After our two week visit to Vegas, we headed to Zion National Park with Conan's parents, his siblings, and their kiddos. We stayed in a gorgeous log cabin on the Ponderosa Ranch. The ranch had rock climbing, zip lining, swimming, horse rides and a playground for the kids. With Jamie and Christian's family in Vegas, Cheryl and Gavin's family in Virginia, and our family in Boston, the cousins only get to see each other about once a year...definitely not as often as we'd all like. Needless to say, it was such fun seeing all the grandchildren playing with each other!
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| Tennyson with his Aunt McKel. This picture is proof McKel was on the trip! She came down with the flu at the beginning of the trip and wasn't able to make it on any of our Zion day trips:( |
Two of several Big-Horned Sheep we saw in Zion!
The kids had a blast exploring and getting dirty in the 'woods' next to the cabin. This kept them occupied for hours!
Eden and Bennett were 'bubble-buddies'.
There was an amazing thunderstorm our first afternoon in Zion. Notice the rainbow behind Eden!
Asher, Jillian and Tennyson geared up for rock-climbing.
Asher almost made it to the top of the rock-climbing wall...he was SO close!
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| Tennyson zip-lining. |
Tennyson and Asher thought zip-lining was pretty cool too.
Tenn and Ash walking back from zip-lining.
Alas, our trip wasn't all fun and games--Conan had to get a splinter out of Asher's hand which Asher did NOT enjoy!
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| L to R: Asher, Conan, Jillian, Tennyson, Jamie and Carter |
Uncle Gavin made a fire one night for everyone and we roasted marshmallows.
Cousins Adeline and Eden.
Our family on our hike to the Emerald Springs.
After our Emerald Springs hike, we waded in the Virgin River to cool off. I think we chose the hottest day of the week to go on our hike.
Back at the ranch, Asher and Tennyson brushed up on their pool skills (making their Grandpa Stillians proud!)
Zion sunset.
Tennyson caught a one-legged grasshopper while waiting to go on a horse ride. That boy LOVES bugs...and spiders! Yuck.
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| Tennyson with his horse, Iowa. |
I was planning on taking Tennyson and my niece Jillian on an hour long horse ride, but I chickened out the night before. I have been on several trail horses over the years, but for some reason, I wasn't up to it. It's odd how you develop fears you never used to have as you get older, and well, lets face it...I'm not a spring chicken anymore! Anyway, my awesome brother-in-law 'manned up' and took the kids for me.
Tennyson, Jillian and Christian
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| Asher with his horse, M&M. |
Asher was able to go on a little horse ride himself. He thought it was pretty cool.
Unlike Asher, Eden was not a fan of M&M. She really wanted to ride M&M, but as soon as we put her on him, she was nervous and wanted down.
That evening Mom and Dad Parke treated us to an outdoor Dutch-Oven cookout on the ranch. Horses pulled us in a wagon to our cookout. Everything was quite scrumptious, especially the peach cobbler. Yum.
Dad, Jillian and Mom enjoying their dutch-oven dinner.
My adorable nephew, Quinn.
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| L to R: Sierra, Asher, Tennyson, Conan and Eden Beginning our hike along The Narrows. |
Hiking the 'Narrows' was my favorite part of the trip. Conan did this hike several times growing up, so he really enjoyed sharing the experience this time with our own kiddos and myself.
Cousins!
Conan with his dad and his brothers, Christian and Gavin.
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| All the Parke cousins! L to R: Quinn, Bennett, Tennyson, Eden, Asher, Carter, Jillian and Adeline |
Before we knew it, our lovely week in Zion had come to a close, and it was time to say goodbye. We had an amazing trip out West visiting all our family. It was time to head home to Boston.
The beautiful cabin we stayed in.
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| The kids with their Grandma and Grandpa Parke. |
Thank you SO much Mom and Dad for an amazing trip! We love you!
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