Aronson Family Vacation 2011

Brandon and I had many discussions about where to go on vacation this year. We agreed that it would just be the four of us and that we didn't want to go somewhere with warmer temperatures than Herriman. So I suggested Bryce Canyon because even though it's further south, it's a higher elevation so it would be cooler. Brandon wanted to go on an ATV vacation. So we split the difference and spent the first part in Marysvale Utah, then headed down to Bryce.

(This vacation also checked off another item on our 'We are crappy Utahans because we never visit any of the places our state is famous for' list)

We stayed in a cabin just off Highway 89. Let me explain a few things about this cabin and I. Even though it was just as the website explained it, I still was in denial once I arrived. I didn't think I was a picky princess kind of traveler, but I apparently am. The cabin was an actual cabin, and although it had all the modern amenities of home, it also had walls with cracks, mosquitoes who loved me, and dirty floors. I will admit it freaked me out. What also freaked me out was the group of nomads who were staying at the cabin next to us. Every few minutes another tent would be set up in the yard. The tents kept appearing closer and closer to us. That cabin was huge and slept like 10 people, but their group was so large that they had to also sleep in tents. Many, many tents.
The cabin did have its good points. It was right next to the Sevier River so the boys could practice fishing.



They didn't catch anything, but neither did anyone else who tried so they didn't feel bad.

The boys played games

Jake looks so super cute in this painted tub.

Blanket had a good time on vacation.

We had a better time the second night. River rafting was so much fun. We went with a guide named Captain Don from ARK, just across the street from our cabin. He was just as much fun as the rafting. He's a God loving man. He quoted the Old Testament, and sang his praises to God while he told us about the river. Jake completely loved him. He was a good audience to Don's musings. I highly recommend it. (no pictures of this though, too scared to use the pricey camera near water)

We used the charcoal grill to make killer hamburgers. We lit a campfire and introduced the boys to lighting things aflame. Our intention was to introduce them to S'mores, but flaming marshmallows were too much fun to eat apparently.

(I like charred marshmallows though so I made myself sick by eating most of them)

Hayden added roasted hot dogs to the list of 9 things he'll eat

I'm not shy about my love of S'mores. Here I am clutching the bag of marshmallows, worried they'd take them away from me.

The lack of Internet, cell service, clean floors and dishwasher started to get to Hayden and I.
We also had an incident. Well, Brandon had one. I have lovely parents who allowed us to borrow their car so we could tow a couple of ATVs from an equally lovely co-worker of Brandon's. Our first night there, in front of the nomads at the next cabin, Brandon gave one of the ATVs too much gas as he was driving back up onto the trailer, causing it to fly over the opposite side of said trailer. It flipped over, still running onto Brandon on the gravel.

He's sporting his minor injury below.

He wasn't hurt badly, but my nerves were shot. Those ATVs scared the crap out of me the rest of our trip. All I thought about was watching that machine flip over onto my husband. So, because he is a good man, and because he loves his ungrateful chicken wife and kids, Brandon let us spend our last night at the cabin at a Marriott in Richfield instead.

Here is the lovely king size bed with my beloved Marriott pillows. Everything there was gorgeous and up to my previously unknown picky princess standards. Go free breakfast!

Here is Jake 'calling' Grandma for the 40Th time, asking if he can come to her house. His next vacation will be to her house since it was all he talked about.

....part two of vacation coming soon.....