Camping at Oak Creek Canyon

We took advantage of the kids' October Break from school & went camping last weekend.  It was beautiful, and the weather was perfect- much better than the record-setting triple digits that was goin' on at home!

We stayed at a campground in Oak Creek Canyon

called 'Manzanita'.  I'm pretty sure' it's because of these -

Manzanita Trees, right? They were all over,

so it makes sense!

I had the kids each set out their tennis shoes for the trip, but my mistake was that I didn't notice that Danika didn't set hers out.  So... since she had only worn flip flops there, this is what she ended up wearing the whole time camping:

Jacqueline's sandals with socks!  Beautiful, huh! 

Last time it was the coats, this time Danika's shoes...

I can't imagine what we'll forget next time!

And THIS is what Danika looked like after playing a while.  She really enjoyed the dirt.

We decided to go for a hike.  We actually hiked pretty far, especially for Danika!  But the kids all did well & enjoyed it.

We were ALL worn out by the time we made it back to our campsite though!

And once again... Danika wasn't so happy about the potties, except this time I got pictures!

I didn't capture any of her tears on camera, but you get the jist of her trips to the potty.  She would make sure her nose was plugged before going into the bathroom, & then she kept it plugged the entire time.  We knew when she needed to use the bathroom, because she'd say "I want to go home!" She didn't want to say 'I need to go potty' like she normally would have, because then she'd have to use the potty there!  I tried explaining to her how this is easier than digging a hole like we've done sometimes on prior camping trips, but she was too busy being miserable whining about these camp potties!

Ryan researched beforehand on the internet, & before heading home drove us to "Oak Creek Vista", not too far from our campground.  It was really pretty- I even thought it was almost like the Grand Canyon but with lots of green trees!

It didn't take long for Danika & Harrison to find a spot to sit & play with the dirt & rocks again.  That was deifinitely a high point for them on this trip!

  It was my first time trying tinfoil dinners; very yummy!  And our first time having skunks as regulars at our campground!  -they always stayed away when Ryan's camera was out, of course! 
It was a nice, cool get-away weekend!  Wish we could do that more often!

New Blog for Deals/Freebies

You'll probably be glad to hear we started a new blog to post deals & freebies on.  I think it looked kinda crazy mixing all that in here on our family's blog.  So now, if you want to check for any local deals, you can go to:

http://eastvalleydeals.blogspot.com/

Now I will leave this blog alone to just the stuff that belongs here!

(I figured I'd better add a picture since I told Liz that she can't do postings without pictures!  This is the kids on top of Falcon Hill in Mesa- that fits in with east valley stuff- you can see some of the e.v. behind them!) :)

Our New Pet - Tarantula!

We had a pet tarantula when I was younger, & have always been on the lookout for one on any of our camping/hiking excursions, but without luck. I was so excited when my sister Liz called me last week to tell me she rescued a tarantula from her pool & thought I might want it! We got a little cage set up for her- with a screened lid and added 2 locks, just in case! But up until Saturday, noone had held her yet. I wanted to wait 'til I had fed her, and until she had 'settled in' to her new home. Plus, it had been lots of years since I've held a tarantula, and I've got to admit I don't know if I would've even yet if it hadn't been for my EXTREMELY brave niece & nephew! They REALLY wanted to hold her- she was sitting in the container that's inside her cage- so I just lifted the container out- & as I sat there with the container, trying to get the guts to tip it into my hand, he's coaching me!!! "You can do it, Aunt Bee!" "Just lift it up more" "Tap it!"

And I was very excited that we held her! Me, Porter & Katie. Now it's not so scary, but I am SOO impressed by my little niece & nephew! Porter & Katie didn't seem even the tiniest bit afraid to hold her! She went fast too- ran up from Porter's hand so fast that we didn't know where she was a for a minute! But we found her on the back of his shirt- Ryan said it would've been great to get a picture of it on Porter's shirt too, but I put her back in the cage as soon as we found her- it scared me that she ran so fast that we didn't even know where she was! Plus, we'll have lots of chances for fun tarantula pictures! So I'm sure we'll have more to come! (Thank you, Liz!!!) :)

Ward Campout

We went to our ward campout on Sept. 11th. It was up by Payson, so a little cooler out. (it's still over 100 degrees here in Mesa, so it was nice for a mini break from the heat!) We were just there one night, but it was still plenty of time for the kids to pack in lots of playing & exploring!

As we're setting up camp, we notice this bright 'thing' in the sky. I was stumped- it was nothing like the shape of the moon, or even partial-moon, it was too early for a star (& way brighter than a star), it was like a little mystery! Then comes my hero with his trusty camera, snaps a photo & zooms in to this picture- now we're guessing a weather balloon. I never really knew what they look like, or that they glow bright white! But it was up way too high for a normal hot-air balloon. What do you think? Hm...I think I'm getting good at posting mystery pictures! Seems like one on each trip!

Jacqueline's dressed for the day, Sept. 11th

I love this picture, I know it's dark, but it's totally Cameron being the sweet big brother!Cameron always wants to be so careful to make sure Harrison's not hurt. Even yesterday Harrison was trying to get into the piano keys, lifting the heavy wooden cover on them, so Cameron stood there so long holding it down! I told him he didn't have to, but he told me he didn't mind standing there forever holding it, because he was afraid Harrison would squish his fingers if he did lift it up. He's so sweet!

In this picture, it was Harrison's first time seeing the horse that was there (it's not in the picture,

but the boys are looking at it)... it totally shows so much of Cameron's relationship with Harrison...

The next morning, Harrison wasn't quite as hesitant.
This is how Harrison greets everyone... er... everything... "Hi!"

Just ignore the fact that he's wearing his jammies on top of his jeans! I had a crazy busy couple days before the campout, so I spent a whole 5ish minutes packing. Needless to say we didn't have any coats with us, or any long sleeves! So, jammies worked, even as a layer on top of jeans! Hey, there's a first time for everything! Maybe Harrison's fashion will start a new trend!

Harrison having a conversation with... a horse.

Danika liked searching for pretty flowers. ...I should've gotten a picture of her crying at the port-a-potty- that was a new thing for her that she definitely didn't like!!! Daddy giving Harrison a lift during our walk

The timing for this kiddie train was perfect- they started right when Ryan & I were beginning to pack up the tent & everything- so it was nice that the kids were entertained! (too bad Harrison was scared of riding it.)

I feel very lucky that Ryan's into photography- Call me biased, but I think he takes some great pictures!

Beach Bums!

We just got back from a week-long Rogers' Family Reunion in Oceanside, CA on Friday. I think a good way to sum it up would be with Danika's question she asked during our drive home,
Danika: "Where are we going now?"
Mom: "Home."
Danika: "Then in the morning can we go to the beach again?" :)

I think we'd all love to go back. And to Debbie's parents- a big THANK YOU! We had a lot of fun at the beachhouse- being at the ocean & with family-- although I still expect to keep my siblings up all night talking sometime soon, since I didn't get to there (you old fogies go to sleep too early!)!! he he he!
But we still had fun together during the day... Here's a sample of our fun...

(Danika & cousin Isaac)

Harrison played in the sand a lot- He even did 'sand angels'- laying on his tummy - because he loved the feel of the smooth sand so much! He just kept laying down to feel it!

3 Sisters boogie boarding together!
(left to right: Liz, Kathy & Debbie)
Boogie boarding's especially fun when 2 sisters aim at the 3rd sister trapped inbetween them-- Kathy almost got nailed by my board! If you can see Liz & I close up- we were laughing SO hard! LOL Forever!!!!

Jacqueline & Danika helping Cameron search for sand crabs (Cameron found lots, the girls made sure they never did! They made some cute mud cookies though!)

Who's that hunk boogie boardin'?!

Ryan, of course! :) He enjoyed having time to grow his goatee during the time off work- Debbie enjoyed it, too! (The night before returning to work, he shaved it off in parts- I'm gladhe doesn't keep a moustache! I should've taken pictures... next time!)

We had a great view from the beachhouse, and had fun watching the different pods of dolphins & orca whales that swam by. I don't even know which this is- I'll make you figure it out! The kids even found a pirate treasure map in a bottle that had washed up on the beach with the waves. (Can you believe they found one 2 years ago, too?! What are the chances?!) :)

They had a blast running up & down the beach, searching for the next clue-

- and of course looting the treasure box after they dug it up!

Yep, lots of fun!

Harrison liked picking up the rocks on the beach, then throwing them into the ocean. We liked seeing the cute baby footprints he left behind...

Gold Panning at Lynx Creek

Ryan getting the gold panning moves down!

Thar's gold in that thar pan!

If only we could get her to smile like that for every picture!

OK, since I am still playing 'catch-up' with posting on here, I'm gonna have to throw in some pictures every once in a while that aren't brand-new... like these. This was a trip we did to Lynx Creek in March with Debbie's parents- Debbie's dad gave us all a refresher course on gold panning, and taught Ryan since it was his first time ever. SO fun! I LOVE gold panning! It was freezing cold this day though- but by the end of the day we all had a couple little gold flakes in our jars! And Ryan learned well, because when he came back the following weekend with the scouts, he was able to teach them, and they all were able to leave with gold in their jars, too! Way to go, Ryan! (and Dad, too!) :)

This area -with big boulders & little waterfalls - is right near the cave.

There's a little cave nearby that I'm sure my siblings all remember from our gold panning trips growing up- I really wanted to go back to it & see it again, if it had changed or anything. My mom was wonderful & took care of Harrison the whole time we hiked to the cave. (And she took care of him pretty much the whole day we were there while I gold panned & helped the kids gold pan and dig holes in the ground for going potty, etc.! Thank you, Mom!) We found the cave, and the main difference was that there were a lot more bugs flying around, and a lot less bats. There was only one bat in the cave- but Ryan got a great picture of it! I was right under it looking at it- but never saw it so clearly as you can in the picture!

Cameron & Jacqueline entering the cave

Little lonely bat

Down almost at the very end of the cave, there was a pile of scat/droppings - and all I know is it wasn't people poop, it was pretty fresh- didn't look old at all, and was pretty big! I was glad the animal wasn't still in the cave- Ryan & I were in there with 3 kids- I was in a little rush to exit after that! I'm wishing now that we had taken a picture so we could post it too (I know you're bummed-just think, you could be looking at a poop picture right now!) but that would've involved staying in the cave a moment longer! But I looked around at different pictures online, & it sounds like it's probably mountain lion / lynx poop. Hmm... Lynx Creek... go figure! The kids thought it was pretty cool to go through the cave though- Cameron & Jacqueline both talked in "show & tell" in their school classes about it later- and were proud to show off the gold that they had found themselves!