Veni Vidi Vici

We are blessed to have some really good friends.  

Unfortunately, some of these really good friends are moving soon.

Fortunately, one of those good friends is very very clever and planned a wonderful trip for us all so we could have a last hurrah before they left! 

(Thanks Kylie!)

So this past weekend, we went to Moab, UT and conquered Arches National Park.  

(We also conquered the most beautiful aspen grove in the La Sal mountains, but I forgot to post pictures of that! Please take my word for it)

We looked at a lot of BIG arches

(fact: they are also sometimes called "windows."  Go figure.)

Nikolai was happy most of the time...

...well, as happy as a six month old baby can be in 95+ degree heat!

 (really, considering the circumstances, he was quite amiable!)

There were some cool rocks.  

I think this one looks like it's a head sticking out its tongue! 

Rocks.

On the the first day of hiking we got rained out, but it was ok because the weather the next day was PERFECT for hiking!

We saw some AWESOME petroglyphs.  

(doesn't it look like the big man is casting a weird spell on the other man's head?  well, that's what it looks like to me.  what does it look like to you?)

And DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS!!!! 

(that's what those white marks are)

There were a lot of other awe-inspiring sights to be seen. 

For instance, life finding a way to live in a barren desert. 

That tree is growing out of a rock, for heaven's sake! 

(As a former easterner, I'm always impressed by how life finds a way to live out here where it is SO DRY. I'm always like "good job, plant! You're growing in a desert! You're great!" Anyways.)

And: The famous Delicate Arch that's featured on the Utah license plate! 

(There's a reason it's on the license plate: it is DANGED AWESOME in person)

Nikolai occasionally got too hot in his frontpack, so we took turns putting him on our shoulders, which it turns out he LOVES. 

But it also turns out that it's a good place from which to eat his daddy's ear! 

NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM.

It was a fun adventure to take as a little family, but an even better adventure to take with the awesome Burgeners! 

Oh hey, for more pictures of our adventure, please check out Kylie's blog!