For those of you unfamiliar with central/southern Utah, Panguitch is only a few miles from Bryce National Canyon.
Anyway, we had a great time. We got there Friday about noon and did some hiking by ourselves, waiting for the rest of the group to return from their hikes. The kids swam in the frigid pool (reports from the KOA staff were that the water was a balmy 52 degrees), and I was in charge of some crafts for the whole group while dinner was cooking. I brought the plaster-of-paris animals that we've painted in the past, and they were a huge hit with the 35 kids painting them. The kids also got to decorate some foam visors.
The highlight of the trip was the Saturday hike. Jess, Sean's younger brother, has a book with hikes, biking trails, etc. in that area, and he found a slot canyon that he was interested in hiking. So we all went--Marge & Duane, Melinda & family, Melissa & family, Jess & family (his 3 girls are all 4 & under), and Bethany, who was visiting from Branson with her 6-week old baby boy. Yes, the baby came too.
It was a great hike, down some narrow canyon walls to the space between the two high-sided rock faces on either side. We had to hand the kids down to each other several times. The weather was about 80 degrees, but hiking between those high canyon walls, we were in the shade probably more than half the time. That made it so the kids had no problem with the hike, and had plenty of energy.
Jamison wasn't with us on that hike, because he'd gone fishing to Panguitch Lake with some other cousins. We missed him! He & Sean would've loved it. The whole group decided we've definitely got to do that hike again next time we're down there!
We came home Sunday morning in time for most of church. We had a fun weekend, and Sean had a great experience at Wood Badge as well. It was nice to all be back together again, though. I definitely wouldn't want to be a single mom!
