2019 Christmas Village - Southeast Utah State Parks Theme

Last winter when Hunter was working as an intern for Senator Mike Lee, 

he was researching National and State Parks in Utah 

in preparation for 

upcoming meetings the Senator had 

that Hunter would be fielding calls and emails about. 

That studying stirred in Hunter 

a desire to visit all the Utah State Parks in 2020. 

He wouldn't be home from DC in time

to help with the village this year 

so we chose the theme in his honor.

"State Parks of Southeast Utah"

became our Christmas Village 2019 theme.

We envisioned Dead Horse Point mesa, 

The San Juan River Goosenecks, 

Goblin Valley hoodoos, 

and Anasazi and Cedar Mesa cliff dwellings. 

Zac put his engineering education to work 

and made our base (not pictured) 

then Paul, Emma and I covered the base 

in slick-rock looking salt dough. 

Family & friends let their creativity flow 

and here are their results.

Gummy people played above and in the water.

Even kayaking the waterfall!

The slot canyon and cave 

beckoned to Alex and Marley's cliff-dwelling exploring gummy guys 

with backpacks and hiking sticks (so cute).

Alex and Marley also took advantage 

of the mesa to park their "adventure car" 

and rappel off the back side.

The backpack and rope are too legit. 

Near the rappelling action, 

Josh built a house complete with a removable roof

and people inside. 

Above the mesa, Alex and Marley 

 contributed parasailers to the village. 

The girl parasailer even has braided hair.  =D

Our littlest village-builders 

(Grant, Hannah & Adam) 

contributed a cave,

hoodoos,

 tootsie roll wrapper blankets & flags,

and a very large ant at the end of the dirt bike trail.

Bikes and 4-wheelers 

were contributed by many village builders. 

Such a fun looking trail!

Joseph made an awesome camp

 on a peninsula in the lake.

Zac made a "van down by the river". 

Backstory here...

he's getting close enough to finishing his Mechanical Engineering degree 

that there is a visible light at the end of the tunnel.

Hoot Hoot!!!!!

In that light sits a future van 

he dreams of adventuring in 

with his bike and climbing gear and friends. 

Go, Zac!!!!

Sarah' houseboat looks like heaven - sign me up!

Emma's teepee was legit 

(as is that gorgeous hair of hers).

Thanks everyone for all the fun,

love you all!