Escape to the Pines - Part 2

Sunday morning we got up bright and early. No clouds in the sky and a balmy 55 degrees! So we hurried and ate breakfast then loaded up for a long trail ride. We went to the pond...where Jeremy taught the kids how to catch bugs with their new nets. They were in heaven!

Taylee preferred to catch flowers instead

Jeremy led the way while teaching his little followers

He clearly was the master & caught the most

Playing in the forest

After the pond, we continued winding throught the mountain trails. We learned from yesterday's mistake to make sure Taylee was tied down in a carseat this time. We smartly put her in the middle and therefore it blocked the view (and prodding) from Anden and Grace whom were sitting on the sides. Needless to say, all 4 kiddos passed out asleep! Aaahh, peace ensued!! After a couple hours, the ominous black clouds were rolling in. So we headed for the cabin. We didn't make it in time. Yep. We were pelted with pouring rain for 10 mins. Shivering and shuddering. Secretly, we loved it though. At least the women and children were in the Ranger....with a roof. The boys were on the quads...beyond soaked!

Eventually we had to pack up and come home. The temperature incresed 42 degrees on the 2.5 hr drive home. Seriously. Forest Lakes = 66 degrees, Anthem = 108 degrees. We'll be heading back as soon as possible!!

Oh and there was only one minor mishap...aka...fatality. Somehow my phone crashed & burned. So if you called or texted me since Friday...I didn't get it! :-( I now have a new phone and hopefully am back in the cellular world!!

Escape to the Pines

Well once again we escaped the muggy H*E*A*T for something much more enjoyable!

It didn't reach 70 degrees all weekend.

Absolutely Fabulous!

We headed for Forest Lakes on Friday. It rained pretty much the whole way there. Oddly, this was a happy thing for us! When we arrived, the rain ceased and thus the camp fire started! There's something magical about sitting by a fire in the cool mountain air while actually still needing to wear a jacket! Love it!

Saturday morning we got up at the crack of dawn rearing to play. We packed up for a long morning ride. Everyone had a blast. We quickly learned that 3 kids 3 and under shouldn't be allowed to sit by each other in the back seat...without car seats. They poked and prodded and giggled and cried and whined and giggled and bugged each other the entire ride. Luckily Crew was up front with the Moms. He was safe from the toddler torture. (sorry no pics of the backseat menaces). During the ride, we would pull over and let the kids (& adults) roam about and explore.

The dark clouds were quickly blowing in. So he headed back to the cabin for lunch and naps. The thunder was pretty intense. As soon as the kids were asleep, the skies erupted. It poured for at least 2 hours straight. We loved it! The adults sat on the porch and took in every second of it. It was still raining when the kids woke up. So they had their fair share of rain fun too.

However, we forgot that when it rains that much....it equates to MUD everywhere. The Mortensen Orphan Children were having a clothing crisis. Their dear loved ones had not brought enough or appropriate clothing. So we all shared anything we could find. Luckily it didn't matter since everything was either soaked with rain or soaked with mud.

Finally at 4pm, the kids were going stir crazy since it was still raining. So we headed out fishing further down the mountain where it wasn't raining. Anden had said all week that he "just wanted to catch a fish, gut it & cook it" when he got to the cabin. Funny, seeing as we're not a fishing type family. That's where the Trout Pond comes in handy. Pay your fortune, get a makeshift fishing pole, walk minimum 5 ft near the pond and the fish basically jumps right onto your hook. Sweet, that's our kind of fishing! 30 mins and we were out of there.

We headed home in our muddy clothes and made dinner. Yes we really did grill up the trout. And yes, it really was good! And yes, Anden really did eat his fish! :-)

Super Heroes

Nothing like a new cape
and a perfectly timed wind storm
to make a kid's day.

(And yes, some Super Heroes can save the world while juggling their binkys, sippys, and mother's mismatched shoes)

Maybe if the adults would have had capes
they wouldn't have been as bummed
that the storm now cancelled their lake trip.

Sedona

With the temps soaring, we headed for cooler elevation.
This time we landed in Sedona.

More specifically,
Slide Rock State Park.

Which should be renamed
So Slippery You Can't Stand or Walk State Park.
Or maybe,
You're Gonna Break Your Butt or Knock Out Your Teeth State Park.

Yes, it was beautiful. But we could barely admire the scenery because we were focusing so hard on not slipping and falling down. I didn't even trust myself let alone carrying a kid with me!

After a few falls, the kids (and adults!) decided they liked to just sit in the shallow part

or on the shore/rocks.

The Mortensens came along for the adventure too!

Jeremy discovered this old gem right behind us! Ya somehow I didn't even notice it!

Which created a fabulous backdrop for these...

Before we hiked out, Jer took a group shot.

And then attempted to get a pic of just the kids.

Foolishly I told Taylee to hold onto Crew (who is about 6 mos younger than her).

I apparently entrusted her with a bit too much responsibility.