We just returned from a fun week of camping and hiking in Capitol Reef National Park and Goblin Valley State Park. 
Charlie loved sleeping in a tent and playing in dirt all day. He was a little trooper on all of our hikes walking a mile or two on each hike. Quite impressive for such a little guy! Charlie liked chasing lizards in Capitol Reef but I think he liked Goblin Valley the best since he could climb all over everything since there weren't trails. When we're hiking we make him stay on the trail (not like those idiots who let their kids run all over the place destroying the wildlife - if you're one of those people you should be ashamed). Now whenever we remind him to stay on the trail he says, "baby animals. hurt." meaning that he'll hurt the baby animals if he goes off the trail. So cute!
Our favorite surprise was hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon near Goblin Valley. I'd never heard of it before and just hiked it on a whim. It was BEAUTIFUL and and easy hike to boot. Apparently it's the #2 rated slot canyon in the U.S. So glad we discovered it!
On our very first hike in Capitol Reef we got caught in a little thunderstorm - luckily we didn't see lightening! Charlie was pretty freaked out by the thunder. For the rest of the week every time he would hear a loud noise (like an airplane or a big truck) he would say "boom boom. hiking. scared." I'm sad that he was scared but I'm so happy he can express how he's feeling and that his memory is getting so good. What a sweet little guy!
We had a great week and it was fun for Charlie to experience camping for the first time. But it's sure nice to get home and sleep in a bed again! :)
