Couples weekend in Moab

October 4-7th, 2012

About 8 couples got together and planned a trip to Moab to have some fun with some great scenery and lots of rock crawling adventures.  We rented out some condo's, went on lots of different rides in the razors, played cards at night, went out to dinner, and enjoyed the time we had to relax and do whatever we wanted.  When we were not out rock crawling in the razors, Aaron and I wanted to get in all we could of our weekend together so we did some mountain biking and a midnight hike to Corona's Arch.  Here are the details of a great weekend!

MOUNTAIN BIKING:  The first time out we went to a trail which is called slick rock. It has two trails and we ended up doing the practice loop since it was my first time.  It was 3 miles and technical.  I got very discouraged and thought how in the world could anyone enjoy doing this, and it was the easy loop.  It was a lot of up hill climbing, and then had spots where you had to ride through sand.  I felt a little un-easy on the rock and felt like I would slip going down the hills.  Needless to say I ended up having to walk through parts of it and I wasn't sure that I wanted to do it again.  The next day we ended up doing more of a mountain trail and it was a lot better.  It was rocky and had some good hills to climb but I liked being on the dirt trails more than the slick rock.  The trail was 4 miles long and we ended up doing it twice.  I felt more comfortable the second time around all though there was one spot that gave me some trouble.  The first time on it I ended up falling and same with the second time so I tried it a third time and was able to make it.  I came out with some scrapes and bruises but it felt good to accomplish what I did. Aaron is all excited to have us go mountain biking now.  

ROCK CRAWLING:  Aaron did a lot of this before we got married when he had his "scout" so this was right up his alley and he loves the thrill and adventure.  This was my first time ever doing any of this and to be honest I got a little frightened at times.  The first day out Aaron tried climbing a steep rock and luckily I got out when I did because he ended up being straight up and down on the back two tires.  I thought he was going to roll over. After some anxiety through out the trails we always ended up at some amazing views.  It was worth it!!  This is a list of the trails we did and trust me, there is a reason why they are called what they are!

Hell's gate, Metal Masher, Gemini Bridges, Poison spider, The devil's highway hot tub and cliff hanger.

This was the view after the Hell's gate trail

This was the first day when Aaron stood the razor straight up and down.  I wasn't able to grab the camera since it was in the razor so I took a picture of our friend Josh who also attempted it.

Our group:  Us, Mike and Jocie, Blake and Shelly, Mark and Alecia, Brandon and Melody, Paul and Jenny, Brent and Chris, Josh who isn't married but wanted to come still :)

                                                         
                                               ROCK CRAWLING FUN:

 The guys just had to make it up whatever they were crawling, even if they needed a little man power!

This was the start of Hell's gate.  It was a little unnerving being up on slick rock with cliffs on both sides of you.

This was the Hell's gate obstacle, It was one steep crawl and very tough.  I'm proud to say that I ended up doing it with Aaron and it was scary!  The picture is off my brother in law, Mike going up it, we were next in line.

   
This was the view from the top.  Aaron was getting ready to guide our friend up to the top.  

                                                          Blake and Shelly!

                                      Aaron attempting anything he could!

This is the Devil's Highway hot tub. Our crazy friend Josh attempted to get out several times and was not able to do it.  It was fun to watch though even when his cooler fell out and everything in it.  We stuck around and watched a few jeep's that actually made it out.  It was impressive!

It was a fun get away and the four days flew by quickly.  Aaron and I have some good memories from this trip and I hope this will be an annual thing we do.  Next time I'm hoping to get some pictures of the hike we did as well of us mountain biking.  FUN TIMES!!!  

*I'm hoping to get some of our friends pictures emailed to me so I can post those pictures as well.  

MEET AMA :)

WELCOME HOME AMA

Today I got to experience a once in a lifetime moment.  My brother has been going through quite the journey to adopt a little girl from Africa and today they were able to bring her home.  Her name is Ama and she is a sweet fun loving girl who is full of smiles.  We have all been so eager to finally meet and welcome her!!  Here's a bunch of pictures of a moment I will never forget.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the place. It was amazing to experience it and I am so grateful for my brother and sister-in-law who had the desire to give this little girl a wonderful life and the greatest thing ever.....a family!!!!

These first few pics are of us anxiously waiting:

Maddy with the sign they made  

The proud brother and sisters! And dad who was a little overwhelmed he said.

                                                

Those who were there:  Grandparents from both sides, My sister and her two kids, my sister-in-laws niece Kelsey, my brothers good friend Rylan and his family, Rylans parents Rex and Jaime who made this adoption come about.

Who can pass up a picture of these two love bugs :)

THE MOMENT:
Here is sweet little Ama.  I really can't express the emotion that came over me when I actually got to see her.  I have seen pictures but to actually have her officially here was overwhelming.  As soon as she saw my brother and now her daddy, she ran to him and jumped into his arms and gave him a big hug.  It seemed like she has known him a long time. She was just full of smiles and was so cute.  She loved playing with the balloons and was very playful.   

Here is my sweet and patient sister-in-law, Amy.  Her face alone tells ya the emotions that were there (even though the picture isn't the greatest) It was really so surreal.  

AMA! What a doll!! Amazingly she loves the camera and she also loves taking pictures.  She actually grabbed my sisters camera at one time and took a picture...it was really cute.

 Ama had brought back some gifts from Africa for her new brother and sisters.  

                                      The proud grandparents!

 I had to get in a picture too!  I was amazed that with all of us there and with all the camera taking that she didn't get shy or overwhelmed.  She was really just full of smiles!!

This is Rex and Jamie.  She is Rylan's mom who works in Africa in one of the orphanages there.  She fell in love with Ama and wanted this little girl to be adopted.  Long story short they knew of Amy and her desire to adopt and from there everything kind of fell in their lap.  Ama was very excited to see Jaime there and gave her hugs and kisses to.

                                Ama and her new brother and sisters :)

What a moment!  Their first picture as a family!  It can't get better than that!!!! 

Some pics after all the excitement died down a bit to remember this great day!

I am so excited for my brother and their new adopted girl.  I will never forget this experience that I got to be apart of.  I almost didn't go because Sydnee has a pretty good cold but I got a last minute whim and threw a hat on and ended up going.  I am so glad I didn't miss out. Pure LOVE is such a blessing!

Stewart Family Reunion

MOAB, UTAH- SEPT. 20-23RD
Every other year the Stewart's come together for a family reunion.  This year we all met half way in Moab for some hiking, motorbiking, and mountain biking.  The kids rode their bikes around camp, played in the river near by, made crafts (rock launchers, decorative bags for the girls, cereal necklaces, and a little face painting) and of course we enjoying the scenery.  This was some of the adventures that took place.

This is Aaron's cousin Jesse and his little girl Boehe.  They drove all the way from Oregon to be there. Are the 80's back?  LOL!

 Mr. Steve and his boy Ryan.  And a little scenery in the background...I love Moab.

 This is Aaron's Aunt Nancy who lives in Leadville, Co.

 Cute little Ruby!  (Aaron's little niece)

Here is Wyatt and his new buddy for life (seriously) Levi.  These two are just alike and they were inseparable the entire weekend.  I don't think the spider man costumes came off at all :)  It was cute to see them running around camp in them.

This is one of the crafts the kids ended up making.  They were homemade launchers.  Grandma PJ had brought some water balls(not sure what they were called) and the kids had fun launching them EVERYWHERE!

On our way to go hike Tusher Tunnel we stopped at a place off the road in the canyon and filled up our water bottles.  The kids thought it was pretty cool to fill them up with water that came out of the rock :)

TUSHER TUNNEL HIKE:
This was a short and easy hike but very pretty.  The kids loved being able to go through the "dark tunnel" to get to the other side.  We were given this backpack to try from my sister-in-law for Sydnee and she did really well in it (as long as Aaron kept moving)

                                                                 So cute!

 Sydnee is playing peek-a-boo.  You can barely see her!

                                                          Stewart Clan!

On the way back from Tusher Tunnel the kids hopped in the back of the truck for a little ride on the dirt road.

 FACE PAINTING AND CRAFT TIME

 My cute little niece Ella.  She wanted a fish bowl on her face-it turned out really cute.

 Grandpa Todd on his refurbished motorcycle.  We were a little nervous watching him

To end our trip we went for a bike ride as a family.  Sydnee loved being in the snugly and it was fun to rome around Moab.  

 What a great picture!