The Wilkinsons: just the 2 of us

Now that busy season is over and Aaron has finally taken the 4th and final section of the CPA exam (crossing our fingers that he passed!), we're learning to spend time together again. It's strange. I really feel like I've seen him, but hardly spent any time with him since Van was born. For the longest time I didn't even look forward to him getting home from work (I know this sounds terrible), but he'd just have to eat quick and go back to studying. I think this was mostly out of self protection - it's easier to not care at all than to really miss someone you can't have (until he's done with the stupid test and busy season). At least for me it is.

But let me tell you, I feel like we're actually MARRIED again. And not just on paper. I'm so excited when he gets home. We're really just enjoying each others' company in a way we haven't been able to in a long time. It's been awesome.

We celebrated this new stage by going to Escalante to hike Coyote Gulch - just the two of us. Thanks, Rusts, for watching our kiddies so we could go! It was a great trip and so fun to just be together.

and we embark...

me trying to get the scenery... i love this type of hiking. it looks drab, boring and deserty.... and then you descend.

so we got talking about our childrens' college educations on the way in, followed misguided footprints and got lost. but lost led us to this AMAZING view - way above and beyond any view we were supposed to see on the intended route. way worth the 1 hour detour.

finally found our way to the one and only entrance into the canyon - this 18 inch crack in the rock.

then down the big sandy hill with the huge hopping black beetles. scary.

aaron likes to feel safe when we're in the great outdoors. joke. he found this huge knife with a CTR ring tied to it. we tried to track down the scout that lost it for the rest of the trip. no luck. so now we have a huge knife.

"the black lagoon" - well worth the side trip up a semi-hidden side canyon to this giant deep pool of water. this is how scared i was to jump in. i thought i was so tough since I'd swam in the ocean just a few weeks before. it couldn't be colder than that, right? oh, it was. i shook for an hour after, even wearing my down jacket. and i only stayed in for 3 minutes.

finally made it out of the canyon - the hiked the longest 2 miles of my life uphill over the slick rock, then across the deep sand to our car. not the highlight. :)

the official breakfast chef the 2nd morning at our campsite in escalante. i have a smug look on my face because i'm trying to pretend i know how to use the camping stove. ha. i do now. apparently aaron always does that part. its only fair, right? i cook all the time at home. :)

when we got back we took the kids climbing to Momentum in Sandy. so fun. I try not to be biased since I'm their mom, but our kids are stellar little climbers. Genetically bred that way, I guess. :)

this kid hangs on EVERYTHING. at least here he's supposed to.

We also helped with lots of wedding prep for Chelsey and Taylor's wedding reception on Saturday. Mom pulled off the most GORGEOUS back yard reception I've ever been to. It was amazing!