The End {of summer days}

I told each of my children they could have one day to choose any activity they like this week.  It is our last full week before school starts and I wanted them to really remember it.  We made a list of ideas and they have been having fun so far!  Monday was Logan's day and we went to see How to Train Your Dragon at the movie theater.  There was only a few people there and we really enjoyed it!  Tayla even stayed through the whole movie, a first!  Sorry no pictures of the movies, but you can just imagine me with the five kids each holding popcorn and drinks and treats.  It was fun!

Yesterday was Kolby's choice and we took a little trip to a place I used to love as a teenager, Jump Creek.  I highly recommend it to anyone, it's an easy hike, beautiful canyon and at the end is quite the reward!  We had a fun drive there too.  You go through Marsing which is a beautiful area with fruit orchards and farm lands.  The boys really enjoyed it!  I just followed the directions from the BLM site and we found it without any problems.  It is in the middle of nowhere!!

This is the view when we arrived, from the road. (a dirt road!)

They have a parking area and even a little bathroom, but no water so bring lots!  We started on the trail (which wasn't even too hard for Tayla who is 2)

There were many fun side trails to follow, like this one that led to a big hole in the rocks, you can't really see the kids....

Here's a  close up of the same area.  (Tayla didn't go on this trail, it was a little too steep)

We found a smaller one for her to go in, I love this picture!!

Along the whole trail you have tall rock formations on both sides and a little creek running by.  At one point you cross the creek, and we got our feet wet a little, but it isn't very deep.

At the end of the trail you enter an area with huge rock walls on all sides and amazing formations and my favorite part:

A beautiful waterfall

Seriously these pictures don't even come close to the feeling you have while being there.  You are surrounded by these huge rocks and you look up so high to see the sky.

You just have to go to appreciate it.  And we went on a very hot day, but didn't really notice because we were in the shade of the canyon most of the time and it was all shady when you get to the water fall.  You can even swim there, but I didn't allow it this time.  Maybe when they are a bit older :)

So if you want to take an awesome little trip, go to Jump Creek.  We left around 11:00 and were home by 3:00, and that includes eating lunch in Marsing.   We also only saw two people as we were leaving, so it isn't very crowded.  We had it all to our selves!  The only thing is you have to watch out for poison ivy, which was avoided by all of my kids!

Today is Preston's day, which will be wet wet wet!!!  Beth