Another one of our fun activities we’ve done recently is head up to Payson Canyon with our friends the Johnson’s to hike to the Grotto. Shauntai and I were roommates in college and have been close friends ever since and always have such a blast when we are together. Our kids are all similar ages too, so it works out really well. I also love how FUN and POSITIVE Shauntai is all the time. Just as an example the moment we arrived at the Grotto she cranked the music in her car, rolled down the windows and started lip syncing and dancing in her big ol’ truck! Love her! Then to join the fun, we too cranked our music and got out of the car and had a dance party right then and there! Needless to say Shauntai and I had all our kids giggling and laughing at us! ha ha!
UNFORTUNATELY I had left my good camera at home, so all of the below pictures are from my not so awesome camera phone. But they capture the fun time we had, so I am most grateful for them! Enjoy!
These two had the best time together!
Love this shot of Brylee and Ady! They stuck together like paper and glue and had a blast together!
My sugar dumplin raspberry toast nugget! Love her!
Right before we got to the Grotto, we decided to explore a new path, and hiked up to the top of the waterfall. The kids and I had never gone all the way to the top because we usually wear flip flops on this trail, (knowing there is a great waterfall to play in at the end), but this time we had all wore good hiking shoes so we thought it would be fun to try something new. The path up was super steep but those kids of ours were like little mountain goats and climbed everything with ease! It helped too that the older kids were very considerate and helpful with the littles too! Branson and Brylie really went above and beyond to make sure everyone arrived safely. Thanks guys!
The view of the waterfall from above!
The steep hike up.
Then we hit some even rougher terrain that required either rock climbing down (the path to the right) or sliding down on your bum the whole way (the path to the left). Most of us chose the bum sliding path!
Here the kids are playing at the top of the waterfall.
This picture turned out super bright, but I am actually looking down the waterfall to the area below where we normally play.
Ady right by the mouth of the waterfall.
The kids had fun taking their shoes off and playing in the water for awhile, and then we had some crackers and trail mix before heading back the way we had come to finish our hike at the Grotto.
Branson of course kept with tradition and did his Indian paintings on his chest!
He loves doing this each year!
Harry was nice enough to take some pictures of us at the top of the hill before descending down to the waterfall.
When we reached the bottom the place was packed and had 2 or 3 other families also enjoying the waterfall. So we just played around in the water for awhile and had some more snacks (grapes).
Ady thought the water was a little chilly so she hung out in the sun on a rock most of the time!
Brans decided hand prints on his chest weren’t enough and instead went for some full body art!
Dawson ended up disappearing at one point while we were at the waterfall and worried his Mom sick when he went on a hike by himself solo. Our rule is that you have to stay where I can see you. He ended up climbing up a super steep hill nearby and claimed he could see me the whole time, but I certainly couldn’t see him! But eventually we found him and he came down to join us.
More of Branson’s creativity! Here he is using Dawsons hands (that are covered in mud) to turn himself into a fox!
He called this one “The eye of the Tiger!” ha ha.
After our hike we headed back to our house where Shauntai and I whipped up some PB&J sandwiches for lunch with strawberries, apples, carrots, and celery. We took our party outside on a blanket and let the kids loose to play in the yard. Sure was a wonderful outing spent with wonderful friends. Thanks so much for coming with us guys! We love you!