Adventurous AZ Mom

Through the eyes of a child...

2011-10-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

As I was hiking this weekend a small caterpillar crawling on the ground near my feet caught my eye. I immediately stopped to observe and said out loud "Thanks Jack!" I was referring to my 8 year old son who's constantly discovering tiny little creatures right at his feet. When he makes these discoveries, he immediately stops in his tracks and takes the time to observe and investigate whatever he's found. A few of these furry little friends have become reluctant "pets" providing hours of entertainment before being released back into the wild. While Jack wasn't with me on this hike, seeing the caterpillar reminded me of a recent epiphany I'd shared with him.

I'm an avid photographer always scanning the horizon for the perfect shot. I'm quite observant, taking in the details of nature that surround me; everything from colors to textures draw my attention. But, I've come to realize that I'm often so caught up in the bigger picture that I sometimes miss the tiny details right in front of me. Jack has taught me to slow down and pay more attention to my surroundings. And the shift has been amazing! I love sharing my tiny discoveries with those around me and of course I also love photographing them. But I'll be honest, more often than not it's my boys spotting the really cool stuff. I guess I'm just lucky to have such amazing kids as my tour guides!

Take the kids camping but leave the toys at home!

2011-10-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

Ladder Toss, cornhole, paddle ball, croquet, badmitten, bocce ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, ring toss, wiffle ball. These are just a few of the many outdoor games you'll find at your local sporting goods store. I admit I have more than a few of them. But recently I've started leaving them behind when we go camping.

When we started camping more, especially in large groups, I thought I needed all these great games for the kids to play in the outdoors, but what I discovered is that kids are creative enough to invent their own games. Quite often I would cart the various bags full of bright, colorful plastic pieces only to spend time assembling, searching for lost pieces, taping up broken (cheap) pieces and eventually disassembling...after very little actual usage.

Finally I've realized that many of these games and toys are actually only serving to further separate or cushion children from nature. Do I really need to constantly provide forms of entertainment and organized activities for them? No, I don't. It's time I take a step back and allow children the freedom to explore, investigate and create while I kick back, relax and refuel my spirit! Now there's a concept. I'm going "old school."

Nature-Underprivileged Kids

2011-09-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting conversation recently around the idea of the "underprivileged" or the "underserved." This typically refers to those that have fewer resources available to them. Less money, less formal education, fewer opportunities, etc. But, when it comes to children and Nature Deficit Disorder I think that many financially privileged children will fall into the "underprivileged" category primarily because they are over-scheduled by their parents thus not allowing them enough unstructured play time in the outdoors. These children are also more likely to have the latest video games, computers and cell phones vs families that simply can't afford them.

I'll refer back to my own family some 5 or 6 years ago. At the time we were doing quite well financially as the economy was on an upswing and the housing market in Arizona was booming. I thought I was doing my children a great service by providing tons of extracurricular activities to keep them busy and broaden their little minds. These activities included: dance (ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop), acting (classes and private coaching sessions), basketball, soccer, baseball, guitar and piano. Exhausting just to list it! I kept a folding chair, a box of snacks and a bag of magazines in my car to occupy my time while I waited patiently each day. Some days we had little to no downtime after school. We rushed everywhere and often attended 2 activities back to back. We were all exhausted by the end of the day and our weekends were booked solid with games, tournaments, play rehearsals, etc. Sometimes there were tears and begging "please, can't I just SKIP IT today?"

I thought my kids were LUCKY, PRIVILEGED, and HAPPY. I thought I was "supermom." But deep down, I knew I was wrong!

Skip forward a few years. I find our lives changing as the economy has tanked and we have less disposable income. I begin cutting out unnecessary and expensive things. When my son begins begging me to stop going to dance and music lessons I decide it's not worth it if I'm having to force him anyway. Eventually we eliminate almost every "organized" activity...and our lives changed for the better.

Now I don't want this to sound like I think organized sports or extracurricular activities are a bad thing because I don't. Playing on a team teaches a great deal of fundamental life skills including how to simply BE part of a team. It teaches you the importance of practice in order to improve your skills, patience with yourself and others as you learn something new, how to handle losing and winning graciously, how to celebrate in others successes and how to set goals and achieve them. But, it also takes a major time commitment.

So why do I think our lives have improved since we freed up our schedules? Well, my kids now have time to play after school. They come home and do their homework but then head outside to play with kids in the neighborhood or simply go exploring...and I don't insist on watching their every move. I give them freedom to roam and check out the neighborhood (they are 8 and 11). They dig, climb, run, bike, investigate, learn and mostly just de-stress after a long day at school. And they're very well rounded, well-adjusted and bright children who don't seem to be missing out on anything.

Our family is less stressed because we're not rushing from one activity to the next. Our weekends are also free from tournaments, practices, games and recitals so this leaves more time for what we really love doing which is camping, hiking and just about anything else that involves the outdoors. We also eat most of our dinners at home now (we used to do a lot of drive thru dinners). We have more family time and we've gotten to know one another better.

I guess what I'm suggesting is that people find balance. I know I lacked this in the past so I'm speaking from experience. Parents, don't make it about you. Just because your kids are in a ton of activities doesn't mean you're a great parent...it just means you're a busy parent and a busy family. And maybe your child truly loves every activity they're involved in...but I doubt it. Parents need to stop and listen to their children and actually ask them what they think and what they like and don't like. Then they might consider paring down the list of extracurricular activities. This will allow families to spend more quality time together...preferably in the out-of-doors!

Nature's Water Park

2011-09-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

This summer I bought water park season passes for me and my kids at $50 a pop. I thought for sure we'd use them to help us get through another Arizona summer. I even suggested that a couple of my girlfriends buy them too. We'd all go together, right? Wrong.

Fortunately, the boys did go about a half dozen times with their dad. I took them once on a Friday night for the dive-in movie. The crowd was unreal, the lines were outrageous and the food was unbelievably expensive and unhealthy. It was seriously like a form of torture for me to get through the night. I think we only rode 4 slides in the 4 hours that we were there and I dropped nearly $30 on dinner.

I never went back this summer and I have no interest in ever going again. Sorry kids. I know they had fun but it's just not for me. I don't have the patience to stand in long lines where the payoff only lasts 30 seconds.

But, twice this summer I took the kids to Fossil Creek outside of Strawberry, AZ. Talk about a water park! This beautiful natural spring set in a lush, green canyon is truly one of the most beautiful places in Arizona! Who needs a water park when you have places like this to visit and spend the day. I'd much rather spend my money on the gas to get there!

I don't normally enjoy swimming all that much. I more prefer to sit on the side and watch the kids splash and play. But, at Fossil Creek you can't help but feel like a kid again. I found myself jumping off of cliffs into deep blue pools, borrowing child sized goggles to get a better look at all the native fish so visible in the clear waters and simply relaxing and listening to the glorious sounds of the area. The rushing water splashing over the rocks, the loud buzz of the cicada's and the glorious sound of children laughing and playing. I look forward to returning again and again to Nature's Water Park!

Flower power and insect surprises

2011-08-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

I love this picture that Rich took of me last weekend. I'm totally in my element and engrossed in capturing the perfect photo of a little purple flower. I had just crawled out of bed (actually the back of his Sequoia) and threw on my clothes to capture the morning light before it passed. I love how the flower matches my shirt too! Funny thing is I didn't even notice all the little bugs crawling around on it. I was so focused on the flower itself it was a wonderful surprise when I uploaded the photos and noticed all the tiny creatures so at home on that perfect bloom.
This reminded me of a section we just read in The Nature Principle by Richard Louv in which he reminds us of the importance of native plants to our insect population. Insects truly make the world go round. I often forget the "golden rule" as I find myself aggressively killing off ants at our campsites, forgetting that we're guests in their home and not the other way around. I'll keep working on that one. In the meantime, I'm hoping to start some gardening in the back yard soon. I'll be going with natives and flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
I played around a bit this weekend with the manual settings on my camera. I realized I've had my Nikon D60 since June 2008 and I still haven't learned how to get past the automatic settings. While I know I'm an excellent photographer I often find myself slightly disappointed with many of my pictures, knowing they could have been better or simply more clear. I think later on this year I'll have to take a real hands on photography class. It actually sounds therapeutic! Anyone want to join me?

Mud Pies on a cloudy day!

2011-08-11T10:53:00.005-07:00

The daycare kids are having a blast today making mud pies in the back yard. This summer has been a scorcher and has really been hard on us all as we've spent way too much time indoors. It's incredible how much easier my job is when we can play outdoors for a good portion of the day. The kids get along better as they play more cooperatively and creatively. They laugh and smile more. They're also more tired when they go home, unless they've napped here and if they do nap they nap longer which is a blessing. Just another month or so and we'll move most of our activities back outside. Until then, we'll gladly take every overcast hour we can get before the temps climb past 100 degrees. We give thanks to the clouds today!!!

And finally the rain comes!

2011-07-05T00:03:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's finally raining at my house! In Arizona I've learned to love and appreciate monsoon rainstorms because we desperately need the precipitation. I'll take it however I can get it! During monsoon these rainstorms often arrive with a vengeance. The other night Mesa had snapped power poles from a microburst. There are even special laws put in place such as the "stupid motorist law" which punishes people who ignore posted signs warning against crossing high water in their vehicle. Should they get stuck and need rescuing they can potentially be charged for the rescue and be humiliated when they make the local news. I must admit I've had a vehicle stall in high water in the past. Fortunately it restarted and I was able to drive through the high water. This is not something I'd ever like to repeat in this lifetime though. Scary to say the least!

This thunderstorm wasn't from tonight but is still beautiful.

I can hear the wind howling outside and the large drops slamming the exposed window where the screen has fallen off. It doesn't normally last long but it comes down hard and fast accompanied by heavy winds and cracking thunder. I'd love to sleep to this sound all night long...but alas the storm is already passing. I guess I'll just have to switch my sound machine from "babbling brook" to "thunderstorm" for the night.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

From high heels to hiking boots!

2011-07-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

The other day I was trying to decide on a cute outfit for joining a friend at Church. Being a typical woman, I tried on at least 10 outfits before deciding on one that I felt comfortable, attractive and cool in. Not "cool" as in hip but "cool" as in not hot. It was 117 degrees here in Phoenix and no matter what I did I had sweat pouring off of me while getting ready. I found myself thinking "is this one of those hot flashes they warned me about? Oh yeah, it's 117 degrees out!"

Time for the shoes. I quickly proceeded to my trusty shoe organizer with all my favorite heels. I found the perfect pair and walked around for a bit. I checked out my profile in the full length mirror. "Yeah" I thought, "my calves look great from all the hiking and backpacking we've been doing". But then I walked around a bit more and found myself imagining having to wear these shoes for a few hours. These days I live in my Keen water shoes (I even have these awful tan lines to back my story) or hiking boots. I didn't think twice before quickly switching to a pair of wedges about half the height of the original heels. These were cute...not AS cute as the Calvin Klein heels, but they'd do. Besides, this was Church, right.

Then I found myself thinking about how over the past few years I've been going through a transformation of sorts. This past year has been crazy since my divorce was finalized. During this very stressful period I've found myself almost desperately drawn to nature for solace. I view my weekends as my savior...a chance to refuel my engine and heal my spirit. When I'm out in a forest canopy, playfully rock-hoping in a creek with my kids, strolling through the desert, or even taking a scenic drive I tend to forget my worries at least for a while. I'm reminded that the world is bigger than me and my problems and I come to believe that things will get better. And, they do.

And the lucky thing is that I've found an incredible man who shares my passion for the outdoors. So, when my children are with their dad every other weekend I have someone who'll gladly take off on adventures with me. Truth be told, I've fallen madly in love with this man and he with me. I've shoved my Calvin Klein's to the back of the closet and replaced them with expensive leather Asolo hiking boots and Keen water shoes. But don't worry, I'm keeping the heels for special occasions! It's great to be a Nature Girl who's really a Girly Girl at heart!

The Lizard Catching Club

2011-06-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I had the funniest conversation with my son Jack and his friend Nathaniel who lives around the block. As they walked back from the mailbox with me I asked Nathaniel how his Memorial weekend was. His response went something like this: "Oh, pretty good. I started a club. It's a lizard catching club." So I asked him "how many lizards have you caught?" His reply "none yet."

Then Jack begins to excitedly go on and on about how they've come up with the way that they're going to catch lots of lizards. "Yeah, we thought up the way to set a trap for them. First we're going to get some crickets and tear off their back legs and put them in a dish so they can't escape. Then we're going to have a box with a stick holding it tilted up and a string tied to it. When a lizard comes we'll pull the string and catch the lizard." Foolproof, just like in the cartoons, right? Too cute! So I asked him how many lizards he'd caught. His reply was hilarious. "I'm not even IN the club yet. First you have to let Nathaniel's lizard bite you...then you're in." My reply "I hope it doesn't bite hard." Jack's response, "he doesn't even have teeth. It doesn't hurt." Ok then.

So, today Jack went to Nathaniel's house for a few hours only to return a while later with a few extra siblings in tow. They had all kinds of containers (traps I mean). They were setting up a teepee of sticks in the front yard for the birds (around the seed block) and trying to catch lizards. They boasted of seeing over 30 so far but haven't managed to catch a single one...YET. Oh well, talk about priceless entertainment for kids. I'm thrilled to see them playing outdoors, away from screens of any sort.

My "thank you" letter to AZ BOW Committee

2011-04-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this thank you letter that I sent to AZ BOW Committee after returning from the "Becoming An Outdoors Woman Workshop" this past weekend. I had such a fantastic time! I figured this letter is a great way to share my experience with others who were wondering what we did over the weekend.

I was also fortunate enough to be the lone recipient of a BOW Scholarship (valued at $245). This was a wonderful gift as it afforded me the opportunity to go do something amazing for myself that I otherwise couldn't afford. The life experience I received was priceless! In the future I'll save, skimp and go without in order to return once again!

The Wild Women of Papago Cabin

Karan with her largemouth bass.

Holly tying a fly.

Holly and Geri with her autographed "The Raptors of Arizona" book

Linda,

I wanted to sincerely thank you and the other members of the AZ BOW committee for choosing me as the April 2011 Scholarship recipient. I can't express to you enough how much I appreciated this opportunity to get out and do something fun just for ME. I had such an amazing time and met so many beautiful, strong and courageous women! The weekend really went by fast!

I am so grateful for the amazing BOW staff, instructors and volunteers. It's obvious that everyone enjoys what they're doing a great deal. There were a number of times that I asked "stupid questions" only to be assured that there's no such thing as a "stupid question". The instructors were patient, kind, encouraging and knowledgable. Because of this, I left BOW feeling empowered and confident! I'm simply feeling a little spring in my step that wasn't there before!

Holly, Karan and Linda Dightmon

I'd venture to say that my experience at BOW has been life changing. Prior to attending the workshop, I had little to no experience with firearms but I have a desire to become a future game hunter and I hope to encourage my 3 sons to join me. As a single mother I view this as a way to strengthen our relationship as they grow older. It's also an opportunity to carry on a family tradition. I realize that I have a great responsibility to raise independent, strong and confident young men. But, where's an inexperienced outdoors woman to begin (when my experienced hunter father lives in another state)? At BOW, that's where! This past weekend at BOW I completed my AZ Hunter's Safety Certification and am excited to begin my journey. If I hadn't had the opportunity to begin this adventure at BOW I'm not sure I would have done it at all. I knew I was in a safe, "woman friendly" environment so I set my fears aside and just went for it!

I truly believe that the BOW program is an amazing gift for women of all ages and backgrounds. The variety of classes appeals to a wide range of interest and experience levels and offers classes most anyone would enjoy. I look forward to returning again and again (like many of the women I met who'd been 5, 6 or even 8 times!) and bringing as many women along as I can including my best friend Joanne who's a vegetarian. She'd love Rappelling, Dutch Oven Cooking, Geocaching, Outdoor Photography, Archery and more. Actually, I'd love those classes too!

I look forward to seeing everyone again at a future workshop and will keep you posted as to my progress as I continue my journey towards Becoming an Outdoors Woman who hunts!

Sincerely,

Holly Hunter

My life just got waaaaay easier...with an iMac computer!!

2011-01-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Wow!! That's what I've been saying all day since I got my new 21" iMac Desktop computer set up. It was so easy to use straight out of the box...and there was hardly anything even IN the box. 2 tiny manuals, a disk, a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard. There's no tower...everything's inside the very flat monitor. Wow!!

I've never been an Apple person, so this is my first experience...and so far it's a really good one. If you're wondering how I can afford it, well, I really can't. At least not all in one chunk. I went with the 18 months same as cash option from Best Buy. This is the same way I purchased my Nikon D60 camera that's brought me so much joy over the past few years. I fully intend to have the iMac paid off in time, just like I did with the camera.

Yesterday I was ready to pull my hair out waiting for my laptop to do ANYTHING! I've been struggling for months with a computer that feels like it's reverted back to dial up. I realized it was stressing me out way too much after I developed a large lump in my lip after biting it unconsciously for hours the other night while trying to get a basic post done on my Meetup group. I spend hours every day trying to get things done that should only take minutes. Time is money, right?

My son and numerous people have asked me why I opted for the desktop rather than another laptop. Well, refer back to the "I can't really afford this" portion of this post and you'll understand that a laptop with the same capabilities as this 500 GB desktop was approx. $600 more. No, these computers aren't cheap. But, I'm counting on the fact that they are supposed to NEVER slow down, never get viruses and that once you go with a Mac you NEVER go back to a PC. I'll keep you posted. The fact that I just finished this post in less than 10 minutes is testament enough for me!!! The page would still be loading on the old laptop!

Here's an "Andy Warhol" style picture taken with the special effects on iPhoto. I chose this option since it's "hat day" and I just got a chemical peel last week. Kind of fun too...

Camp Creek Falls Hike

2011-01-05T14:12:00.010-07:00

I've been out to this amazing "waterfall in the desert" near our home a few times in the past few weeks and wanted to post some pictures. I decided to schedule a hike for Jan. 15th with my Meetup Group so as to introduce this incredibly beautiful natural wonder to more families. I have a feeling we'll have a large group heading out so long as the weather stays nice. Should be tons of fun...I hope you can join us!

Visit my Meetup Group for more details: http://www.meetup.com/The-Active-AZ-Families-Meetup-Group/calendar/15894217/

Men who love nature are SEXY!

2010-03-11T16:02:00.005-07:00

Ok, I couldn't figure out how to title this post. I mean this is a family website, right.

As I was waiting for a friend to arrive for lunch today I was brainstorming on ideas for blog posts and I started making notes around the idea that "men who love nature are sexy". I must admit I've always felt this way. So, I started a list that I plan to hang on to. At some point (after I recover from my divorce) I know I'll be looking for a good man to spend time with...a nature loving man.

So, what makes a nature loving man sexy? I'm going to start my list, but I'll need your input so feel free to post comments with additional criteria.

A sexy nature loving man...

---knows how to put up a tent quickly and efficiently (especially when it's raining)
---looks amazingly handsome with a few days of stubble growing on his face
---doesn't complain about "all the bugs"
---drinks plain water...real water...not the flavored foo foo kind
---doesn't iron his jeans...ever
---affectionately calls me his "nature girl"
---knows what a dutch oven is and how to use it
---can point out and name various species of trees, birds, wildflowers, etc.
---cares about where his food comes from, how it was grown, etc.
---has a vehicle equipped for the backroads and doesn't worry about it getting dirty
---enjoys reading books by outdoor adventurers
---can easily name at least 5 National Parks because he's been there, done that
---assures me I look great in a bandana
---owns a pocket knife
---is drawn to me even when I haven't showered all weekend (can you say "pheromones")
---can roast the perfect marshmallow because he's patient
---wakes up early to start the fire and make coffee
---doesn't complain about sleeping in a tent or that his back hurts
---loves to spoon in a 2 person sleeping bag
---goes with the flow and knows how to kick back and relax
---doesn't worry about not having a signal for his phone
---picks up trash, even when it's not his
---has an uncanny sense of direction
---practices "outdoor etiquette" naturally and automatically
---owns a pair of binoculars...and he didn't buy them for sporting events

Ok, there are over 25...what can you add to my list? I know this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Muscle memory of the mind...

2010-03-11T14:49:00.007-07:00

I was having a discussion with my friend Erin the other day. She's pregnant with her second child (they'll be 18 months apart) and she was commenting on how much bigger she looked this time around. She said her doctor told her that just like "muscle memory" her body has "pregnancy memory". Since the muscles have already been stretched they quickly and easily expand for baby number 2.

Of course this is funny because when we're pregnant with our first child we can't wait to wear maternity clothes...to announce to the world "I'm pregnant". We buy maternity clothes before we need them and by the end of the pregnancy we never want to see them again...only to realize we may still need them for a few months until we shed some of the baby weight. I was never one of those fortunate women who gave birth and then walked out of the hospital in her old jeans. Actually, I secretly resent those women.

This whole discussion made me think about my mission to get back in touch with nature and bring my children along for the ride. When I close my eyes and relive my favorite memories from my childhood I'm immediately transported to the forests of Colorado. I can still smell the evergreens, hear the rushing water and feel the cool mountain breeze. I grew up in Kansas so Colorado was a natural choice for family vacations. My parents were both huge outdoor enthusiasts so they naturally exposed me and my siblings to things they were most passionate about.

My father spent hours teaching us how to fish (patiently untangling our lines) while my mother took us for walks to admire the wildflowers and photograph mushrooms and waterfalls. At night we'd sit around the campfire making s'mores and burning the end of a stick till it was bright red. I've always loved campfires. They're beautiful, warm, dangerous yet charming. Oh yeah...Dad also taught us how to whittle.

I could go on forever about all the fantastic memories I have but I'll spare you. My point is this: if our memories of our own childhood are still so powerful today then as parents we need to realize that everything we're doing with our children right now will be ingrained in their memories for years to come. We have the power to shape those memories and influence the rest of their lives. We are their parents, their mentors, their teachers. It's our job to provide playful activities and everyday adventures that help stimulate their imagination. As a result, these adventures will develop our children physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and intellectually. This is an incredible responsibility yes...but it'll be the most fulfilling thing you ever do. Now get out there and start making some memories by having fun with your kids today!

Blog's Finally Connected to AZ Active Kids!

2010-02-25T17:33:00.003-07:00

Ok, I'm so excited because after giving the forum on AZ Active Kids 10 months to take off (it never did), we decided to go ahead and link up my blog instead. Of course this means I'll have to actually keep it updated. I'll have to work on that! I promise to do my very best. It's a wonderful outlet for me and often gives me a chance to get my thoughts out of this jumbled head!

I'm feeling so positive about the future of AZ Active Kids. As most of you know, this website was founded based on my desire to help other parents find cool things to do with their kids in the Phoenix area. It continues to amaze me how many people I meet who know about the site. The reason it amazes me is because we've never advertised...it's all word of mouth. That means this site is successful because parents are helping me spread the word about this amazing resource! I appreciate your help more than you could possibly know! Please continue to tell other families about us.

Holly Hunter
hollycpt@msn.com

Sedona's a Slice of Heaven!

2009-10-02T20:34:00.003-07:00

We just returned from another fantastic Sedona camping trip. I feel so fortunate to live less than 2 hours from such an amazingly beautiful place.

I convinced our neighbors, the Waters family to join us for the long weekend; the kids had off school on Monday and Tuesday for Fall Break. This was probably the 6th or 7th time I'd asked them to join us and I was on the verge of giving up. When she said "yes" I was pleasantly surprised; the kids were ecstatic!

The boys and I drove up on Friday night and put the tent up in the dark. Fortunately I'd brought both of our small tents, so we opted for the old tent since we're more familiar with it. After putting it up all summer it was a breeze.

When the Waters' arrived the following day I started helping Mike put up their tent only to discover that they'd forgotten the hardware and tent poles. Ooops. Once again it was a fortunate fact that I'd brought along that extra tent! Nothing like cramming a family of 5 into a small 4 person tent!

Our campsite sat on Oak Creek so the kids spent countless hours playing in the water, catching minnows, jumping from red rock ledges, capturing caterpillars, playing in the mud and rock hopping. It was glorious!

I found myself saying "dirt don't hurt", "just add water" and "just add dirt". These are the keys the real fun with kids!

Weekend's almost over...where did the time go?

2009-09-13T21:22:00.003-07:00

I can't believe it's Sunday night and almost 9:30...where did the weekend go?

I picked up our Bountiful Basket yesterday morning at 7am and then came home to cut and clean the produce. I've learned that if I get on that immediately I'm much less likely to let it sit in the produce drawer and rot. So often I buy fruits and veggies with good intentions but then when I decide to eat them it's too late...they're rotting. My basket was loaded with tons of great stuff as usual. I absolutely believe every family should become involved with this incredible co-op. It's such an incredible bargain for the amount of food you get ($16.50 for everything you see in the photo). I actually took some of it to my friend Dani because I knew we wouldn't finish it all. Funny because she said she didn't order hers this week because she had stuff left over from last time.

Dani and I had a great time chatting and working towards finishing some projects. I created a deck of playing cards using our summer vacation photos. The template was just perfect and I know the boys will love playing with those cards. Then I ended up starting another version of my vacation book. This is actually the 3rd book I've started...why can't I just settle on one already? This latest version is very simple but I'm able to include way more pictures. I think it'll end up being a 100 page book which is very cool. It would be a first for me. But, I took thousands of photos so it seems appropriate since it was a 6 week trip too.

Today I took the boys to a birthday party at a friends house. They have a gargantuan swimming pool with an amazing slide that's like 25 feet long. I went down it a few times the last time we were there and ended up scraping my foot, elbow and hip. I guess that's what I get for going down on my stomach like a kid. I don't expect that I'll ever fully grow up! Today I felt a little anti-social as I was tired, had a headache and had a lot on my mind. Some days are just like that.

I have to get out and hopefully buy a different car this week. I somehow need to get over my anxiety about my trade in and hope that I get what I need to pay it off and then can get into something that I'll hang on to for years to come. I do not enjoy the car buying process since I feel like they're all being dishonest with me.

Oh, a quick update on Jack's teacher (the one who said he had ADHD). I asked him for a meeting last week because I felt I needed to clear the air with him. I went to the principal over the incident and I'm sure he got a talking to about his comments (even though he denied saying them). I still wasn't comfortable with Jack's placement in his class and was getting myself worked up over it all. I met with him Friday afternoon for about 45 minutes.

It truly did help to sit down with him on and talk about Jack's progress, issues, etc. One thing I found out is that Jack gets "in trouble" (not what the teacher called it, but what I call it) because he finishes his work so quickly and then bugs the other kids, or gives them answers to the work. He's simply not being challenged enough. He said that he already tested at 98% mastery for reading for 1st grade. I'm not at all surprised. He then mentioned that he'd like to have Jack tested for the gifted program. I told him he was tested last year (it should be in his file) and he came back gifted in visual/spatial. He didn't realize this. I'm thinking that after a month of school he might have had a chance to look at his file, but I know they've got a lot on their plates. But, I did mention that to the principal when I met with her because I knew Jack was bored so she at least could have mentioned it to him too.

There's such a lack of communication in the schools. I often wonder if I should consider having him tested for 2nd grade and just go ahead and move him up. I don't even know if that's possible at this point...probably not. I never wanted to have him be the youngest in the class, but it's just such a hassle each year to try to get them to challenge him. I think he'd adapt just fine if I did this...but we'll see.

2009-09-03T11:19:00.002-07:00

I wanted to share this book review from Natural Moms Talk Radio

Nature’s Playground: Activities, Crafts, and Games to Encourage Children to Get Outdoors

The general consensus among parents, teachers and child development experts is that kids nowadays spend too much time indoors in front of the computer or TV. Yet there is so much to learn from exploring nature. And when they have the opportunity and encouragement, kids love to climb trees and generally roam about outside.
What can parents do to inspire their kids to spend more time outside?

The book Nature’s Playground is a book full of activities and ideas to get the children away from modern trappings and out into the exciting world.

It offers lots of fantastic and adventurous activities, games and crafts that provide hours of fun during the different seasons.

From building a den with branches, how to be a nature detective, treasure hunts, sail wooden boats across a pond, bows and arrows, stargazing, mud activities, making bug boxes, collecting and discovering insects as well as safe activity ideas after dark – all of this and more is contained within this book.

Give your kids the greatest gift of their childhood, let them play in the earth’s biggest playground – Nature. The benefits of discovering nature are multifold. It strengthens their development and growth, but it also makes them aware of nature and how to treat it.

Get those muddy boots on and enjoy the great outdoors!

Make a Nature Frame using your Beach Shells!

2009-09-03T11:15:00.002-07:00

Make & Do Activity

Nature Frames
Not sure what to do with all the shells your child collected during your beach vacation? Make this crafty frame!

What you do:

Paint a plain wooden picture frame (available at craft stores), using a brush and a small bottle of acrylic paint. Let it dry completely.

Brush Tacky Glue on the front of the frame, and then stick on small natural items such as acorns, pine needles, pebbles, or sea shells. Try to match the decorations to the photo or artwork you'll put in the frame.

Let the frame dry for at least a day before inserting your favorite photo or artwork.

Adapted from Ranger Rick magazine. Craft by Robin Walker. Photo by Susan McElhinney.

Love your TREE!

2009-08-27T12:30:00.004-07:00

Almost 4 years ago I developed what my mom calls "a tree fetish". I've always loved trees, but after attending one of the most entertaining live shows I've ever been to I left with a new appreciation for trees.

Eve Ensler's show "The Good Body" was a collection of monologues she performed after traveling all over the world to find out if women outside of the US had such extreme issues with their bodies as we American's do. What is it with women...we all hate something about our bodies? I've always hated my stomach. It's never been flat but instead more rounded with rolls that fluctuate in size throughout the month. Eve hates her stomach too so when she spoke of this I laughed so hard I cried. If she ever came back to Scottsdale I know I could singlehandedly sell out one of her shows just through word of mouth!

My favorite part of the play is when she tells the story of walking with an African woman and asking her if she loved her body. The woman clearly thought it was a weird question, but when she asked it back to Ensler, Eve had an answer all ready, about how she hated her stomach pouch (just like me). After expressing to Eve how each of her body parts had a purpose...strong legs to wrap around a man while making love or to carry her to get water, breasts to give her children life, strong arms to work hard in the fields, etc. Then the woman pointed out two trees on the road and asked Eve to compare them. Was one prettier than the other? Of course they're both beautiful, they're trees... they're different, yes, but... She told Ensler, "I'm a tree. You're a tree. You've got to love your tree."

I had a profound reaction to this idea...that we're all trees, beautiful and unique. I've embraced this idea and even intend to get a tree tattoo on my back soon. I have the design all picked out. Extreme yes...but a good reminder I can live with for the rest of my life.

I took the tree photo above inside Arches National Park this summer. I love this beautiful tree. I turned the photo into a 16 x 20 canvas poster with the following quote: "I willingly confess to so great a partiality for trees as tempts me to respect a man in exact proportion to his respect for them." by James Russell Lowell. I guess that says it all!

10 Favorite Things about Camping at Canyon Point Last Weekend

2009-08-24T21:41:00.003-07:00

Ok, I started to do a post about our camping trip and it was way too long to post. I've always known that I'm long winded, so I decided to try lists instead.

Camping at Canyon Point was amazing! There were highs and lows, but overall mostly highs.

Top Ten Things About Our Weekend at Canyon Point!

Riding bikes around the campground. I followed Jack as he rode his bike through as many mud puddles as he could find. The muddy trail of droplets extending up his back and into his hair were adorable. It reinforced my desire to get the kids better bikes for their birthday/Christmas gifts this year and to get my own bike tuned up. The kids need gears and lighter weight bikes!

Watching and listening to the kids explore the forest behind our campsite. They didn't fight but instead played imaginatively.

Playing poker in the rain. Thank goodness I grabbed the plastic poker chips and cards as an afterthought. Thank goodness I also suggested that we bring the covered awning since there was a possibility of rain...that turned to 100% quite a few times during the weekend.

Pushing the kids on the hammock only to have the cord break. The kids went flying and Sammy got hit in the head by the wooden part of the hammock. They were so stunned, but before anyone could cry we started laughing hysterically. A couple was walking by at the time and they couldn't help but laugh too. Too bad no one was video taping.

Waking up before the sunrise and taking photos in the quiet of the morning.

Having flushing toilets and a shower!!!

The glorious cool mountain air and break from the Phoenix heat.

Cooking steaks and corn on the cob on the grill. Food never tasted so good!

Watching the kids whittle with their pocket knives. Grandpa taught them how to do it safely.

Watching Daddy play catch with Sammy. This may seem minor, but he rarely does that at home.

A few low points:

Friend's dog we're "dogsitting" pooped in my van TWICE! I learned that water and hand sanitizer does a pretty good clean up job...but how disgusting!

Why does it always seem to rain when we go camping? We had to pack up a wet tent which meant we had to spread it out at home to dry off. We've got it down to a science since it happens often.

We didn't catch any fish since we don't really know what we're doing when it comes to fishing. I'm ready to take lessons soon!

Old woman who was working at Aspen Campground wouldn't let me drive through to see the campsites. Why do some people have to be so overly cautious about rediculous things like this? What did she think I was going to do...sneak in a stay there even though we were already paying for Canyon Point? I just wanted to see the site for future camping trips.

Having to pay about $15 for supplies to make s'mores since I forgot all our supplies. One sleeve of crackers was $2.00! Insane but necessary...how can we camp without s'mores?

Sleeping in a tent with kids who insist on talking in their sleep. Jack said "Patches peed on my sleeping bag! Patches peed on my sleeping bag!" haha...she didn't.

Dog's in tent kept moving around and licking themselves...this is a sickening sound in the dead silence.

Why does my face break out every time I camp? Ok, it has to be the dirt...but why???

Seeing garbage left all over the forest. What's wrong with people?

Getting car sick on our drive home. Why didn't I drive like I always do?

Next camping trip...Labor Day Weekend in Sedona at Chavez Crossing. We've never been there so I hope all goes well.

Photos from Canyon Point Campground

2009-08-23T23:51:00.010-07:00

I bought more bird seed...are you bored of this yet?

2009-08-18T11:17:00.005-07:00

I wanted to share this photo of an interesting red bug that Jack spotted over Memorial Weekend while we were rock hopping at the Granite Dells in Prescott. He seems to have a real knack for spotting bugs and other small creatures that are at our feet while I seem to always be looking to the horizon for the perfect photo. Some day I'll learn from him and pay more attention to my immediate surroundings and appreciate "the little things".

Just a quick update on our wildlife habitat (ok, our front yard). The birds officially ate all the bird seed by this past weekend. We watched that huge ball of seed shrink each day and finally disappear by Friday. I think it took them less than 3 weeks to devour that $13 ball. For a minute I considered not buying anymore...but the moment passed quickly. While shopping at Target I grabbed a 20 lb. bag of loose wild bird seed for $8. We'll see how long it lasts (I bought it on Sunday, August 16th).

The bunny returns daily now and even if we don't leave any produce scraps out there for him he quietly trims the edges of our bushes. It's like having our own personal gardener visit each day.

As we watched the birds this morning we noticed a new addition; it was some sort of woodpecker. He clung to the side of the Saquaro watching the other birds but never joined in on the feast. I dug out my bird book and discovered they're actually more into insects. I think I knew that but forgot until I read it...that's why they drill away into trees, cacti, etc. A little bit ago he was drilling away at the side of my house; I hope that doesn't mean we've got termites. Just kidding (well not really). When I opened up the curtains to look out about 25 birds that had been perched on our rooftop flew away.

I keep thinking about buying birding binoculars someday. It would make a great Christmas gift for the kids. This year I've sworn off all toys for their birthdays and Christmas. This may sound heartless but I'm so sick of looking into their playroom at all they have and choose not to take care of or keep picked up off the floor. Even their video games end up out of their cases, laying around just waiting to be broken or scratched. Gift ideas this year will include nicer bicycles. Their current Walmart and Target versions weigh a ton, the seats and handlebars move all the time no matter how much I tighten everything and Sammy's chain keeps falling off.

I'm brainstorming on a unique outdoors/survivalist birthday party idea since the boys birthdays are 3 weeks apart in Nov/Dec. I usually try to have a combo party and while Jack keeps requesting Pump It Up each year I still refuse to rent out that indoor bouncy house place! I know it's fun, but we can have more fun outside...and that place costs a fortune. I think I'll rent a picnic ramada somewhere for the party (keep it outdoors obviously).

I found a link to a business in CA that hosts these kids' survivalist parties for a fee, but I know I could create the experience on my own. It sounded like so much fun and they stressed being "green" by using recyclable paper goods (instead of plastic) and incorporating educational activities into the fun. I'd love to address the bottled water issue with the kids to really get them to thinking about all the waste they're contributing to. Any other ideas? I'll keep brainstorming and keep you posted as to my party plans and the success.

When a child becomes an adult, does it mean I'm getting old?

2009-08-18T11:11:00.004-07:00

I decided to add this post to my blog even though it's actually content from last weeks AZ Active Kids newsletter. I figure this is the best way for me to preserve it since I hope to some day take all these posts and copy them into a hard bound Heritage Makers book. Here's the post (sorry for those who have already seen it).

Today is my son Holden's 18th birthday...does that mean I'm getting old?

Everytime my kids have a birthday I tease them about "all the pain I was in around this time" the day before their birthday. With my oldest this rings the truest...not because I had a difficult delivery (I didn't) but because I was a single mom when I had him. Looking back, I realize that I had no idea what I was in for...and that was probably for the best.

The night before Holden was born I labored alone in my tiny 2 bedroom duplex, not wanting to call my mom too early. My contractions were 5 minutes apart and would send me doubling over into a ball on the carpet or in a chair...and then I would walk. The thought of this makes me weepy because I realize that I've always been a pretty brave person (and this is not to pat myself on the back). Why wasn't I terrified or why didn't I ask to stay at my parent's house for the night? I've always had an independent streak in me and I hate to ask for help. It's one of my many flaws.

I called my mom sometime around 6am and we were at the hospital an hour later, but Holden wasn't born until 5:01pm. I'll never forget that moment when he was placed in my arms. While he only weighed 6 lbs 14 ozs I could feel the weight of the world right there in my arms. This child would change my life in ways I never expected.

Holden has made parenting seem easy. While he looks like any other teenager, there's something quite special about him. He's caring, sensitive, respectful, considerate, honest, outgoing, confident and hard working. If I could clone him I would. I'm a lucky mom today...my baby is turning 18 and I'm feeling a deep sense of gratitude and relief. Is he really an adult now? I know my job as a parent will never end, no matter how old he gets, but it's almost as if we hold our breath waiting for them to turn 18, mind you he still has to graduate from HS next year. Maybe then I'll be able to exhale.

Nature and ADHD or Nature Deficit Disorder

2009-08-13T23:21:00.005-07:00

I just spent a couple of hours this evening surfing through a variety of nature websites and blogs. I wrote down a web address when I was at REI this week called http://www.naturerocks.org/. What a cool site! I read articles that reinforce my drive to expose my children to as many experiences in the outdoors as possible.

Every well written article seems to refer back to Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods. When I read this book a few years ago I knew I had to make some drastic changes in our lives in order to prevent my children from developing severe Nature Deficit Disorder. I honestly could already see the tell tale signs emerging and I refused to give in and give up.

Jack, my youngest son has always given me a run for my money. I knew right away when he was a toddler that there was something different about him...at least different from my first two sons (even my mom noticed it). He was more aggressive, seemed to have less empathy, didn't listen well (actually seemed to tune me out) and he had boundless energy and talked incessantly. When he was 5 I grew concerned and visited the pediatrician to ask about ADHD. I was informed that he was too young to diagnose since they typically won't diagnose until around the 3rd grade. Not that I was eager to slap a label on him, but I also didn't want him to continually disrupt his class and be labeled as a troublemaker either.

The funny thing is that Jack is an extremely gifted child in so many ways. He's amazing at recognizing landmarks. We'll drive past an area and suddenly he'll say "This is by Jake's house." or "Are we going to the park?". He's been this way since he was a few years old. I always wondered how he could pay so much attention from the back seat.

He's also an amazing puzzle builder. When he picks up a puzzle piece he rotates it and seems to view it on a different plane than most. Personally, I hate building puzzles. Jack can also build amazing often perfectly symmetrical structures out of Lego's, K'Nex and other construction toys.

You're probably wondering why this is on my mind. Well, last year Jack's teacher had him tested and the tests came back showing Jack as "gifted" which once again is a label I'm not sure I agree with. I mean, what is "gifted"? What if he just has strengths that we need to encourage him to explore and engage in...like hands on construction. Maybe he'll be an engineer someday like his father.

Tonight at curriculum night his teacher informed me that he had been "exiled" this week. What is exiled in a first grade classroom you ask...well, he was separated from the other children because he was being disruptive (or something like that...he didn't really ellaborate). I wasn't at all surprised. I told the teacher that I had him tested for ADHD and they said it was too early and his response was "He is. I'm really good at spotting it and I can just tell...he is." Great, this is the first week of school and he's already being labeled as the ADHD kid.

So, ADHD or not I'll continue to get my kids out of the house as much as possible to experience all that nature has to offer. When we're out camping, hiking and exploring I see very little signs of ADHD in Jack (except for the fact that he talks non-stop which I actually adore). He can run and jump and burn up all that pent up energy without worrying about the consequences. He won't be exiled here. Remember, this is the same child that told me the Northern Cardinal we saw was "the most beautiful thing on this earth." We must be doing something right.

Our Story Featured on www.NatureForKids.net

2009-08-12T14:45:00.004-07:00

Ok, I just have to say how cool it is to have our story shared on http://www.natureforkids.net/! I found out about this awesome site through http://www.greenhour.org/ and immediately signed up to receive her posts. I'm thrilled to learn that my passion for immersing my children in the great outdoors is shared with so many other parents.

Why am I posting at 1:40 in the morning?

2009-08-08T01:40:00.004-07:00

Ok, it occured to me that I hadn't posted in a few days and even though I'm getting tired I felt like at least getting something up on my blog. I've been having fun keeping this up!

I cleaned house all day long today (and part of yesterday). We had company arrive tonight but I was already gone by the time they arrived. I had a digi-crop for Heritage Makers so I had to pick up the pizza's at Costco and arrived at the crop shortly after 6pm. I got very little done, but did enjoy looking through all my vacation photos for the hundreth time. I can't seem to get enough of them which isn't a bad thing.

I had a discussion with my husband today about unnecessary expenses and how hard it is to be on a strict budget. I slip once in a while. Funny thing is that he said "for instance, that block of birdseed out front that you paid $13 for...that wasn't really necessary." I was like "oh yeah, that's one purchase I have no regrets about, I'll tell you that!" I think it's great because we've been having so much fun watching the birds each day...it's really priceless in my mind. He's too practical. It's not like we're going without dinner so the birds can eat. I mean I do get what he's saying, but on the other hand...I simply don't agree.

I have gotten into the habit now of tossing out my old bread for the birds now. I also put out the old cauliflower with hopes of brings "Mr. Rabbit" back for a visit. We haven't seen him in a few days. I'm sure he'll be back eventually.

Ok, since it's late I'm kind of all over the place. Phoenix was amazingly cool today for August...like barely over 100 or it may not have cracked 100 today. When I got home at midnight it was actually cool outside. I went out back to drop off some pizza boxes and it felt cooler outside than inside (which is quite unusual for right now). I felt so tempted to sleep outside because I loved the sound of the crickets and the chilly breeze. I can't wait to go camping in a few weeks! We're going somewhere we've never been, so it should be fun to try out a new place. I plan to bring the kids bikes along.

Ok, seriously I'm getting sleepy so I'll catch up more later. I'm adding a photo of the adorable quail that we found in our backyard at the end of May. We raised them for a few days and they were doing awesome, but since we were leaving town we dropped them off with "the bird lady". They were the cutest things and noisy! Hopefully we'll find more in the future and then they can eat out front.

2009-08-05T15:40:00.003-07:00

Hey Mom, there's a bat by our front door. Can we keep him, pllleeeaaassseee?

2009-08-05T15:16:00.006-07:00

Ok, I was in the shower and in comes my son informing me that we have a baby bat by our front door. Of course this is followed with "can we pleeeeaaaseee keep him?" Of course I say "no" and follow it with "leave it alone and don't touch it...but I want to get some pictures of it." I'm always a sucker for a good photo opportunity.

So, I quickly finish my shower and throw on my robe and proceed downstairs to check out our new friend. He's literally hanging on our stucco wall so I lean in with my zoom lens (maybe 3 feet away) and start snapping photos. Of course he then takes flight and rather than flying away he zooms back over our heads (we all ducked) and he re-lands on the wall. We were dying laughing and screaming...it was quite funny actually. He's tiny, like a little mouse with wings. He proceeded to take flight a number of times until I finally insisted that everyone come inside and leave him alone.

The kids have checked on him periodically and he's still by the front door but he's hanging from the lowest overhang which is just above the patio floor. It's in a corner and I suppose it's the darkest place he can find. The kids are finally losing interest and I'm keeping them away. I figure he should be gone by tonight, back from his adventure.

We enjoyed our tiny visitor and I'm happy no one got rabies. I realize that's a possiblity, but honestly I felt quite safe. I'm if his family misses him and wonders where he went...

PBS to air National Parks Special in Sept.

2009-08-04T18:51:00.003-07:00

Last summer my love of the National Parks system emerged. After purchasing an America the Beautiful pass I took my boys on our first summer adventure, not really sure what to expect. The only National Park I'd visited prior to this was Rocky Mountain National Park in CO and honestly, at the time I don't think it even occured to me that it was a National Park. Sad but true, but it meant very little to me at the time.

During our weeklong adventure we camped at the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef (pictured at left) and it was truly the most incredible experience I'd ever had with my boys. We hiked, we played, we watched sunsets, we took photos, we sat by campfires, we slept in tents, we ate s'mores, we played in rivers, we explored and more importantly...we bonded. I knew I just had to continue introducing them to these breathtaking parks that our forefathers worked so hard to protect. People like John Muir, Galen Clark and John Wesley Powell spent their lives exploring these lands and helped establish the conservation and preservation systems that are still in place today. Where would we be without their hard work?

I've made it my mission to expose my boys to as many of these parks as possible. Sammy even suggested that we try to visit them all by the time he graduates from high school. It's a rather lofty goal, but it won't hurt to try (there are over 400 parks and monuments). This summer we visited Yosemite, Sequoia, Arches and Canyonlands. Next summer I hope to head north to Yellowstone, Glacier, Wind Caves and Badlands. Maybe we'll visit a fefw in between too.

I'm excited because there's a special PBS program scheduled to air in Sept. called The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Here's the link if you'd like to bookmark it and be sure to sign up for their updates...I figure at least then they'll remind me when it gets closer so I can TiVo it. I'm sure it'll be amazing and educational. I think I'll have the kids watch it with me.

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

I'm going to close with a cool quote I found today...I wish I had such an eloquent way with words.

One day I undertook a tour through the country, and the diversity and beauties of nature I met with in this charming season, expelled every gloomy and vexatious thought.

~Daniel Boone

I've got a raging headache

2009-08-04T17:21:00.004-07:00

Today's going to be an expensive day. Maybe that's why my head hurts. I had to have my van towed to the auto shop this morning after discovering a very significant oil leak yesterday. Based on the amount of oil leakage, the guy at Tobias' Automotive recommended I not drive there. That's plain scary to me. My car's not even 3 years old yet...and it's a Nissan...they run forever, right?

When the tow truck driver arrived he told me that he rarely tows a Nissan unless they're at least 10 years old. I guess that's supposed to be comforting, except my car was towed. He also wondered why I was having it towed all the way to Cave Creek and Tobias'. I told him that my kids go to school in Cave Creek, we used to live in Tatum Ranch, and I felt safe with the honest guys at Tobias'.

Last month my teenage son started having major issues with his A/C and he called me in Kansas very stressed out. He always stresses when he has to spend ANY money on his car, which I remind him does have to be maintained and will need work occasionally. I recommended that he find a AAA approved repair shop and go to them...what do I know about the A/C. He ended up going to Tobias' because it was close to his work (and then he noticed the AAA sign in their window). The manager there spoke with him and told him that there was something that commonly breaks on the Ford Escorts' A/C unit around 150,000 miles so he might try that first. He told him the part he needed and how he could actually install it himself. Fortunately, he was bang on and my son fixed his car for under $25. He was thrilled!

After speaking with the manager and making arrangements to have my car brought in, I shared with him my son's experience. He remembered him and said he was glad it worked out. I decided that I need to write them a letter or maybe write in to AAA with this story. It's not everyday that you find a good, honest repairshop. Now, let's just hope that my car doesn't cost an arm and a leg to repair. I'm adding a photo of my van in front of Half Dome at Yosemite. I love that photo of our road tripping van!

Checking out Dead Horse Ranch State Park

2009-08-02T14:48:00.008-07:00

Yesterday I felt a strong urge to get out of the house after staying home for days on end. I stay home becasue it seems that all I do is spend money as soon as I leave the house.

So, I informed my husband and boys that we were going for a picnic and suprise exploration. I didn't tell them where we were headed, just that we were going "north". After packing some food, drinking water and a bit of gear, we took off sometime around 2pm (after grabbing some gas, diet cokes and worms for fishing). We headed north...

My goal was to check out a few group campgrounds that have been on my radar. I love organizing group campouts but the websites don't always offer detailed or clear photos of the sites (some don't offer any photos). So, being a perfectionistic people pleaser I hate to choose something and risk disappointing anyone. So, I figured we could visit a few so I could check them out and take photos that I can share in my newsletter.

We drove an hour north of our home to Camp Verde and headed East to Clear Creek campsite. It wasn't especially impressive although I'm sure the kids would easily be entertained by the narrow, somewhat dirty creek that ran through the area. We parked the car and hiked around a bit. The area was quite busy, including a small swimming hole we discovered. We decided to move on to the next campsite without taking any pictures.

We left Clear Creek and headed North towards Cottonwood and Dead Horse Ranch State Park. I actually had the group site booked there last year but I cancelled at the last minute due to inclement weather. It sounded wonderful on the website so I thought it'd be a fun daytrip destination.

We obviously weren't far enough north to enjoy cooler temps since the gauge still read 106 degrees. We entered the park (for free since I recently bought a State Parks Pass when we visited Slide Rock State Park) and immediately found the group campsite. It was actually quite nice and would be a perfect place for a large gathering when the weather cools down more. The major plus is the hot showers and indoor plumbing (instead of pit toilets like most). Now I remember why I booked it before! We walked through the site and I took photos to share and convince others to join us. We noticed a jack rabbit in the bushes. His huge ears were adorable.

After leaving the group site we headed for the marsh where we parked and unloaded. Jack took off on his bike while Sammy excitedly grabbed his fishing pole and the worms. Stephane and I ate lunch while the kids went about their business. Although it was hot, we were in the shade and there was a slight breeze blowing through the cottonwood trees. The scene was beautiful with the trees and mountains reflecting off the water, cattails lining the marsh and dragonflys fluttering about.

After we finished our food Stephane and I convinced Sammy to find a shady spot to fish from. When it comes to the kids fishing it's not really "fishing". It's more casting and reeling than anything...and that's truly the most fun part anyway (except for the catching). I'm not even sure how much time passed, but eventually he grew tired of it all and took a break, leaving daddy to watch the pole. This wasn't a good idea since Steph doesn't have a fishing license, so I sent Sammy back to collect his things. Then it happened, he caught a tiny sunfish. He was so proud. Now we could leave because at least he'd caught something. There's nothing worse than going fishing and not catching anything. I snapped a few pictures and then we headed for the car. While we loaded the car, the kids rode around on their bikes for a bit...I even raced Sammy around the entire parking lot (riding Jack's little bike), then they found a sprinkler to run through. What a wonderful afternoon.

After leaving Dead Horse Ranch we decided to drive to Jerome since we were only 9 miles from the town and Stephane had never been before. I remembered that they were having their first Saturday Art Walk so I knew the town would be full of activity. We walked around for a bit and played at the city park and then drove to McDonald's for some ice cream before hitting the road for the hour drive home. Jack fell asleep in the car as usual.

It was wonderful spending the afternoon with the family out in nature. We got away from the computers, TV's and cell phones and breathed fresh air, appreciated God's creations and spent quality time together. You can't beat that with a stick as my dad always says.

2009-08-02T14:42:00.004-07:00

Just a few of our front yard friends. The rabbit has been returning frequently since we started leaving lettuce, celery and other snacks for him. I have to admit I'll need to spray down our front porch and walkway occasionally since there's a lot of bird droppings now. I guess it's all a trade off.

A Visit from a Cardinal

2009-07-31T11:02:00.015-07:00

Well, I see a ritual beginning as I found myself at the front window again watching the birds while my coffee brewed. It's difficult to get photos from inside the house because it's an odd angle and even with my zoom lens it's a bit far, but I managed to get a few shots this morning while Jack and I observed all the activity.

When I first looked out this morning there were easily more than 25 birds. I guess they're starting to pass the word in the bird community that our yard is the place to be for a free meal. Jack and I call it "the cafeteria".

Jack's excitement is adorable. He fills me in on what they must be thinking, what they tell each other and what other things they might need. He even suggested that they needed water for drinking and bathing (grandma and grandpa had a bird bath that he loved to watch the birds using). Of course the only thing we could find around the house was a lid to a Rubbermaid container. I guess it'll have to do for now. So, we ventured out front, scaring all the birds away, and added this makeshift birdbath to the mix. Then we went about our business for a while before eventually checking back to see if any birds had returned. They are amazingly cautious once you've made an appearance. We see all kinds of activity, but they seem so afraid to return right away. They make fly bys, they land on the roof, they land in the tree, etc. but they stall when it comes to actual feeding.

Then it happened...a beautiful red Cardinal flew into the tree as we were watching. It was nearly impossible to get a good photo, but he was amazing. Jack enthusiastically commented "it's the most beautiful thing on this earth...well, at least after you since you're actually the most beautiful thing on this earth." And I'm not making that up. Do I have this boy trained to say the right thing or what?! Someday a girl will be lucky enough to marry this sensitive creature I'm raising. The day is off to a great start.

Attracting Birds to our Yard

2009-07-30T08:21:00.006-07:00

I woke up this morning and after starting my coffee, I found myself drawn to the front window to check out our newfound bird friends. There they were, doves, wrens and even a small cottontail bunny eating away at the seed and seut I placed out front this week. That day when my husband came home from work he asked "what's that huge block of stuff out front?" as if I'd gone crazy. "It's bird seed. Just wait, they'll find it and when they do...they'll come back again and again." And that's truly what's happened...and it's wonderful!

When we were visiting my parents recently we had the pleasure of enjoying the sweet song of the Jenny Wrens. For years, Mom and Dad have grown their own gourds and once dried out they paint each one and then hang them from their trees. Then they wait.

In the spring, the job of the male Jenny Wren is to go out and build as many nests as he can so he can then court a mate and impress her. These nests are crudely built and all fairly close to one another since it's also a way to keep out intruders and declare territory.

A few weeks later the female Wren will arrive and if she shows any interest in the male he'll then take her on a home tour of all the nests he's built, hoping she'll choose one. Should the female wren decide to stick around she will choose the nest of her liking and then go inside and start doing some serious housekeeping and remodeling...I love this part! She'll toss out many of the sticks he used and return with softer nesting materials such as grass and feathers. Now she's ready to lay her eggs. She'll lay about 5-6 speckled eggs and 2 weeks later they hatch. I'm so jealous of the two weeks...can you image if our pregnancies were only 2 weeks? haha

Watching these little birds at my parents' home ignited a desire in me to attract birds to our yard so we could watch and listen to them. They truly are fascinating creatures. Today I noticed our Cactus Wren was rather aggressive and somewhat of a bully to the other birds. Since his nest is in our Saquaro I guess he feels a bit territorial about our yard.

I was curious as to what species the small red-headed bird might be, so I looked it up on the internet and after a bit of research I believe it to be a male House Finch. There were also a few Mourning Doves enjoying the free grub.

I have a feeling I'll be learning more about our visitors and hope that they'll get used to me reading the newspaper on the front porch when the weather gets nicer. I'd enjoy their company.

I'm addicted to camping

2009-07-29T11:43:00.008-07:00

I had a great conversation with my good friend Amy yesterday about my obsession with camping. You see, just two short years ago I was yearning to camp with my sons but I lacked the equipment or the spousal support I felt was necessary to get started. Fortunately, I did some research and found an incredible program through the city of Phoenix called Camp Colley and they had just launched their first season of family campouts. Talk about luck! Not only were the employees and volunteers wonderful, but the entire weekend experience sealed the deal for good...I just had to continue camping with my boys!

We came home from that trip on a high so I ventured out to purchase our first tent (on sale at Target). We now refer to that huge monstrosity as "the condo". I then "informed" my husband that we would be going camping with Amy's family over Labor Day Weekend (he hadn't joined us at Camp Colley). At first he gave me a resounding "I'm not going camping...I hate to camp" but eventually he came to realize that if he wanted to keep peace in the house he'd have to come along and play nice.

We joined Amy's family and some friends of theirs out in the Coconino National Forest near Happy Jack for a weekend of fun, adventure and relaxation away from the heat and all things electronic. My husband was pleasantly surprised by how much fun he had...and the kids entertained themselves by building forts, climbing trees, playing in the dirt or simply exploring. I knew then that we were hooked for good.

From then on I began to acquire additional camping gear (cook stove for our anniversary, sleeping bags for Christmas, etc), plus I realized that there are plenty of things you can bring from home if you're driving and you have space.

The whole idea is to simply get out in nature enjoy the simple things...and don't try to complicate it any further than that. It's tougher than it sounds for some :)