Arch, located about 10 miles up Potash Road.  It was such a fun hike with the kids, and we can't wait to bring people to check it out.  Grandma and Grandpa Olsen are going to LOVE it!  Any time there are cables, chains and ladders involved in a hike, you know it's going to be an adventure...

The arch itself is stunning!

Harper was super bummed to have to get back in the small prison.  Soon enough you'll be hiking all over with us, little sis.

Descending...

Hold on, Finn!

Truly the perfect getaway!  It was just what everyone needed.  Some time away from the hustle and bustle of after-school activity, meetings, homework, laundry, and all the day to day.  We are trying to focus on creating more times like that for our family.  Even though the kids fight like crazy in the car, once we start on the outdoor adventuring they are magically best friends again.  Not to be a crazy hippy, but I do believe the great outdoors has healing powers.  Gosh, maybe we do belong in Moab, talking like that.  I'll buy some crystals and do some yoga on a rock formation somewhere while I'm at it.