Month: December 2013

Sand Dune, Moab, Utah

One of the most unexpectedly fun stops on our Moab, Utah trip was the giant Sand Dune across the highway from the entrance to Arches National Park. It looked as if something scooped away the top layer of the hill, leaving the red innards open for all to enjoy.
The giant sand dune kept Big E and his cousins occupied for over two hours, even in the cold. They “ran” up the slope, jumped from rock out cropings, dug, sculpted and threw sand snow balls.

 

From the top of the Sand Dune our truck looked like a matchbox car. The steep slope was even used as a sledding slope, minus the snow of course. I would not have thought to pull off the road to enjoy the sand here, but I’m glad we did, even if I’m still finding the red stuff  in pockets and crevices.

 

Trail Info:
Location: Across the highway from the entrance to Arches National Park. Easiest access is on the southbound side.
Difficulty: Easy
Time:10 min to 3 hours
Tips: Pack some shovels!

 

Sand Flats Recreation Area, Moab, Utah

As an early Christmas present, Mountain Dad got a Polaris RZR 4 1000. I was skeptical of its usefulness, having never been ATVing or off roading before. But both Mountain Dad and I were amazed at how much fun it is to drive! It’s an awesome mix between a sit on top ATV (all terrain vehicle) and a full sized Jeep – with seating in back for the tots.
Since we got the machine at the beginning of the coldest season of the year, we planned to try it out first in a warm, fun climate. We chose Moab, Utah because with Red Rocks everywhere, it had to be warm, right?
Wrong. The high temperature during our three day trip was a whopping forty five degrees. I was lucky that I grabbed my winter coat at the last minute and that last year’s gloves were still in the pockets.

 

 
The first trail we tried out with the RZR was in Sand Flats Recreation Area, the same area of the famed Slickrock Bike Trail. My sister and brother-in-law came along with their kids which was great. Not only did Big E and little g have playmates, but my brother-in-law Jonathan has more than fifteen years experience off-roading in Moab. 
Per his suggestion, we tried out the Fins and Things 4×4 trail off of Sand Flats Road and had a total blast. While the tots were more interested in climbing on Diving Board Rock, Mountain Dad and I climbed rocks of our own.
 

 
The RZR was really fun and I can’t wait to try it out in a little bit warmer weather.
Trail Info:
Location: Sand Flats Recreation Area – less than five minutes from downtown Moab
Difficulty: Intermediate. Some spots had steep, rocky sections
Time: 1.5 hours

 

Opening Weekend 2013, Sundance Mountain Resort, Sundance, Utah

Living in the mountains during this time of year is truly magical. Yes driving in the snow is terrible and I don’t like being cold, just like everybody else BUT snowy winter weather means AWESOME snowboarding. Such was the case this past weekend at Sundance Mountain Resort.

Snow fell from late Friday night, through late Saturday night dumping eighteen inches at a rate of one to two inches per hour. Fat, heavy flakes filled the sky as I enjoyed some of the best snowboarding of my life!

Saturday morning I was giddy with delight as the fresh powder tracks just kept coming. At one point the snow was up to my knees as I sliced through the cloudlike powder like it was butter. I love this sport and I can’t wait to get back on the slopes!

Motherhood Moments: Don’t Touch Me!

When Big E was not quite two we were at the park when I saw a little boy give his mother a dandelion.

“Here mom, this flower is for you,” the boy said.
“Honey, you have to stop picking all the flowers!” the mom said. Not, “thank you, sweetheart,” or “Wow, you’re so thoughtful.”

I was appalled, shocked that a mother could miss the beauty of her son giving her a token of his affection. I judged her. Isn’t motherhood about savoring those special moments?

Three years later, I am that mother.

Big E and little g are quite possibly the most loveable children in existence. First thing in the morning they want nothing more than to snuggle with their mama. Follow that up with holding hands, hugs and kisses, or in Big E’s case running catapult jumps onto my lap, piggie back rides and clutching onto my ankle as I try to walk around the living room. Every minute, every hour, for the rest of the day.

After hours of thoughtful, loving tokens of affection from my children, the constant poking, prodding, touching and caressing feels more like I’m an animal in a petting zoo, on the brink of going rabid. Do you have to grab my arm throughout ALL of dinner? Why did you just put your finger in my ear? No, little g, that is not a nipple it’s a mole, thank you very much.

Now I understand that mom at the park. Perhaps her dandelion came after hours of her son picking every flower in her neighbor’s yard. Maybe her walk to the park was longer than an hour because her son wanted to stop at every single bloom.

I get it now. Maybe when my tots are older and my lonely arms starve for their affection I will miss these days of constant touch. But for now, all I want at the end of the day is to not be used as a pillow, trampoline or mode of transportation. Tots, I love you, but please just don’t touch me.