Zion - Lower Emerald Pool Hike

The kids and I went to Zion today because we needed to get our annual pass before we couldn't use the receipt from last time we went and lets face it, we love it there! The hike was beautiful! There were a lot of people who told me that I was brave for taking two kids by myself...my reply to them was, I am not brave, I am crazy! =)

It wasn't too bad of a hike. There were some ups and downs and I definitely got a work out but it was well worth it!

You never realize just how many funny conversations can be heard at Zion. I have also noticed that people really like to talk! I think I had a conversation with just about every person I ran into. It could have been because I was a crazy woman with two young children, but still it was a lot of fun. Every one had something interesting to say to the kids and I. There were a lot of "Now that's the way to go!"...to the kids of course. They loved to ask the kids if they were having fun. One lady told Braelyn not to be scared of her...she didn't bite. When we stopped to climb one gentleman stopped and took the time to tell Brae what a great job she was doing and that it was a big climb for such a little girl. I had a conversation on the bus ride there with a lady about a device they put in kids mouths that has a bead on it. Of course I can't remember the name now, but I guess the tongue goes to the bead instead of to them sucking their fingers or thumb. I am definitely going to look into it!

Well enough talk...onto pictures!!!

At the beginning of the trail. Brae was really excited to go and all Brody cared about was that he had his

 PB&J

We were greeted with a sign you don't see everyday.

It wasn't too bad on the part of the trail that we went on. =)

We crossed a bridge over the Virgin River

The Virgin River

and onto the trail!

After stopping several times to take random pictures and to let Braelyn go for a ride in the stroller we made it the whole 0.6 miles to the Lower Emerald Pool. =)

A nice gentleman took a picture of all three of us together! My shirt was so dirty from the handle bar of that stroller! That will teach me to wear light colors...

Brae was really excited about the "watee" as she calls it.

It was really neat to watch the water come off the rock!

We were standing there looking up at the water and waiting for the opportune moment to head back out when all of a sudden we got drenched! I guess the wind blew a little bit and it got us good!!!

You can't really tell how wet Brae is, but you can with Brody! It was really funny.

We had to stop and climb on the way back, of course!!

Brody even had his own hiking boots (for $1...I love DI)!

Brae is obsessed with her Teva sandals we got her last year at a huge sale =)

When the kids were done climbing we loaded up and headed back down to Zion Lodge (where the hike starts) There we filled our water bottles with Zion Spring water (which is naturally purified through sandstone...it was so good!). Then we prepared the stroller to be loaded onto the front of the shuttle and it took us back to the visitors center where we had to walk out of the park to our car. There was NO parking left in the park. It is going to be crazy this summer in the park!

A nice lady took a picture of us on the bus. My kids are so dirty and I look funny trying to slouch down to hug Brae. Oh Well at least it's cute!

Looking out the window at the water and anything else they could see. Right after I took this picture Brae stuck her head out the window and got it stuck on the emergency handle. It was pretty funny.

We had a really fun time and we can't wait to do it again, just like always! We really enjoy Zion and maybe Matt will be able to come with us someday =)