Spring Break-St George style

So, after what seemed like the craziest, most busy week ever in the life-of-Sarah....I woke up early the morning after Easter, packed speedy quick and headed south to St. George with Lilian, Rebekah and two of Rebekah's pals (Shannon and Patricia) in tow. We drove the 5-hour journey also speedy quick. Which I suppose means that really the drive likely took less than 5 hours. All this hurry, hurry, hurry so we could sit down, take it slow, and get that hurry out of our system for a few days in the sun.

Neither Shannon nor Patricia had ever been to St. George before so we enjoyed showing off the red-rocked beauty of southern Utah. Not that I'm a native myself, my visits only starting just within the past 10 years or so. And because St. George makes for a great Spring Break retreat, apparently half of the students from their high school were also down south. Which meant that within a few hours of arrival, the three girls had been asked out on a triple date. Some other friends, twin brothers, were visiting their grandparents in the very same subdivision where we were staying and we saw them every day. It was a teenager trip, Lilian and I were just along for the ride...playing the roles of designated photographer, taxi driver and bank.

But relax we did. And even if we spent our days somewhat on the go, it was a different kind of go which made it happy and welcome.

I have a feeling that we were probably not supposed to touch the tortoise, let alone actually pick it up. I believe they are protected in Snow Canyon. I'm afraid we let our excitement of actually finding one run away with us....

Apparently no visit to the dunes is complete without having buried yourself in the sand...

    

Lilian clambered all over those lava rocks like a mountain goat, giving me fits of panic as I imagined her tripping or losing her balance. Those lava rocks are ridiculously sharp and I could only too easily imagine a trip to the ER for stitches. But when I voiced my concern she calmly replied, "It's okay, Mom. I'm made for climbing." Well I guess that makes it all okay, then?

We hadn't originally intended to hike in Snow Canyon, just visit the sand dunes. But the weather was nice and the landscape seemed to be calling us so, despite the fact that our footwear was not ideal for hiking, we took the Butterfly Trail and explored some petrified sand dunes and lava tubes. I have to admit, I was pleased to discover that those $5 Old Navy flip flops gripped the rock quite well....

 God's handiwork is pretty darn impressive, is it not? The landscape and the girls... 

Isn't it interesting that the teenagers enjoyed chalking just as much, if not more, than the 5-year old? Although I have to say, Lilian looks like she has them beat hands down when it comes to ice cream joy.

Pool time. Every single day. 

Why does it seem each time I hike the crack it feels tighter? Some potential proof...I came out the end with a hole in my t-shirt from skinnying past the rock. That's never happened before. I suppose an easy explanation would be that maybe I am gaining weight? But Rebekah said she feels like things are tighter in there too. Maybe it's just a claustrophobic mind thing....