our brand new eyes: A Short Trip to Moab

We're having a ten year anniversary party in Moab this coming April.

And while the thought itself is super exciting, the actual act of planning it has become a bit daunting.

Especially the issue of lodging.

Where are we going to fit 40 people?

And how are we going to keep it affordable?

I spent many a nights pouring over camp grounds in Moab and looking for quaint little lodges and finally in desperation I threw up my hands and delegated.

Yes, all those months of therapy really are coming in handy.

I can now delegate.

So after a number of nights looking on the 'ole Google Machine, Brett emerged from his intense studies of the states of Colorado and Utah to proclaim that he had found a giant house, 40 miles outside of Moab that might work for us.

So we picked a weekend and headed up there for a quick little family trip.

Going to Moab with our kids is sort of funny for me.

We have so so many memories of Moab and the Utah desert without them that it's sorta weird to be in these same spots with them now.

A good weird, but still...weird.

We drove up on Saturday and headed straight for the potential anniversary house.

It was overcast and freezing cold and nothing like I imagine when I think of Moab.

And there was no heat on in the house.

So we had to look quickly because it was soooo cold in there.

I'm not going to go into a ton of detail about the house because you can cruise on over to our anniversary blog to find out all about it, but we loved it. I think it's gonna work out "real nice, Clark".

Then it was off to explore beautiful amazing Moab some more.

If you haven't been to Utah, go.

It's the most gorgeous state.

It's unique and special and just...so unbelievably beautiful.

The people that live in Utah are super weird, but nothings perfect I guess.

We took the kids on a grueling half mile death march.

Through the desert.

In Fall.

When it's not hot at all.

We truly are heartless and we had to hear about it for the entire hike.

They loved digging in the dirt.

The problem is that we were actually in Arches National Park.

On a designated trail.

And you can't dig there.

So they just didn't get why we kept making them stop.

So they kept doing it.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

It was a frustrating hike.

Welcome to Phallic Rock State Park.

Seriously?...

The next morning at breakfast we found Mater.

From the movie, Cars?

I think that's the happiest the kids were the entire trip.

On Sunday we took another side hike.

There was more complaining.

We ignored it.

They really will appreciate this some day.

Their amazing parents dragging them around to all of these amazingly cool places.

I know they will.

Right?...

at least Zion appreciated the fresh Utah air

yes, you may dig here!

crazy cool rocks

And then before we headed home we had one last stop to make.

Our doggie, Sal, was named for the La Sal Mountains in Utah.

So we found a spot that overlooked Mount Tuk (which was her middle name) and spread her ashes.

And not to sound snarky but do you remember that part in the Big Lebowski when they are spreading Donny's ashes. And the big gust of wind comes up out of nowhere and all the ashes fly back into The Dude's face?

The Big Lebowski: Donny's Ashes

Well apparently when you let a six year old and a three year old spread ashes, that's pretty much what happens.

So it was very sad and emotional but oddly enough...sort of hysterical too because we were all pretty much coated in Sal.