Flagstaff

After a busy summer, we finally got the trailer out again for one of the final camping trips of the year. It's hard to believe we hadn't been camping since May! We went for a lazy camp this time at a campground in Flagstaff, where it was actually very cold! And that is not a complaint. It was incredibly refreshing.

The campground had an off-leash dog run, a great playground and, of course, a jumping pillow. Because what campsite doesn't have an enormous jumpy thing? So that goes without saying. Also, the people in our spot hadn't checked out when we got there, so we were upgraded to a spot that backed up to the forest with its own little patio area. We were pleased with our accommodations, for sure.

Besides playing around at camp, we took a field trip to get donuts at The Fractured Prune. Gavin was able to watch the donuts go in the fryer and come down the conveyor belt, and as a kid enamored with factories and machines, that was a real treat. As a total sugar junkie, eating the actual donut was probably an even better treat for him. From there, we headed to Snowbowl to take a ride to the top. It was COLD! The chairlift was a half hour each way, and I rode with Gavin, who was happy and asked questions the whole time. Dylan got Graham who threw a fit and had to be restrained in order to keep from falling out of the chair. I definitely fared better with that one. We told Gavin that the mountain was once a volcano, and he was so excited to tell everyone that he took a chairlift to the top of a volcano!

Bedhead and donuts

The jumping pillow!

Jumping with the world's best dad.

I had to take a few selfies to make sure it was documented that I was actually on this trip.

Our private patio

Oh, my boys.

Casual snack time.

Don't forget the s'mores!

Crawling up to Daddy's bunk.

Dino greetings.

Watching the "donut factory."

Chairlift to the top of Snowbowl.

They made it!

Playing Connect 4 down at the bottom.

Getting G2 on two wheels...

Playing with beach toys.

We had so much fun with this rocking bench.

At night, we attempted take-out from Oregano's. But if you've ever called Oregano's for take-out on a Saturday night, you can imagine how that went. We don't eat at 8:30pm, so we went with Grimaldi's as a strong Plan B. Not only did we not have to pack our own water and electricity or make plans for dumping the gray and black water tanks at the end, but we also didn't do much food prep. I literally bought one steak with the intent to eat it on the trip, and everything else was just whatever was already in our fridge. It made things so easy, and we didn't suffer from the lack of prep one bit. 

The trip went off without a hitch, and we had such a nice time, just the four of us. We don't often have dumb luck fall in our laps, but when it comes to camping, we always seem to head home thinking, Wow, that was a really great trip. We are almost always in a great spot, and we just love it so much. Hopefully I didn't jinx our luck by bringing that up...but I don't think that's how life and luck really work, anyway, so I won't stress about it. We are hoping to squeeze in one more trip before the end of the year, and as the weather cools down, maybe we'll be able to go somewhere not too far away!

Photo Gems and Other Updates

I uncovered a few more camping photos from other people that were just too good not to share, even after a very lengthy stream of photos that have already been posted from our trip.

If you're wondering whether those pasty arms and shoulders pictured below ended up terribly sunburned, the answer is yes. #ultimatemomfail

In my defense, I was left stranded on the dock with a particularly rambunctious 1-year-old and with no control whatsoever over the sunscreen situation (or lack thereof). Graham was finishing a nap in the truck when D & G took off on the boat, and the nap wrapped up pretty quickly. Somehow, nobody thought to look for us. So, an hour later, I hoisted Graham on my shoulders and hiked around the lake until we could track them down. Once we found them, the first order of business was screening up those already-red arms. Not a real highlight of the weekend. #notbitter #notatall

Gavin's first time driving the boat

G doing some roasting on his first night of camping with Dad.

When you just need the comforting embrace of a big cousin.

Triple decker!

First time fishing!

All the boys on a bug hunt...Gavin's favorite part of camping.

Switching gears, we have had a great little Wednesday over here. Typically one of my least favorite days of the week, this one has played out a-ok so far. Dylan has been able to stick close by today, and he even sent me off in the morning for a kid-free trip to the gym...a place that I hadn't visited in over a week. We all teamed up for swim lessons followed by a family lunch at Panera and a shopping spree at Target. And now, we're just kickin' it at home. My kind of day.

And if you're wondering about the latest with the house, well there isn't much to know. We were planning to lower the price after a couple of weeks, but now we aren't going to do that for a little while. If lowering the price drums up interest and then the house goes under contract, well, it could interfere pretty severely with one of several carefully laid-out summer plans. On the other hand, if somebody wants to pay top dollar for this house, then I say be my guest and ruin the whole summer. Seriously.

In reality, it looks like we'll be here for at least a few more months. Real estate doesn't tend to change hands very quickly out here in the Rio Verde Foothills. I can live with that. And since Dylan says that he's moved every single time during the heat of the summer since coming to Arizona as a college kid, then maybe we can do this one when it's a few degrees cooler. Back in 2009, our house closed a few days late and messed up plans. Dylan was left with a large moving truck packed to the gills with furniture and stuff to unload by himself on a hot July day while I was at work. So, I owe him.

In the meantime, I'm going to put my formerly favorite past-time of cruising Zillow to the wayside. I think it just makes me frustrated because I've only seen one or two "perfect" houses, and of course they get sold. (Yes, the one I posted about with the awful backsplash has sold. It was so perfect...) It's one of those things that I have to recognize is largely out of my control, and whatever will happen will happen. It's like the Serenity Prayer that they say at AA meetings. You know the one..."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference." In fact, I should probably apply that adage a lot more to my life. Like, a LOT. Heaven knows I'd probably sleep better at night!

Memorial Day at Camp

Was it a fantastic weekend for you? Because it was for us! It started off a little interesting...Dylan and Gavin headed up to the Mogollan Rim after Gavin's end-of-the-school-year party on Thursday morning. They had big plans to beat the holiday rush and secure a decent camp spot for our group of 6 RVs. The trailer was a big hit at the preschool...all the kids were peering at it through the fence as Dylan parked to drop off Gavin before the party. Earlier that morning, we were loading the trailer and tying up loose ends around 6:30, and then Graham and I were off to daycare/work before D and G embarked on their adventure. I zoned out driving on the freeway and found myself 10 minutes past daycare and almost to work when I realized that Graham shouldn't be with me. Doh. I exited at McDonald, looped right back onto the 101 and headed in the direction from which I had just come. For the record, I didn't forget the baby was in the car...I just forgot he was not going to the same destination. Since I'm typically over-prepared in the mornings (because I'm neurotic and crazy), I usually arrive at work 10 minutes early. Which meant that, on Thursday, I was only 10 minutes late. After I finished my coffee and got my head in the game, the rest of the day went off without a hitch.

Too much fun in the hammock

Going for a ride on Beck's excavator

Dad is everybody's favorite!

Going on a bug hunt..

I was grossed out, but he was happy.

I might look like a dude, but at least I got in a picture with my kids!

This guy really knows how to kick back and enjoy a snack.

My favorite photo of the entire trip!

Sweet little sheep snuggler.

Teamwork!

Little skipper

Graham is not a fan of the life vest, but his favorite spot is right here with his dad.

These kids all worked together to catch a crawdad under a rock.

Uncle Max has a million kids on his boat!

Family selfie!

Group glitter craft!

Scavenger hunt with Cruz

A private dinner for these two cousin-twins

Graham and I got ourselves, our stuff, and our dogs packed up, left the house spotless, and pulled out of the garage at 6:25 on Friday morning. We made it to camp before most of the other campers emerged from their trailers, and so we spent three full days playing in the great outdoors. It was the absolute best. I'm not usually one to enjoy living on the dirt and dealing with a constant mess, but something about camping makes me so, so happy. And actually relaxed...which I know makes Dylan glad. I took a couple short naps, threw back a cold drink or two each day, enjoyed the cold weather and, as always, we ate like royalty. I don't normally even put much thought into dinner...but when we camp, we have hot food and lots of variety for every meal. We're all a little fatter for it, but that's just a sign of a great trip!

This trip, like most of the others, was about bug hunting, roasting marshmallows, playing outside with friends and taking the boat out to the lake. Three of our Prescott families came, as well as three of us from Scottsdale. In total, there were 14 children, ranging from baby to 7 years old. These camp trips will be what our summer memories are made of...I'm usually cranky about the Arizona summer, but I did gain just a little bit of summertime spirit over the weekend. It may be north of 100 degrees around here, but I have a good feeling we'll spend the next three months doing fun things in good company. I played hooky from my at-home gig this morning, but I'll play some catch-up tonight and then hit the grind that involves that awful commute tomorrow. Dylan is in town this week, so even though vacation is over, the days ahead are not such a tough reality.

And of course, we wouldn't have a long weekend...let alone democracy and the ability to live in peace...without our armed forces. Thanks to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.