Summer Trip: July 28, Day 9

After getting Miranda settled with Grandma (after hearing her not-so-happy attitude about hiking one paved mile around Devil's Tower, I really didn't want to hear or carry her for nearly 5 miles!), we took Andrew, Ella, Annie, Zoë, Megan, and Veronica with Grandpa, Amy, Travis and myself to hike Stewart Falls.

I was SUPER impressed with how well the kids did! They hiked the whole way there, avoiding stinging nettles, spotting butterflies, and playing in the water without getting wet. They were hot and tired on the way home, but they really didn't complain! Special Kudos to Travis and Grandpa and Amy who carried kids on their shoulders/back for the entire hike. Wow!

To see Amy's pictures of our hike, click here.

Grandpa and Ella were together the entire way up. She walked most of it, but with the stinging nettles, she was carried through some of it, too.



Zoë sporting the hat Grandpa let her wear on the hike. She kept up with everybody and was awesome!



Megan did really well on the hike, too. She kept up, loved walking with her cousin, Andrew.




Nica rode the entire way up. On Travis' shoulders, his back, his arms. On the way back I carried her briefly, but decided I'd rather take the non-wiggly backpack so Travis and I switched.


Annie just woke up when I took this shot. She'd fallen asleep for a little while (maybe 20 minutes) on the hike up. She cried the whole way down (poor baby!), but fell asleep just as Grandpa got to the parking lot.



More Giant Dandylions! Andrew had fun blowing the seeds (one of the few times he held still long enough for me to actually capture his image!)




Nica fell asleep on the trip up. Such pure trust and comfort in a father's arms.



I LOVE the mountains! I miss them sooooo much. I am so grateful for the beauty the Lord gave us on this earth. And, even more grateful for my family that he let me have here.



Water break! We were about 3/4 of the way there when we paused in the shade before the final rocky descent to the falls.



Ella lovin' the camelpack, and her Grandpa!



Mmmmm, refreshing water.




Annie did enjoy being carried and I loved I was able to capture her adorable smile here.




AMAZING! This picture can't do justice. There was a breeze that blew the spray into us, and the water was cool and so refreshing just to be near (nope, nobody drank it). We walked around and splashed in the stream and munched on snacks.




See? She fell asleep just as he reached the parking lot.



Out cold.



Andrew helping to carry Ella the last few feet to the van. Amy carried her most of the way. Andrew was so hot and tired, he had a hard time on the way back. But he was a total TROUPER! and did amazingly well moving with his own two feet.




What a handsome man!







Miranda helped Grandma pick out toys for all of us cousins who went hiking. She picked out little frogs for Annie, but Ella (and 'Nica) loved playing with them, too.



Waiting for our Iceburg Shakes.





After shakes, we went swimming again at Becky's pool. Andrew and Ella were able to swim by themselves. Miranda was getting brave enough to jump in and swim back to the edge. Megan and Zoë were off swimming, jumping, diving, splashing all over the pool on their own.




Grandma helping Ella back float.




See? 'Nica loved the frogs, too!



Zoë's twist-dive. (The splash in front of Amy is Ella jumping in).



Ella diving/jumping to her mom.



Megan's entry dive into the deep end.



Zoë's uplift dive into the deep end.



Miranda wasn't to be outdone, and she jumped in to her dad (who was carrying Veronica, too).




More splashing and playing with Ella and Grandma.




Amy and Andrew squirting others in the pool.




Cute Cousins wrapped up in their towels, sad to be leaving the pool.




Wrapped in towel saris and headed home.