We are home from our long weekend trip to southern Utah
We were visiting Steve's grandparents in Dammeron Valley just north of St. George
They were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary!!! (not to mention it was Father's Day weekend)
The weekend was packed full of hiking, sight seeing, eating, and lots of great family time
We spent all of our time around the amazing areas that surround St. George like
Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National Park
Let's start with the anniversary and Steve's grandparent's place...
Steve and Jesse - Jesse and Anne
Steve and his grandpa Carter Cowley
The view and lot right our their back door...it looks even better in person if you can believe it!
The chandelier at The Gun Barrel where we had dinner
Steve's grandparent's with their surprise cake (don't mind the bbq sauce bottle in the foreground)
Below are the cakes we had back at the house...a chocolate/chocolate and a carrot cake
Day two brought our first day of adventuring...
Phil, Shelley, Anne, Jesse, Grandma Cowley, & Steve
Zion National Park
Anne on the trail
Back row: Steve & Phil
Front row: Shelley, Jesse, The Grands, and Anne
And one with me in front of the camera
Other than great rock formations...we also saw some great wild life
And some not so real wild life...
Next we stopped at Grafton, a wild west ghost town that was both beautiful and chilling
The entire town died out in the early 1900's
Some from natural causes, Indian attacks, floods, and other hazards of living out on the range
(Apparently a 13 year old girl and 14 year old boy died in an accident listed as "swing broke")
Reading the town history and the headstones was so sad
One husband and wife had 5 kids over 10 years - The oldest lived to be 8 years old; 3 died before turning 1
I couldn't imagine living that life...those pioneers where very courageous people!
This couple shared Steve and my wedding date...only 126 years before we were married
On to happier things...
Day three brought more hiking but this time a little closer to home - Snow Canyon
Our "album cover picture" - as Phil called it
The folks album cover picture - love'n the pose guys!
Jesse, Steve and Anne on the edge
Anne and Steve with their guide - Grandpa Cowley
Phil and his kids Anne and Steve - Happy Father's Day Phil
Steve climbing too high
And looking pretty good!
I staid low to the ground with the flowers
Last we stopped at a small artist community at the end of the canyon
And that my friends was the trip!
We saw, climbed, and discovered about 1/3 of what The Grands had to show us (or so they say)
But we feel like we did it all - I guess we'll have to go back up there soon to see what all we missed!
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