We had such a great time last March when we took our little road trip to Kanab for Tabi's wedding that we decided to do it again, sort of. We got the car loaded up and headed out on Thursday morning. Our first stop was at the beautifully snowy white historic "Cove Fort." It was so beautiful, I have to say. I am not usually a snow person, in fact I hate it, but the sun was shining and the snow was glistening and it was just beautiful.
Cove Fort was originally build back in the 1800's by the Hinckley family as sort of a rest stop for weary travelers. It is an actual fort with 12 rooms. We got to tour each room. Our tour guides were the full time missionaries who serve there. I asked how many missionaries are usually there. They said in the summer there are 29 couples, but right now for the winter there are 8 full time couples. They give tours of Cove Fort 363 days a year (they are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas).
When you first arrive there, you get to watch a 14 minute video in the old Hinckley family cabin, which was originally in Coleville, but then transferred down. The spirit there is incredible.
This is the courtyard of the fort. There are 6 rooms on one side, and 6 on the other.
This is the room that where they would prepare and serve the meals. They said that sister Hinckley (who was president Gordon B. Hinckley's grandmother) liked things to be beautiful so she always set the tables nicely.
Our little family
This is called a weasel. It was used to spin the yarn. They would spin it 30 times and then it would making a popping noise. That is where the song "Pop goes the weasel" comes from.(you learn something new everyday)
This is the outside/front entrance to the fort.
Our next stop was in Beaver for lunch, then on down the highway to Bryce Canyon. You know, for as many years as I have lived in Utah, I am still amazed that there are places that I have never been. Bryce Canyon is one of those places. I have always wanted to go, but never managed to get there so it's been a long time coming.When you first get to Bryce Canyon there is a visitor center, where you get to watch a short video about the Canyon. Then they give you a map and you get in your car and go to the lookout points that you want to see. We originally planned on just visiting a couple of the main ones, but we missed the turnoff to Bryce Point, so we ended up at the very top of Bryce Canyon at Rainbow Point.
They tell me Bryce Canyon is not that warm even during the summer, so when we got there it was especially cold. It snowed all day on Wednesday, so even though Thursday was mostly sunny, the high for the day at Bryce was only 30, plus up at the top the wind was blowing which brought the wind chill factor, so the temperature was around 0. Yes I did say zero. It was freezing. But soooo beautiful. We would drive to each lookout point, bundle up, run out, look, take pictures for as long as we could stand it, then run back to the car and head to the next lookout point. I had borrowed a baby carrier from a friend, so I just kept Lucas in it, and sat him on my lap in the front seat. Good thing you don't drive very fast and we didn't see any police officers in Bryce Canyon! :>)
One of the animals that are all over the place in Bryce Canyon are ravens. They say there are one of the smartest birds, but these two didn't look that smart to me. They sat on this fence, and people were coming within a foot of them to take pictures and they didn't move. At one point a (dumb) lady walked by and tried to grab one and about fell on her face when it spread it's wings. It didn't fly away though, it just hopped a little bit further down the fence. These birds are much bigger than they look. They stood about a foot high. 
The rock formations there were just amazing. We were all so awe struck.
This is the Natural Bridge.
On the way from Bryce Canyon you have to pass through Red Canyon. It was awesome to see as well. There is this bridge that goes over the road (it is man made as opposed to the "Natural Bridge" in Bryce Canyon.) The rocks were especially brilliant because they were wet with snow.
After a long day of sight seeing we headed on down to Kanab to stay in our favorite place "The Holiday Inn Express." We always get a suite, because we have to have a microwave. This was our room. It's the same style of room we had for Tabi's wedding. I love the decor.
The couch folds out into a bed as well, but we didn't use it.
Jared's favorite part of the room was the big flatscreen tv.
After we got to Kanab and got checked in we got dinner, at McDonalds. (I know, that's not normal for us, but it was fast and cheap and the kids just wanted to eat so they could go swimming). So after a fast dinner we went swimming in the indoor pool. Actually Jared and the kids went swimming and I sat in the hot tub. If you know me then you know I hate to be cold, and I'm not a big fan of swimming, unless it is the middle of the summer and it is 100 degrees outside, so the hot tub was about all I could handle Luckily the kids had a great time, and Jared is a good sport.
Lucas actually loved the water, which is much different that when we took him swimming over the summer. I think he is finally getting used to it. He had a great time just splashing around.
After swimming we went to bed, then we got up and enjoyed a nice breakfast (which is another reason we stay at Holiday Inn) and then we decided to go swimming again. After swimming we got ready for the day, checked out of our hotel and headed to St. George. We took the Arizona route from Kanab to Fredonia Arizona and Colorado City Arizona, then into Hurricane, UT where my sister Tabi and her husband have their new house. We got to Hurricane at about noon.
They tell me Bryce Canyon is not that warm even during the summer, so when we got there it was especially cold. It snowed all day on Wednesday, so even though Thursday was mostly sunny, the high for the day at Bryce was only 30, plus up at the top the wind was blowing which brought the wind chill factor, so the temperature was around 0. Yes I did say zero. It was freezing. But soooo beautiful. We would drive to each lookout point, bundle up, run out, look, take pictures for as long as we could stand it, then run back to the car and head to the next lookout point. I had borrowed a baby carrier from a friend, so I just kept Lucas in it, and sat him on my lap in the front seat. Good thing you don't drive very fast and we didn't see any police officers in Bryce Canyon! :>)
One of the animals that are all over the place in Bryce Canyon are ravens. They say there are one of the smartest birds, but these two didn't look that smart to me. They sat on this fence, and people were coming within a foot of them to take pictures and they didn't move. At one point a (dumb) lady walked by and tried to grab one and about fell on her face when it spread it's wings. It didn't fly away though, it just hopped a little bit further down the fence. These birds are much bigger than they look. They stood about a foot high. 
The rock formations there were just amazing. We were all so awe struck.
This is the Natural Bridge.
On the way from Bryce Canyon you have to pass through Red Canyon. It was awesome to see as well. There is this bridge that goes over the road (it is man made as opposed to the "Natural Bridge" in Bryce Canyon.) The rocks were especially brilliant because they were wet with snow.
After a long day of sight seeing we headed on down to Kanab to stay in our favorite place "The Holiday Inn Express." We always get a suite, because we have to have a microwave. This was our room. It's the same style of room we had for Tabi's wedding. I love the decor.
The couch folds out into a bed as well, but we didn't use it.Jared's favorite part of the room was the big flatscreen tv.
After we got to Kanab and got checked in we got dinner, at McDonalds. (I know, that's not normal for us, but it was fast and cheap and the kids just wanted to eat so they could go swimming). So after a fast dinner we went swimming in the indoor pool. Actually Jared and the kids went swimming and I sat in the hot tub. If you know me then you know I hate to be cold, and I'm not a big fan of swimming, unless it is the middle of the summer and it is 100 degrees outside, so the hot tub was about all I could handle Luckily the kids had a great time, and Jared is a good sport.
Lucas actually loved the water, which is much different that when we took him swimming over the summer. I think he is finally getting used to it. He had a great time just splashing around.
After swimming we went to bed, then we got up and enjoyed a nice breakfast (which is another reason we stay at Holiday Inn) and then we decided to go swimming again. After swimming we got ready for the day, checked out of our hotel and headed to St. George. We took the Arizona route from Kanab to Fredonia Arizona and Colorado City Arizona, then into Hurricane, UT where my sister Tabi and her husband have their new house. We got to Hurricane at about noon.We ate lunch and just hung out at Tabi's house for a little while. Then we went into St. George to visit some friends that we haven't seen in a while. After that we met everyone over at my other sister (Hannah) and her husband Bryce's house and got ready. Mary and Trinity were down there for the weekend as well. We dropped Lucas off at Bryce's brothers house so they could watch him and we went to Tuachan because we had so much fun last time. This time we saw "Thriller" and it was sooooo awesome. We just might have to come again next year.
Trinity, Jared & Paige
When you go to Tuachan in the summer it is way too hot, but this time of year is a little cooler and so by the middle of the show we needed our blankets. But is was not too cold, just comfortably cool.
Kole, Jared, Bryce, James
Before the show started and during intermission, the "Zombies" where walking around. This one happened to sit next to Tabi so she snapped a picture. Trinity was freaking out because she was scared. Paige and MaKady thought it was hilarious.
Zombie & MaKady
Hannah and Lucas. Saturday was filled with Halloween fun. Our family loves to cook, so when we get together that is what we do best. Mary, Tabitha, and Hannah had all the meals and treats planned, this time I didn't end up doing anything (which is unusual for me because I am a control freak so I'm usually in charge), but they had it planned so it was great. For breakfast we had ableskivers you can find the recipe here. Actually it was more like lunch, because we didn't eat lunch until 11:00, then we had an early dinner. Then for dinner Hannah made yummy Southwestern chicken soup and you can find that recipe here.
Mary and Tabi cooking!!! Love their makeup (thank you, I did it myself)!!
MaKady - Alice from Twilight
Happy First Halloween!!!
Bryce, Hannah, MaKady, Tabi, Paige & Trin
Trinity, Jared & Paige
When you go to Tuachan in the summer it is way too hot, but this time of year is a little cooler and so by the middle of the show we needed our blankets. But is was not too cold, just comfortably cool.
Kole, Jared, Bryce, JamesTabi, MaKady, Donna, Hannah, Mary
Paige, & Trinity
Before the show started and during intermission, the "Zombies" where walking around. This one happened to sit next to Tabi so she snapped a picture. Trinity was freaking out because she was scared. Paige and MaKady thought it was hilarious.
Zombie & MaKady
Hannah and Lucas. Saturday was filled with Halloween fun. Our family loves to cook, so when we get together that is what we do best. Mary, Tabitha, and Hannah had all the meals and treats planned, this time I didn't end up doing anything (which is unusual for me because I am a control freak so I'm usually in charge), but they had it planned so it was great. For breakfast we had ableskivers you can find the recipe here. Actually it was more like lunch, because we didn't eat lunch until 11:00, then we had an early dinner. Then for dinner Hannah made yummy Southwestern chicken soup and you can find that recipe here.
Mary and Tabi cooking!!! Love their makeup (thank you, I did it myself)!!
MaKady - Alice from TwilightTrinity - Daphne from Scooby Doo
Paige - Ariel from Little Mermaid
Lucas - Cow
Happy First Halloween!!!
Bryce, Hannah, MaKady, Tabi, Paige & Trin Tabi's & Kole's new ward had a trunk or treat, which was so great. Thank goodness I have a couple of sisters who like Halloween and were willing to take the girls out to Trunk or Treat, and then trick or treating after. It really was a nice break.
Check out Paige's loot!!
Kole (our everyday Hero, he's in the National Guard) and my beautiful sister Tabi
MaKady & Paige, and our magic whiches broo (soda pop & dry ice)
Trinity getting her apple!!
Good Job MaKady!!
Carving Pumpkins
The girls loved pulling the guts out of the pumpkins.
Please don't look at how dirty the bottom of my feet are, I had been running around outside.
Lucas loved sitting in this giant bowl.
Paige was the last one to get her apple, but she finally did it.
Check out Paige's loot!!
Kole (our everyday Hero, he's in the National Guard) and my beautiful sister Tabi
MaKady & Paige, and our magic whiches broo (soda pop & dry ice)
Trinity getting her apple!!
Good Job MaKady!!
Carving Pumpkins
The girls loved pulling the guts out of the pumpkins.
Please don't look at how dirty the bottom of my feet are, I had been running around outside.
Lucas loved sitting in this giant bowl.
Paige was the last one to get her apple, but she finally did it.We decided since we were together that we would take some "sister" pictures, because it's something we haven't done in a long time. It was just the younger sister, we are missing the 4 older ones, but it is almost impossible for us to all be together at the same time. 
Charlie's Angels Pose
Our Captain Morgan pose. I have no idea why we thought it would be a good idea to do this one, but it was so much fun. We all had such a hard time standing on one leg, we laughed the whole time because it was fun to be silly.
Hannah, Donna, Tabitha, & Mary
You know your getting old when you can't even jump a foot off the ground!! HaHa. This is another one of those pictures that we "thought" was a good idea. Maybe not so much, but atleast our kids will have something to look back at and laugh.
The End!!!
That about wraps up our trip. We had a fabulous time. I can't wait until next time.
Charlie's Angels Pose
Our Captain Morgan pose. I have no idea why we thought it would be a good idea to do this one, but it was so much fun. We all had such a hard time standing on one leg, we laughed the whole time because it was fun to be silly.
Hannah, Donna, Tabitha, & Mary
You know your getting old when you can't even jump a foot off the ground!! HaHa. This is another one of those pictures that we "thought" was a good idea. Maybe not so much, but atleast our kids will have something to look back at and laugh.
The End!!!
That about wraps up our trip. We had a fabulous time. I can't wait until next time. 
6 comments:
Looks like it was a fun trip! I'll have to check out Thriller at Tuacahn sometime. We went to it at Kingsbury hall...the zombies walking around freaked me out! MaKady makes an awesome Alice!! Your kids costumes are all cute. And you and your sisters are all SO beautiful =)
It was such a fun weekend!! I loved having everyone here:) I miss ya already sista! Love ya!
How can you stay so skinny. I swear I way a ton after having four kids. You are so no fair.
So much fun! How is it that you look gorgeous ALL. THE. TIME. No fair!
LOL so cute.. love the pics! Looks like you had alot of fun on your family vacay-time.
Oh my heck looks like you guys had sooo much fun! What a great idea for a vacation!
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