Wind Caves Hike

One Monday night mid-summer, we decided to hike the Wind Caves for Family Home Evening.  Of course, we had to wait till Chloe was done with gymnastics and then we had to have dinner and get out the door.  Oh, and, of course, we had to DRIVE to the trail head.  By the time we started our hike, it was around 7:00 pm.  Not ideal...but look at that sky!  Worth it.  The kids were a-mazing on the way up.  Chloe practically ran the entire way and was the first one up.  Cannon was a trooper, walking the entire way.  Lily and Brigham were equally incredible.  It was a happy hike up and I was patting myself on the back for my insistence that we take the hike even though it was late.

Can you see where this narrative is leading?  haha...

My troop.  Hi, Charlie!

The Bridge.

How darling is Cannon with his hiking pack?  

Sweet, beautiful Lily.  I love that she's wearing a headband.  

I actually have a couple of pictures where Henry is looking, but they were unflattering.  Selfish much?

Inside the caves.  We had a little lesson up above the caves.  Stanton sang "How Great Thou Art" to the kids and it was so special.

Now...the rest of the story.  We all headed down the mountain - happy go lucky and feeling great about life.  Chloe started running and made it halfway down the trail before Brigham got ahead of himself and ran right into her, knocking her down.  In true Chloe fashion (she doesn't break easily, but when she does...watch out), she completely flipped out, hyperventilated, thought she was dying, and all in all made it an absolutely miserable rest of the hike.  That is, until Cannon fell and had a melt-down.  Then she realized she was okay and held it together.  Cannon made it down with Stanton carrying him the last part of the way and promptly fell asleep in the Jeep on the ride home.  

There were definitely some eye-rolls and heavy sighs between Stanton and I.  Nearly 10:00 is not the ideal time for finishing a hike.  But darn it, it was fun!  And such a great experience.  And I love that hike.  It's my happy place.  And...it was worth it if only to have this adorable picture of Cannon - filthy, hammered, and holding on to his hiking stick.  Ugh.  Love it.