Soaking Up Some St. George Sun

It was a very last-minute decision, but Jason decided to take some time off work during spring break so our family could head down south for a few days. Maybe the snowy and cold weather we had been experiencing in the weeks previous had us wanting for a bit of sunshine and warmth. It also made for the perfect opportunity to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Gilliland, and explore the unique land features near their home in St. George.

We left around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, made a quick stop at a Wendy's restaurant along the way, and got to Grandma and Grandpa's house in time to get set-up sleeping arrangements. Those arrangements were altered several times as Brevin and Spencer were indecisive about where they wanted to sleep.

Thursday morning we headed to Pioneer Park for some hiking and exploring. We came home for lunch and while I stayed with Garrett as he napped, Jason took the boys swimming for a full three and a half hours. That evening, Grandma and Grandpa were gracious enough to pull together a family barbecue on short notice, and all my siblings from southern Utah made an effort to be there so we could visit with them, too. It happened to be my sister's birthday. How fun it was to celebrate together!

On Friday morning, Grandma treated us to German pancakes. (That breakfast was very well received. German pancakes are now a favorite in our home and have since been requested on several occasions.) Following breakfast, we took a drive through Snow Canyon, making several stops to hike and take pictures. We made an extra effort to hike into the area of the canyon where the deposits of white sands are accumulated. With warm sunshine, bare feet, and smooth, cool sand to play in, it felt as though we were at the beach (sans ocean). Once we returned to Grandma's, we cleaned up, ate some lunch, and packed our things for our return trip to Springville.

We had such a wonderful time on our spontaneous vacation. The weather was perfect, the company was delightful, and I really appreciated the time away from the daily routine of things. This spring break was exactly what I needed to recharge for the months ahead. I think it also gave Grandma and Grandpa a much needed "fill" of their grandchildren, too!

This post authored by Amber