Family Vaction to Greer, AZ

 Last weekend we made good on a groupon that we were supposed to use this summer, but couldn't due to wildfires in the area. Greer, AZ is really on the road to no where. The population is only 177! But I'm sure the population can more than double in the summer and during ski season.

 We stayed at the Greer Lodge Resort in the Log motel rooms. Their amenities were included in the price and included: kayaking, fly fishing, mountain bikes, telescopes, games, DVD's, and a nightly camp fire.  

 We really enjoyed the two hikes we went on (except Zoe got tired at the end of the first). The first one was by a creek where we met a few people with lots of fish!

 The girls loved the dandelions and the wildflowers. They spent lots of time picking, collecting, and blowing. It was getting to be a bit overwhelming when they wanted to pick every flower they saw so we had to explain to them that we should leave some in the ground because they are living things and other people may want to look at them... Anyways... it was really cute and I was happy to see them running freely and enjoying nature.

 We brought the rain boots just in case, but we didn't find any puddles.

 This was my first time in a kayak. I prefer a canoe.

 The second hike was a bit more challenging. It was lovely to smell the pine and listen to the wind blow through the aspen (reminded me of cottonwood trees at clear lake), and hear the creek in the background.

 Yes, we were so happy to see ponds that we took our picture by every one we saw!

 And what they don't tell you in the brochure is that it's so nice to sit out on the porch drinking beer and wine while the kids can move freely from the room to the outside. Also there is a bar on the property right next door to the hotel rooms with cheap drinks and a patio where you can look at the ponds, mountains, and your kids playing.

Gosh, I, we had such a nice time. I want to go back with my Dad and Katie sometime because they would love it as much as we did. I loved it as much as I love going to back to SD/ND/MN. It made my soul happy.

Bisbee

Ahh Bisbee, a little Arizona mining town a couple hours south of Tucson. The town has changed quite abit since the 1900's... Art galleries, antique shops, and eateries now line the main street. I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Keep Bisbee Bizarre." It truly is a bizzare and ecclectic little town which I love.

We stayed, and you should too, at the Letson. It's a very well appointed 6 room boutique hotel on the main drag. We opted to stay in one of the rooms facing the street. In the pictures below one was taken looking left and the other right. And that's main street!

I still can't stop daydreaming about living in a town like Bisbee. I would be on cloud nine if we owned one of these 2-story multi use buildings. I could have a little food shop/cafe type of thing on the ground level and we would live on the top floor. We would also have a garden in the back, and a rotating menu. I could wear and apron and ponytail every day!!!

Anyways... Dave and I had a wonderful time together. It was so nice to get-a-way for just a night.

A weekend in Tempe

For the first time ever, I spent a night in Phoenix without my husband/kids... Of course I missed them, but I was in need of some me time. It was a perfect weekend. We went to Ikea, got hair cuts and colors, shopped in Scottsdale, ate yummy food, drank some wine, played dress-up, ate more yummy food, and went on a lovely bike ride around Katie and Shana's University area neighborhood. Katie and Josh were great hosts! I may have to go up to Tempe one more time on my own so I can visit Shana... :)

San Diego Day 2

On Sunday we went to Sea World. We went up on the sky ride, sat in the splash zone, and ate lunch with Shamu! The kids did really good concidering the amount of activities we were doing, the heat, and lack of sleep.

The last night we were there, the kids slept together for the first time. It was really sweet.

I am such a lucky girl to have such wonderful in-laws! If it weren't for them, our trip wouldn't have been possible!

San Diego Day 1

At the begining of the month we took a quick trip to San Diego to see Dave's Mom and Step-dad, the beach, and Sea World. We went to Silver Strand State Beach Park on Saturday afternoon. Kayleigh was content searching for seashells. Zoe on the other hand liked the waves and sand.

Of course we had to take all the seashells back to the hotel with us. In the above picture she was telling me which of the seashells were her favorite. It turns out they all were!